My name is Donald. I am 20, i live in Des Moines, IA. For my very first personal hot rod i would like to build a 27t coupe. I had a few questions, just not sure where to start asking.
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My name is Donald. I am 20, i live in Des Moines, IA. For my very first personal hot rod i would like to build a 27t coupe. I had a few questions, just not sure where to start asking.
Welcome to the forum, Donald! How about at the start. What is your plan for the frame, power train, body, and the "look"? Do you have Henry's original steel to start with, or are you doing something in another direction?Quote:
Originally Posted by DCsdime16
Yep, welcome and just start at the beginning.. what do you currently have to begin with? Anything more than a dream is a bonus! LOL..
My basic early quick questions were, the difference between a 27tbucket and 27t coupe hot rod....arent they the same thing just the bucket is the coupe chopped up? any hepl appreciated. thanks.
i have absolutly nothing as of yet expect a dream and 20 ft of 1 1/2 x 3 x11ga. steel on order through holley industries in holley springs. lol imy over all ideal car would be the 27 coupe, a t bucket with a solid top if you will. my powertrain is between two general motors power plants (being that i am a general motors technician) its either going to be a 5.3L with the 4l60E in it or a turbo ecotec as seen in the cobalt. im leaning more for the 5.3 for the classic hot rod rumble, but i like the idea of having a 4 cyl hot rod. i would like to drive the car from my home in des moines, ia to the back to the fifties weekend fathersday weekends in minnesota with my father and grandfather in their tri-fives. i also have printed and like the simplicity of "youngsters" t-bucket frame plans. again, thanks for any help.
This pic.....if it works is close the shape I want for the car, but I'd really love a dark blue or red and white/gray to match my grandpas 56. Minus rake and more t bucket style front suspension I think. Let me know what you think. Thanks.
Start at the start mate; from the ground up.
Are you planning on using a donor chassis?
Or buy a chassis from a specialised hot-rod chassis shop?
Or build a chassis?
Whatever your decision here will dictate what happens during the whole build.
And welcome to CHR...some helpful folk play on here.
Welcome, Donald. OK, just to clarify, a T Coupe and T-Bucket are not the same and the "Bucket" is not a cut up coupe. The Bucket is a roadster and it may be built with or without the "turtle deck" (the trunk section) as it is removeable. The Model-T coupe is dimensionally different, has a roof of course, and the trunk is not removeable. The only interchangeable part of the original bodies is the firewall. Of course, you could make a roadster out of a coupe by cutting off the roof.:HMMM:
FYI - The 1926 and '27 bodies are identical. If you plan on using a fiberglass body, you may have to settle for a roadster. Someone else may know better, but I've never seen fiberglass T coupe bodies...:rolleyes:
Reminds me of the 1 Mike built on " American Hot Rod "
When he & Boyd Codgton had a friendly competition of a " modern rod vs old school rod "
I'll be reading your progress if you post it during the build!! I think it's fantastic when a new generation picks up the " hobby " & keeps it alive!!
The T coupe pictured above was built by Boyd Coddington a while back (I don't remember the year) from a complete, running Model-T coupe. Coddington bought the car, took the body and grille shell off, and sold the running chassis.:rolleyes: One of his employees, Mike, built a '29 Model-A pickup. They then drove the cars together from California to the NSRA Nats in Louisville, KY where they were entered in a People's Choice competition - Mike's '29 won.:cool:
Coddington's coupe is a pretty cool car. I don't know why he reshaped the rear quarter-windows - they looked better with the stock shape. Nevertheless, the chop is about the right amount and the car is well proportioned. The main thing I would change is the paint. That car NEEDS color and the smooth body would look better with a glossy paint job - just my opinion...:3dSMILE: Of course Coddington has been dead for a few years now; I have no idea what happened to the coupe. Anybody know?
Thank you for responding about the body!!! another question i had is about the frame. can i use the same home built frame for the t coupe as i can for the t bucket? or will i need to get different plans? also, i plan on using four of the same size tires/wheels. any problems with that? one last thing for now is has anyone heard of the model t graveyard in ks? are their prices reasonable or are they one of those places that thinks they have gold sitting in their back lot? thanks again guys.
Frames will be the same for either car. Same size tires won't be a problem ,but big & little's just look right on those cars.
good luck with your project feel free to look at pics of my tall t coupe for ideas
if i can help just send me a pm
Not heard of them before but, if they "specialize" in something.. I'm sure they charge a premium for it!!
Well if they'll use the Sam frame I can build the frame and find a body as I go right? Is it difficult to "chop" the top? The place in is is called the modelthaven. Again I appreciate all the info you guys. Any objections to using youngsters tbucket frame plans? I don't know if I'm going to taper the rails yet though.
The body, henry steel, is 800. Not bad I thought even if no glass or seat or anything. Hope it has doors :HMMM:
http://www.clubhotrod.com/hot-rod-ta...-underway.html
Check this thread out, it'll tell you everything you want to know.
But understand that the guy who started that thread doesn't frequent CHR any longer. Still a fantastic reference, but no avenue for specific "Why did you...." type questions.Quote:
Originally Posted by NTFDAY
Quote:
Originally Posted by rspears
The way Don presented his work you'd have to be dense not to understand.
If you've got the knowledge to build a good safe frame.. You should be able to handle choppin' a top. There's lotsa books and info on the net showin' how.
Read as many as you can before you start!
Don't know what part of the universe you live in but the difference between a bucket and a coupe really shows up in rainy or cold weather - - - IMHO
^^^MELLO^^^ I was trying to figure out weather the coupe would bolt in the smae place a roadster (or bucket) body would have bolted. Now then, with that part figured out(i think) i can start on really drawing up what i want my car to achieve overall. The target show is 246 miles from my home, if i've calculated correctly i coule make the trip with 11 gallons of fuel if i achieve 23 mpg. Although i've been told i will want to stop and stretch atleast twice during the trip. Now the powerplant I've been thinking more and more about, i think i will start off with a 5.3L and 4l60e, and after i see how the car rides and what kind of mileage that nets, pull that engine out and install one of the D.O.D variety, with a sub 2000 pound car this thing should cruise for miles in 4 cyl mode. I believe my goal is going to be hitting this show is 5 years or less. I am VERY motivated, i have a four day work week, and a two car garage at my disposal, oh yeah and a small army (38) of techinicians i can borrow tools and knowledge from. hopefully cruising a lot sooner than five years, but i understand these things take time. sorry for the long post, but i seem to check in far to freuently. when i get the steel and begin building the frame should this be the build thread or start another?? ALSO, I've heard mno mention of wether or not to use these youngsters plans. Thank you so much for all your input, even mello. haha
Guess I misunderstood - - - sorry - - - so you weren't ever considering a bucket?
"My basic early quick questions were, the difference between a 27tbucket and 27t coupe hot rod....arent they the same thing just the bucket is the coupe chopped up? any hepl appreciated. thanks. "
You can start another thread, with "build" in the title... or not! We'll find you either way! Of 'course - once you start this endevour.. I - as the deputy of pics will harrass you mercilessly and un-ending for pictures.. Just ask Randy (aka R2). :eek::LOL::LOL:
And while his tag has Mello in it.. he really isn't!:D:LOL::D:LOL:
dang now everybody knowsQuote:
Originally Posted by 34_40
All the '26 - '27 Model-T Ford passenger cars used the same frame, driveline, grille, hood, and fenders. They just bolted on different bodies at the factory - roadster, coupe, or sedan. If you build a frame for a '26 - '27 roadster it should fit a '26 - '27 coupe. If you are building your frame using T-bucket plans, be sure that you get plans that are compatible with a '26 - '27. Most T-buckets use the more common '23 style body which is smaller than the '26 - '27 and usually has a shorter wheelbase.:HMMM:
Here is the link to my build thread:
http://www.clubhotrod.com/hot-rod-ta...k-style-t.html
It was inspired by Itoldyouso's thread "Project 3K is Underway". Mine is a track-style '23, but it's step-by-step so you can see some of the trials and tribulations of building a car from scratch.;)
This could be of assistance too.
http://www.clubhotrod.com/shop-talk/...rod-frame.html
Another that's been around forever is Chester Greenhalgh's book, now available electronically cheap - T Bucket Kit, T-Bucket For Sale, Build a TBucket - TBucketPlans.com
Thank you guys for all the replys. i havent replied on here for a wehile becausew ive been working and researching, i think i might try to incorporate that coil sprung front end into my frame i REALLY like that. Thanks again for all the replies, i am starting to seei need to plan A LOT more.