Looking to build a Track T

[Stubby]

Greetings... I'm new to this site. I'm home recovering from back surgery so I've been surfing the net for streetrod stuff, and came across this site.... looks like a lot of level headed rodders hang out here. I'm looking for a new project car and have no idea where to start looking for a 23/27 Track T Roadster body and frame. I've heard some negative stuff about Speedway's so I'm nrevous about them. I won't be released to start working on a car until spring, so I have time to search....

I'd like to hear from anyone and everyone who has either built a Track T, or knows firsthand stories about good cars to look closer at and bad cars to avoid.

Send me pictures of completed/in-process cars and even leads on cars for sale. I have no problem personalizing someone else's car....

Thanks for the help

Stubby

[Bib_Overalls]

The car in the picture was built with a Speedway body and components. I think Speedway gives a lot of value for the money but it takes real rodding tallent to turn one into a finished car.

Rod'n Race http://rodnrace.com in Cumberland, Maryland offers a couple of 26/27 body options. Price wise they are entry level. I don't think they offer frames or chassis packages.

Wescott http://www.wescottsauto.com in Boring, Oregon offers a very highly reguarded body. Price wise they are a premium supplier. And again, to my knowledge, they do not offer frames or chassis packages.

PoliForm Fiberglass http://poli-form.com in Watsonville, California offers bodies, chassis, and a number of different grille treatments. Price wise they are a midrange.

Sitinger's Hot Rod Shop, 310 E. Southport Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46227 (317-791-8537) offers a stretched 26/27 roadster body. Model "Tees" are tight and if you have any stature at all you should consider this option. This link http://rodandcustommagazine.com/even...135_0411_indy/ will take you to a page with a link to a picture of one of their cars. I note that George Poteet is a highly respected hot rod patron.

Zipper Motors http://www.zippermotors.com in Grand Junction, Colorado offers several "lakes" or "modified" style 26/27 bodies and chassis. These packages are highly reguarded.

Total Performance http://www.tbuckets.com in Wallingford, Connetcut offers a pro-street 26/27 roadster body, fender and chassis packages. Not my cup of tea but a sharp looking rod. If you need to run fenders this is an option.

Old Dog Street Rods http://www.olddogstreetrods.com in St Louis, Missouri offers a 26/27 roadster body and chassis. The chassis uses an independent front suspension that, in my opinion, looks all wrong. But you might go for it.

I am sure there are other suppliers and I appologize for any omissions.

My current project is a 26/27 roadster. I have researched all of the suppliers and for my needs (I am 6'2" tall) it looks like the Stinger offering is right for me. Right now I am building the motor and transmission; a 61 all aluminum Olds 215 with a metric bell housing 700R4. I will be building my own chassis.

Good luck!

[Bob Parmenter]

Click the camera icon next to my name and go to the third page of my gallery. That car had a Speedway body on a custom fabbed chassis, steel three piece hood, and a Speedway nose. Rather than the proprietary suspension pieces that Speedway sells with their kit this one had a typical Super Bell front I beam and Magnum brake setup. The rear was an 8" Ford hung with quarter elliptic springs similar to the Speedway setup. As Bib said, the Speedway is priced very well, but you do get what you pay for. The body has a tendency to stress crack, though to be fair most glass bodies do. I just think the Speedway does a bit more than some other choices. I'm 6' and it was okay for short drives, but a cross country run would have been out of the question. Even if you're anything over 5' 9" I'd suggest the ones made for taller folk.

The poli-form product is very well built, and the man knows fiberglas. Wescott's reputation for quality is well deserved, there's probably not a better body out there, but it's not a stretch version. There's one other that wasn't on Bib's list; Superior Glass Works in Portland http://www.superiorglassworks.com/de...IndID=7&Cat=10
This body is a bit different in that it uses a '23 cowl and the rest is '27. They're on a par with Speedway.

If you do have an interest in the "lakes modified" style since it is similar in theme to the track car, the Zipper that Bib listed is an excellent piece and it too is built for more room. The video tape he sells claiming to show a build up is a little hoaky but that's more a function of Zipp being Zipp rather than an indictment of the product. He builds good quality stuff. Another modified that's pretty neat, and also built for more room, is the "Real hot rods" '29 roadster pickup based kit. They sell it from basic body all the way up to a full roller. http://realhotrods.info/ Again, the guy behind it also owns Fairlane Ind. a long time supplier of quality fiberglass parts, so he knows his stuff too.

One last comment, unless there's been some real changes at Rodnrace over the past few years their stuff is pretty weak. It used to be known as AI Fiberglass.

[Stubby]

Thanks for the great resopnses.... I'll be checking them out. My plans are to build the car with a quick change rear end, 409 Chevy and a 4 speed. I want to build the car that my uncle had when I was a pup (waaaaay too many years ago). It had this powertrain and was dark grey primer with lime green flames (don't know if I'll go with lime green, but who knows)... his car had a 425 hp 409 and would absolutley scream. When you're 13 like I was, that makes a real impression. My aunt sold the car for $250 in 71 when my uncle died of cancer. It was gone before I knew it was being sold. The new owner destroyed it within 6 months and I've always regretted not having the car..... So, I'm going tobuild it as a tribute to him and because it will be a cool ride.