anyone building a big block powered T-bucket?

Don’t know if frame stuff goes here so if it needs to move please do it.
I mocked up my frame from pvc to figure out my new tube notcher. I think I got it down so I went to the steel store and they relieved me of $300 worth of seemless tube and sent me on the way! This is the mock-up.
 

Attachments

  • 2BAB7FE6-7BDD-469E-A782-BE005ABDC286.jpeg
    2BAB7FE6-7BDD-469E-A782-BE005ABDC286.jpeg
    252.2 KB · Views: 20
I'm rather amazed at how few clear detailed pictures of big block powered t-bucket cars have been posted in this thread so far!
I expected far more, and many more ideas as to what body, suspension and engine combos could and would be represented.
when I was younger, the vast majority of the t-bucket cars had ,
at least 383 cubic inches but having at least 427 -500 cubic inches had status,
chevy, buick, pontiac, caddy, mopar and ford, BIG BLOCK engines,
and 392 hemis and 426 hemi and 440 wedge engines,were in particular demand.
dual quads or stack injection or a supercharger added credibility,
lots of chrome was not required, but a good working suspension,
the ability to pull the front wheels at least a few inches off the ground,
for several yards on a hard launch and big tires was almost mandatory,
those larger cubic inch engines seemed to have a class appeal, and seemed to be popular choices.
yeah there were plenty of SBC t-buckets ,
but that was looked on, as a status symbol,
about as favorably as bringing your sister to the graduation prom.
tbpc1.jpg

tbpc2.jpg
 
Last edited:
Grumpy said:
I'm rather amazed at how few clear detailed pictures of big block powered t-bucket cars have been posted in this thread so far!
I expected far more, and many more ideas as to what body, suspension and engine combos could and would be represented.
when I was younger, the vast majority of the t-bucket cars had ,
at least 383 cubic inches but having at least 427 -500 cubic inches had status,
chevy, buick, pontiac, caddy, mopar and ford, BIG BLOCK engines,
and 392 hemis and 426 hemi and 440 wedge engines,were in particular demand.
dual quads or stack injection or a supercharger added credibility,
lots of chrome was not required, but a good working suspension,
the ability to pull the front wheels at least a few inches off the ground,
for several yards on a hard launch and big tires was almost mandatory,
those larger cubic inch engines seemed to have a class appeal, and seemed to be popular choices.
yeah there were plenty of SBC t-buckets ,
but that was looked on, as a status symbol,
about as favorably as bringing your sister to the graduation prom.
tbpc1.jpg

tbpc2.jpg
Click to expand...

whell stand or pick up one wheel and it comes down hard will break something on the second[black] car. Alas, it isn't even finished yet.
 
yeah theres zero doubt that black t-bucket lacks the required ground clearance to be functional,
the first raised manhole cover or speed bump it drove over would cause major damage
 
yeah I kind of like that low slung look, but Id be practical enough if I owned it to have a minimum of 4" clearance under the car,
measured with a heavy buddy and myself seated in the car with a full tank of fuel.
I'd want to slide a 4x4 beam under the car and still see additional clearance,
(remember a 4x4 beam measures closer to 3.5" x 3.5"
as many of us in this hobby get older ,and hopefully smarter we realize there are advantages,
inherent in the t-bucket concept, its light weight too power ratio,
and easy access too drive train and suspension components make it,
almost the ideal automotive performance toy for many owners.
 
Last edited:
Grumpy said:
yeah I kind of like that low slung look, but Id be practical enough if I owned it to have a minimum of 4" clearance under the car,
measured with a heavy buddy and myself seated in the car with a full tank of fuel.
I'd want to slide a 4x4 beam under the car and still see additional clearance,
(remember a 4x4 beam measures closer to 3.5" x 3.5"
as many of us in this hobby get older ,and hopefully smarter we realize there are advantages,
inherent in the t-bucket concept, its light weight too power ratio,
and easy access too drive train and suspension components make it,
almost the ideal automotive performance toy for many owners.
Click to expand...

I roll a softball under mine and always keep the scrub line at a safe distance/amount.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
a few related threads that might help you build a better car

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-that-makes-many-of-the-cars-desirable.11244/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-of-grand-sport-corvette-hash-marks-etc.6849/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...e-to-run-reasonably-fast-in-street-trim.3404/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ket-race-not-transportation.14229/#post-72589

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-calculators-and-basic-math.10705/#post-72061

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ive-train-to-the-engine-combo.741/#post-70350

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ing-parts-and-a-logical-plan.7722/#post-68651

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ing-a-cobra-replica-kit-car.10356/#post-48297

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ting-started-in-the-car-hobby.339/#post-60187

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...gine-to-match-the-cam-specs.11764/#post-58001

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...y-in-building-a-good-engine.11682/#post-54682

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-info-worth-reading-through.11528/#post-53210

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...acing-info-lots-of-good-stuff.373/#post-52133
 
I can't stand that all the car build shows MUST lower the vehicle "because it looks cool".
"Gotta get the stance right", they say. So impractical. Try driving those on Connecticut roads.
 
You gentlemen may get a good laugh out of a question I was asked recently.
yeah I was young and didn,t have a good grasp on reality 50-55 years ago also,
one of the younger local guys stopped by and had recently purchased a non-running 1968 Plymouth road runner,
with no engine, no transmission or functional rear differential,
(it had a differential under the car but it looked like it came from a ford falcon or maverick, the ford 8" )
rather than the 8.75: that came in 1968 road runners that did not get the dana 60.

he stated he had found a 440 dodge engine he had purchased from a motor home,
he was assured it used to run when the motor home was parked back in 2002, and he had a Chrysler transmission
(he had no idea which one but it was out of a fairly new 2012 van,)
and youll love the optimism
" when can we get a weekend too put it together?"
I grinned and said your missing one more important component.....
a nearly bottomless checking account balance,
because off the top of my head I could list $20-30K plus of parts you'll need,
the project you have has a great deal of potential,
but its hardly something you can expect to accomplish in a single week, let alone weekend
realistically even with a great deal of cash, I doubt youll be driving the car in under 4-5 months,
(3-5 years would be more like it)and that assumes you can locate what you need,
and have the cash to pay for anything you want as soon as you locate it.
just to get it assembled and semi functional, let alone duplicate a show room condition rebuild.
let alone have that cars body work done, painted and the interior finished and the suspension, brakes,
steering cooling system lights signals dash gauges, worked on!
I offered to help look over the car, if he wanted to grab a legal pad and take detailed notes.
I suggested he break the car down mentally into each sub system and concentrate on each individually
that way he would see progress, as each sub-system or component was restored
pick, the engine, drive train, interior, gauges dash, wiring tires wheels, brakes differential , drive train, radiator power steering ,ETC.

c-clip are the stock or standard O.E.M. axle design, to get the conversion axles sold by several aftermarket suppliers youll want a matched set of
rear bearings and axles
https://www.strangeengineering.net/...kages-components-1/12-bolt-c-clip-eliminator/

https://www.strangeengineering.net/product/gm-pro-race-axles-elim-kit-1-2-stud-kit.html/

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/build-bulletproof-gm-10-bolt-axle-built-c-clip-eliminator/

http://www.moserengineering.com/faqs/

http://chassisengineering.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=4_104

https://www.summitracing.com/search/part-type/c-clip-eliminator-kits/axle-model/gm-8-5-in

https://www.markwilliams.com/c-clip...MI97f1u_Cz3QIVRbXACh2Xfw5yEAMYASAAEgL-SPD_BwE
related threads
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ears-differentials-available.1282/#post-36502

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ike-i-need-a-hole-in-my-head.4887/#post-13451

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/ok-youve-shreaded-your-10-bolt-rear.237/

performance rear differential axle/ differential parts manufacturers & related info

http://www.moserengineering.com/

https://www.strangeengineering.net/

https://www.markwilliams.com/axles....MIjdPBrO2z3QIVi7rACh38PgMhEAMYASAAEgKMsPD_BwE

https://www.currieenterprises.com/

https://www.mittlerbros.com/Automotive-Rear-Ends

https://www.motivegear.com/

https://dutchmanaxles.com/?SID=13e788c48f6972c9ebd5a6a2581b5139

http://www.differentials.com/

http://www.manciniracing.com/drivetrain-parts.html

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/hrdp-1009-bolt-in-rearend-buyers-guide/

 
Last edited:
Vintage Mopars are expensive.
A Station wagon with a 383 RB would be a low cost parts car for the Road Runner.
If you can find.
 
I just hope he doesn't loose his enthusiasm when the project is still needing
more and it's already been a year.
 
yeah! thats a common problem, and its also where many guys get the 1/2 finished projects and a pile of new or mildly used parts,
the previous participant , who intended to rebuild a car project, collected in the process of rebuilding the car at bargain prices,
as the guy unloads the project he eventually comes to realize is either well beyond,
the amount of time and effort hes willing to put into it at rock bottom prices,
or he decides to change course to an easier project mid stream.
Ive occasionally seen guys sell cars, and stacks of new parts, at far less than they were worth,
out of personal frustration, at simply realizing they did not have the knowledge or skills or tools, needed.
thats a darn shame with websites like this providing easy access to most of the knowledge and anyone who really wants too has the ability to gain the skills and tools.
 
Thank you for your concern but my delay is money. My project is so far out in left field resale is unrealistic anyway. I have a car guy grandson that already wants it!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top