Twisted T bucket build

I don't get here very often for various reasons, so I'm most likely overdue for a project update. With winter rains setting in, the mojo has kind of gotten a wet blanket on it lately, but I'm still plugging along every weekend finishing up the mirade of details that seem to never end. I was really dissapointed not to at least make "back to the 50s" this year, but next season will come eventually (I hope).
Today I fabricated some ss heat shields for the exhaust, installed a puke tank and the "Ford" script on the rad screen, and re-did a minor wireing boo boo on the cooling fan relay. one step at a time.... just one step at a time. :whacked: At least I have gotten to drive it a few time this year, so that's helping to keep me motivated. A bucket is SUCH a kick to drive. :D

Cheerio,
Russ

Car looks great Russ!!! The sunshine will come back again someday, or so they tell me!

Very nice looking car

Hiya Russ, a very nice T Bucket for sure for sure,but then I own one too. Is there a build thread of your s I could find and read through as I need all the motivation I can get at the moment.
I have to agree with you on the buzz you get driving them as I have always had sensible type of cars with 4 doors and a roof and more the street machine variety. Gladly I am now certainly hooked into the pre 49 type hotrod and having no family to worry about where everybody is going to sit,I can get away with the 2 seaters.

I've always thought of T-buckets as "the chopper of the hot rod world". Looks great! ...and it's probably a nice little "rocketship ride" too!

Thanks whiplash. It's just the wife and I here also, so yes, two seats is plenty these days. I don't know about it being a "build", but I did make a list of my progress over at Tbuckteers. search for "Northstar T is taking shape" (not sure is the management here likes dirrect links or I'd add one).
I started building the car in January or so, so I guess it's coming along OK, but never soon enough. still need to get upholstery, but wanting to make sure all the little changes are final before I get that done.
Nice to see your T from over yonder also. hard to see in the avitar, but is that an injected nailhead?

Cheers,
Russ

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Whiplash23T

Hiya Russ, a very nice T Bucket for sure for sure,but then I own one too. Is there a build thread of your s I could find and read through as I need all the motivation I can get at the moment.
I have to agree with you on the buzz you get driving them as I have always had sensible type of cars with 4 doors and a roof and more the street machine variety. Gladly I am now certainly hooked into the pre 49 type hotrod and having no family to worry about where everybody is going to sit,I can get away with the 2 seaters.

---

Great Looking T lotsatoys:)

Is that a Caddy Northstar engine?? What kind of induction is that thing running. Looks crazy and cool.

Don Jr.

Hi Russ,thanks for answering back. I am a member of that mentioned site too but I only seem to go there very very rarely as I find this site is like family and just like getting home from a long holiday,it is so good to be home feeling. I must get around to starting my personal album of photos on here.
My bucket should/could be classed as a belly button car as it would be on some sites. I have rebuild since I took ownership and sadly I didn't take any photos of it before the small operation to rectified the horribly steering problem. It had an old R&P bolted to the I beam resulting in self steering.:whacked:You know the saying,while I'm doing that I might as well do that and end up with a bare frame sitting on the garage floor.
Sorry I digress and I'm stealing your thread. It is a 350 Chevy,th400 to a 10 Bolt chevy diff. The 350 has a tri-power set up as I decided to rebuild back to a 60's look bucket.
Heck I do wish it was a Nailhead even with mutli carbs but I think that they are getting rare and expensive to find and rebuilt now.:)

PS> What are the headlights from,man they are small but fit your car nicely????

Mr. Blue,

Yes, it is a 97 Cad Northstar motor. I designed and built the individual throttle body fuel injection system myself a couple years ago for a Northstar Fiero project. I've built and sold a couple of them, and had this one "left over" so I'm using it on the T. the throttle bodies began life on an 07 Susuki GSXR 600 bike. fabricated manifold, caddy fuel rail, injectors, most sensors etc. currently using a Holly Commander ECM and it runs pretty well.

Whiplash,

The headlights came from E-bay. they were new aftermarket and listed to fit various big bikes.
I know what you mean about the forum "family". my family lives on the other side of the tracks however, so I spend most of my time over there and only visit here on occation. lots of good people here also, mind you, but just not my normal hangout.
Boy do I know about getting carried away on rebuilding a project ;) . I can certainly relate to your story. that's the whole enjoyment of hot rodding however. build em' the way YOU like em to be.

Cheers,
Russ

Well it certainly is a neat looking, alternative engine for a rod. Very cool!
Don Jr.

I'm curious what the cooling fan relay issue you had was if you don't mind saying?:HMMM: I just got my fan wired yesterday and I must admit I had to close my eyes and guess which terminal to wire to the fan pos. wire and which to the battery :confused: maybe it doesn't matter, but either way it turns on :eek:

Cool looking engine too! :cool:

Thanks Mr. Blue.

35fordcoupe,
I just had the relay power on an "always hot" portion of the fuse block. my ECM controls the relay via a ground signal, and it's not a good idea to allow the feedback into the ECM control wire at times when the fan is still on when the engine is shut off. clear as mud?? ;)
BTW: Look at your relay, near the terminals, there will be some numbers molded into the plastic. 85 and 86 are your "control" terminals. (86 is normally used as the ground). 30 and [?] are used for the load. the two terminals that are very close together go to the same place and can be used interchangably.

Russ

Thanks for the new pic of the Northstar engine, that thing just looks way too kewl!!!!!!

Great work!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lotsatoys

Thanks Mr. Blue.

35fordcoupe,
I just had the relay power on an "always hot" portion of the fuse block. my ECM controls the relay via a ground signal, and it's not a good idea to allow the feedback into the ECM control wire at times when the fan is still on when the engine is shut off. clear as mud?? ;)
BTW: Look at your relay, near the terminals, there will be some numbers molded into the plastic. 85 and 86 are your "control" terminals. (86 is normally used as the ground). 30 and [?] are used for the load. the two terminals that are very close together go to the same place and can be used interchangably.

Russ

---

gotcha. This relay doesn't have 85, 86, 87 and 30 just A, B C, D, E :HMMM: My fuel pump relay appears normal, but this one is not so I guessed :o

I guess I never did update this thread when the car was finished, so it must be time that I did that ;) . After building the top frame and seat base myself, I had the interior upholstery and top stiched up by a local shop (Gregs Upholstery) and he did an awsome job. very comfortable and it has just the look I was after.

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL827.../395326754.jpg

I've never been much of a car show guy, but we did enter it in this years back to the 50s show and cruise. we had a BLAST at both events. this shot was taken on the edge of the city park where the show was held. a couple kids were admiring the car so I let them sit in it wile there mom and dad took pictures of them (this is one of those pics taken with cell phone). it really is true that "T buckets make people smile" and it's great to be able to facilitate that.

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL827.../397934162.jpg

I gave up on the Holley Commander ECM that I was using and switched to the new Holley HP. what a difference!! the HP makes the Commander look like a Comadore 64. I'm still tweeking the tune up, and I never was much of a computer wiz, but the Northstar is running pretty strong now. plenty strong enough to scare passengers to death whenever desired ;).

Cheers,
Russ

What a great looking T bucket. I just realized you had a Northstar turned sideways, very good ! :D My daily has the Northstar engine and I am very impressed with the power, and on the highway it pulls 27 mpg. When you get your foot in it though the milage is SIGNIFICANTLY lower. :eek:

Very cool bucket, and I bet you get a lot of head scratchers over the engine. :D

Don

I saw the car at the Park on the Rogue River, but could never find you... I'm just down the 199 from you in Crescent City...


Bitchin' T-Bucket !!!!

26Tudor,
Sorry we missed you. we did do a lot of wandering around looking at the other cars and what-not. lots of nice stuff there to see, and I never was one to just sit on my duff all day. big reason I don't enter many shows. did you have a car entered also?


BTW Itoldyouso. yes I do get a lot of quizical looks at the engine. very few know what it is, so it provides hours of entertainment for us. ;)

Thanks,
Russ