Hello from Minnesota

[trogdor]

Hello all! I'm just starting my t-bucket build. I happened onto someone else's started but never finished project. I have a pre-fab frame, fiberglass body with door, and coil-over rear suspension kit, all from Speedway. I have a 305 sbc that I'm rebuilding that will go into it, which I'm keeping basically stock. Based on information I've read here, I currently looking for a TH350 transmission and a 2wd S10 rear end. I'm really excited to learn as much as I can. Rebuilding the 305 has been a wonderful experience. I underestimated the amount of tools I'd need! I had to get micrometers, a dial bore gauge, parts washer, etc. As I start on the t-bucket, I'm finding I need a better welder, a bigger air compressor for painting, etc.!!!! But it has all been so much fun. My daily-driver car is going to have to spend the next Minnesota winter outside the garage I fear, but such is life. I need the space for the t-bucket!

Next steps: I need to gather some parts! Transmission, rear end, and front suspension are at the top of the list. I'm looking at RPM for the front end, and I'm planning a trip to one of those 'you pull it' junkyards for some misc. And I need to get the engine assembled. I have a re-ring kit ordered, I need to clean, paint, and reassemble. I also got an old quadrajet carb that I need to rebuild too. So lots to do!

This is really about the learning experience for me... I feel like there is so much I don't know, and that is exciting. I'm sure I will have a ton of questions for you all. Thanks in advance!

 

[choppedtop]

Welcome from Oklahoma. Sounds like you have your plan worked out.

 

[Indycars]

Welcome to the forum from Oklahoma City!

 

[EWTALLEY]

Welcome from Ocala, Florida.

 

[rbsWELDER]

I think that you would like the 700-R$ transmission better!

 

[HenrysT]

MAKE SURE TO SAVE ALL YOUR RECEIPTS OR BILL OF SALES!! MAKE SURE IF THERE IS ANY NUMBERS ON THE ITEM, IT IS NOTED ON THE RECEIPT OR BILL OF SALES. You can thank me later

 

[DonnyRay]

I have to keep receipts in California also. WELCOME TO THE FORUM.

 

[fletcherson]

MAKE SURE TO SAVE ALL YOUR RECEIPTS OR BILL OF SALES!! MAKE SURE IF THERE IS ANY NUMBERS ON THE ITEM, IT IS NOTED ON THE RECEIPT OR BILL OF SALES. You can thank me later

I recently had to have one inspected after repairing accident damage. The state is in cahoots with the insurance moguls to deem minor fender bender damage as totaled, salvage, and forces title flipping then inspection... ridiculous, imho... Had receipts from bone yard but no numbers. I added numbers myself and no problem. Just a FYI Incase. BTW, the inspection was parts, not safety, and if you procure parts from a private seller, they are jerks. I sold some parts to a guy not knowing he intended to have inspection and later received a letter from the state patrol demanding my ssn, vin from vehicle, etc... I refused. No clue if the guy got his inspection or not but I wasn’t interested in any hassle.

 

[rbsWELDER]

700-R4 that was!

 

[trogdor]

700-R4 that was!

Thanks, I'll look into those. I don't really know the difference between that and a 350, so I'll need to do some reading.

 

[Spanky]

(I copied this from the internet)

 

[Indycars]

It has 4 gears, making 4th gear an overdrive of 0.7:1 and a lockup torque converter.

 

[409T]

Higher 1st gear ratio? So 1st gear is higher than 3rd gear? Must be true if it is on the internet. I have a 700R4 with .454 rear end gears with a lockup converter and it always seems like I need one more gear between 3rd and overdrive with the converter locked-up. If I don't lock the converter all is fine, but that sort of defeats the purpose.

 

[Buffman]

When rebuilding that sbc 305 keep in mind the stock camshaft in them is very weak. They used to go flat sometimes in less than 20k miles. A good aftermarket cam and lifter set might save you some grief. Also might want to look into roller tip rocker arms.

 

[fletcherson]

When rebuilding that sbc 305 keep in mind the stock camshaft in them is very weak. They used to go flat sometimes in less than 20k miles. A good aftermarket cam and lifter set might save you some grief. Also might want to look into roller tip rocker arms.

Just a heads up on the new flat tappet cams: they are junk. A lot of folks are having trouble with them. They wipe lopes at break in. Even using correct oil, springs, etc. I had it happen to me a few years back with a comp cam, and I e used them numerous times in the past with good results. The chinesium isn’t up to pat or the lobes aren’t machined correctly to spin the lifters, or something. Just do your homework. It cost me an engine. The garbage from the lobe trashed the bearings. It happened in fifteen minutes during initial fire up and break in. Never left the shop.

 

[Spanky]

Just a heads up on the new flat tappet cams: they are junk. A lot of folks are having trouble with them.

Fletch makes a good point. I read that the lifters are almost as important, quality-wise, as the cam itself. Use a known brand when selecting yours. In my case, I used a mild Comp cam and their own lifters and was careful during break-in. That was 8 years ago and no problems to date.

 

[409T]

Flat tappet cams and lifters need zinc in the oil.

 

[Bill Pedersen]

409 is right about the need for zinc. A number of years ago oil manufacturers decreased the amount of zinc in automotive oil. They did this because high levels of zinc screws up the efficiency of a catalytic converter. Almost all new cars now use roller lifters which decreases the friction between the cam and the lifters. Zinc is one of the main anti-wear additives in oil. If you are using a high-performance flat tappet cam with more lift and higher valve spring pressure there’s a good chance that you are going to have problems if you don’t use a special oil with at least 1400-1600 parts per million of zinc. In addition to this, the most critical time for wear is at cam and lifter break in where some of the top break in oils have over 2500 parts per million of zinc.

 

[fletcherson]

I had break in oil and the lobed and lifters were prelude with break in goop, oil pump primed, etc... still wiped in ten minutes on initial start up, break in. They replaced it but I opted to just go another route because I didn’t want to totally rebuild it after the bearings were trashed.

 

[Spanky]

Fletch, what kind of lifters did you use?