just another t-bucket

hi everyone, i've been a member here for a little while but have not posted yet and figured i'd take a few minutes to explain a project i have in mind that i'm planning on collecting parts for pretty soon. the idea is a fiberglass t-bucket body from classglassperformance.com, a hand made (by me) 2x3 frame, ladder bar rear suspension, ford 8.8" rear end with a spool, t5 manual transmission, 2.2l ecotec 4 cyl with lots of performance goodies, and a mustang II front suspension. i know i still have a lot of decisions to make on this project and i was hoping to get some input from people on here, both on the what i have already said that i would like as well as other things that i haven't figured out yet. one thing i did decide is what i'm doing for my seat and that is to use the rear seat that i removed from my audi tt. :LOL: i have built a few muscle cars for guys and have always wanted to do a street rod for myself. i do body work as a profession at a chevy, acura, honda, toyota, scion, lexus dealership so i have a good place to work on it on the weekends and after hours with top of the line equipment, frame racks, lifts, alignment racks, welders, plasma cutters, down draft prep decks and paint booths, ect. and i also get discounts on new and used parts. :)

thank you in advance for any input.

Welcome to the club! Only issue I see with your project is the spool. Only place that is useful is a dragstrip. Find a posi or detroit locker if you need it / want it.

that thought did cross my mind. i will most likely be putting the axle in stock and adding to it in the future. i've found that the best way to build something is to add as you go until it's completely the way you had in mind. it's nice to be able to drive something while the funds come in to really finish it.

the engine will most likely be the same way. put it in so i can drive it and add the supercharger, cams, ect. later.

Welcome to CHR! IMO you're being smart to detail your plan, asking questions before you commit $$$ to parts & pieces. Other than the spool one thing that jumped out at me is a Mustang II front end on an open T-bucket. Not that it won't work, but that IFS is going to be right out there in plain view for all to see and that will probably affect your selection. A more traditional look would be a transverse leaf & dropped axle with hairpins & panhard bar, but heck it's your baby and if IFS is what you want then more power to you. We'll be looking forward to seeing your progress once you have your plans finalized.

I thought quite a bit about the suspension and I know it'll be right out there. I know its not traditional but neither is an ecotec. I'm all about something different. I've seen some other open street rods with the same suspension and they don't look too shabby.

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Originally Posted by tblazin2k5

I thought quite a bit about the suspension and I know it'll be right out there. I know its not traditional but neither is an ecotec. I'm all about something different. I've seen some other open street rods with the same suspension and they don't look too shabby.

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Depends a lot on whose IFS you use. There're some nice looking units out there, and there are some that are butt ugly, meant only to be hidden out of view. BTW, I think the idea of the ecotec4 is great!!

I will be doing a lot of shopping around for the right one. I thought a light weight all aluminum engine with the possibility of respectable power in a light weight car would be great. The fuel economy was a big deciding factor as well as low price and availability.

That 4cyl engine is a good choice. A friend of mine has one in a 27 roadster and has a turbo on it, and that thing really runs. The only thing I would research a little on is the Manuel transmission, these t buckets are really cramped for space, unless you are using one that is widened. Francis

For me the mustang II IFS is a complete no no and as for the spool in a short wheelbase car on the road you seriously need to rethink both items.

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Originally Posted by tblazin2k5

I thought quite a bit about the suspension and I know it'll be right out there. I know its not traditional but neither is an ecotec. I'm all about something different. I've seen some other open street rods with the same suspension and they don't look too shabby.

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I think the Ecotec is a great choice. We run a 2.0L in our roadster. We drove it to Bonneville from Pomona, over 700 miles and went over 200MPH.
Salt flats dyno - YouTube

Ecotec dyno video.Salt flats dyno - YouTube

I've tried to drive a locked rear on the street. You will not like it!

I would agree with the other guys about the front suspension. If you want to look different, there are a hundred other ways to do it.

Welcome! I'll be watching for your build thread......hint hint. With pictures? :D

David

Welcome, sounds like a neat project.

Yeah, I'm starting to sway towards a limited slip over a spool. As for the front suspension I'm pretty set on having a mustang II ifs. I know its not traditional but the rest of the car won't be either.

A few things I forgot to mention was that I would like to run fenders or partial fenders on the front and the bed will be a wood bed that will cover at least most of the rear tires and I would like it at least 36" long, maybe longer.

Hi and welcome, I also agree with the front end choice, even with cycle guards/fenders as you guys call them, it will look butt ugly. You talk about traditional but I have never seen or heard a true definition of what that means when it comes to hot rods. Hell even the HAMB members still argue over that one. A drop axle set up correctly can corner and perform as good as a IFS any day IMHO. I have a friend that runs a 5 speed behind a 383 Chevy in his Bucket with room for all pedals so it can be done with good planning and thought. If you were to run the full fenders and running boards like original, you may get away with the IFS.

This thread is USELESS without pictures

BTW, The front end will be BUTT UGLY :LOL::eek::LOL::eek:

There are no pictures yet as I have not started building yet. This is still in the planning process.

Let's see.
This guys a bodyman @ a large dealership, and has time to sit around and post his "Dreams" on here.
I call foul !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TROLL

As of right now I'm thinking everything out before I start spending money on stuff. We are quite slow right now so the money hasn't exactly been pouring in.

from time of his postings I'd say he posted early before work and at lunch time--speaking of lunch I'm getting hungry

Like I say we're slow. It has been a dry winter here in northwest Ohio.

Also as far as solid axle handling as well as ifs I would have to disagree. My daily driver is an audi tt quattro and if it had a solid axle in it there would be no cornering at all like I am used to. There's a reason solid axles haven't been used in new cars for a long time.

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Originally Posted by tblazin2k5

Also as far as solid axle handling as well as ifs I would have to disagree. My daily driver is an audi tt quattro and if it had a solid axle in it there would be no cornering at all like I am used to. There's a reason solid axles haven't been used in new cars for a long time.

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You're going to be hard pressed to build a car that handles like your Audi. If you want a new car ride buy a new car and quit wasting your time planning something that's just going to be a disappointment, and look butt ugly to boot.:LOL::eek::LOL::eek:

That's 2 fer BUTT UGLY
Wasn't there an ole song titled
"Beautiful Dreamer"
Sounds like this guy

Guess he's never drinin a properly set up straight axle Hot Rod either

If I had known that you were here to make fun of people instead of offer some support I would have never joined. This project may still be in the begging thought process but that doesn't make it just a dream.

Don't sweat it tblazin', just keep plannin' and saltin' the pennies away. Took me 12 years to finish this last one! 'Course we moved across country twice in the process... but it got done, just a slower pace than some. And if you want IFS on it, do it! Got to please yourself and no one else. It's comin' out of your wallet!

The money situation is not the only thing holding me back currently. I also have an 84 Honda nighthawk 650 that I am in the middle of chopping. I'd like to have that done by spring.

While I'm not a "bike guy" how about a couple pics of your project?

OKKKKKK----if you want to use M11 type spindles/brakes and tubular control arms(especially if you use coil overs) you can have a nice looking front end--My concerns of you using IFS is that you stated you would be doing ladder bars on the rear--Ladder bar rears bind up on any body roll and thats kinda reverse to the thinking of ifs fronts to control geometry with body roll???? at least use triangilated rears if not parallel 4 links---

I had actually been rethinking the rear to using a triangulated four link...

The bike pics won't likely come till this weekend. I can post a couple when I can get on my computer later.

I was thinking as I read the title of this thread. Isn't saying just another T-bucket like saying Just another gorgeous blond with a big rack?

I used that title because its not exactly the typical T. Kinda a title that's the opposite of what it actually is.

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Originally Posted by tblazin2k5

The bike pics won't likely come till this weekend. I can post a couple when I can get on my computer later.

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Not a problem, I'm out on a job so it's hit & miss when I get time to sign in here.

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Originally Posted by Rickomatic

I was thinking as I read the title of this thread. Isn't saying just another T-bucket like saying Just another gorgeous blond with a big rack?

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I thought I was the only one looking for that Blonde! :LOL:

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Originally Posted by tblazin2k5

I used that title because its not exactly the typical T. Kinda a title that's the opposite of what it actually is.

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YUP! You'll fit right in here! **):LOL::D