My first T build.

[smokeyco75]

Ok not much to update but I did set the engine in the frame to get an idea of how things will look. I still don't have a transmission to mock up with yet so I guessed at where the back of the motor will sit for now. (I'm tapped out from Christmas) Problem is I only have 4 and a half inches from the bottom of the oil pan to the ground. I need a transmission to be sure of that. Meanwhile does anyone have a pic that would show where the back of there engine sits in relation to the frame rail using a Ron Pope frame with chevy power? Once I verify this I can verify frame height is correct and begin building my front suspension while I look for a transmission. I will be using the traditional leaf spring and hairpin design but it will be slightly different than normal. Very similar to how Meangreen's son's car is built. (It is a Model A Tudor sedan with a suicide front end)

The final look of this car should be pretty cool although nowhere near unique. Since I began this build my vision has changed partly due to budget and partly due to some great ideas I have seen here. Some things I am still undecided on. I'm sure I will change my vision at least one more time before it hits the streets, lol. Anyway for all the folks interested in my build I thank you. To all who have offered guidance and suggestions I thank you as well. This really is the best site out there and some of the best folks I have never met.

 

[smokeyco75]

I forgot to mention I'm running a big block and plan on using a TH-350 transmission. That is what the transmission crossmember is set up for however I'm not above moving it for a TH-400 or 700r4 if I find one of those.

 

[EX JUNK]

Ok not much to update but I did set the engine in the frame to get an idea of how things will look. I still don't have a transmission to mock up with yet so I guessed at where the back of the motor will sit for now. (I'm tapped out from Christmas) Problem is I only have 4 and a half inches from the bottom of the oil pan to the ground. I need a transmission to be sure of that. Meanwhile does anyone have a pic that would show where the back of there engine sits in relation to the frame rail using a Ron Pope frame with chevy power? Once I verify this I can verify frame height is correct and begin building my front suspension while I look for a transmission. I will be using the traditional leaf spring and hairpin design but it will be slightly different than normal. Very similar to how Meangreen's son's car is built. (It is a Model A Tudor sedan with a suicide front end)

The final look of this car should be pretty cool although nowhere near unique. Since I began this build my vision has changed partly due to budget and partly due to some great ideas I have seen here. Some things I am still undecided on. I'm sure I will change my vision at least one more time before it hits the streets, lol. Anyway for all the folks interested in my build I thank you. To all who have offered guidance and suggestions I thank you as well. This really is the best site out there and some of the best folks I have never met.

My car has been on the road since '05 and has over 20K miles and my pan is only 3" off the road and I've not had a problem. I'm also using a Slamgard pan in case the pan would come in contact with the road. So, I would say that your measurement of 4 1/2" is more than enough.

Jim

 

[T-Test]

What Jim said!! If you can roll a softball under it, you will clear most speed bumps and other objects.

 

[smokeyco75]

Thanks guys! I haven't found one of those slam pans for a big block although I admit I haven't looked very hard. Maybe I'll fabricate a guard while I'm saving for other parts. Just for insurance.

 

[bobs66440]

Mine is very low also and so far so good. Of course you have to be careful to avoid the big road kill, otherwise you will be bringing it home with you...

 

[smokeyco75]

Ok I'm looking for opinions. I received $300.00 for Christmas specificly intended for my T build. Should I buy parts to build my front suspension or hold on to it and use it toward the more big ticket items such as the transmission? I am having trouble deciding.

 

[fletcherson]

Well I am finally able to start buying parts for my build so I thought I would start a thread here. Ordered a stretched body and frame from Ron Pope so far. The look I am going for is kind of a mix of things I like from different styles. I will be using rocket gasser wheels but will have a low, slightly raked car. I will be fabricating lift bars for the rear instead of radius rods. I will probably use hairpins in the front. Chassis and body will be black with traditional flames and suspension components will be silver. I will be building my own bed out of wood and fibberglass. More details to come as they become more concrete.

Sounds like a plan. I have lift bars on mine. Not sure how well it will handle on the street. It seemed to hook up decent and bounced the front end. I look forward to seeing the progress!

 

[fordnut]

I would get your front end. Get it into a roller. That's were I am at with mine. Just my two cents.

 

[choppedtop]

Tuff question to answer. I personally would want to get my chassis made into a roller. I probably have twice as much at least in the front end, compared to the cost of a tranny. I can get fresh rebuilt 700R4s around here for 700 bucks. Ya, I would vote for the front end stuff.
Lee

 

[RatchetRob]

My vote goes for front end parts. To me it is more progress and will go along way with moral. At least for me that is the case. The front of my frame is sitting on wood blocks and it bugs the heck out of me. I will have a roller by the end of the month ( January) come hell or high water. To me this is a milestone that will carry over into other things. As for the tranny, the best deals are there when you least expect them. If you wait something will pop up and you will save money. You could always go to a tranny shop and get a case that is busted but will serve it's use as a dummy until you get the real thing. JMO

 

[EX JUNK]

I agree with making your chassis a roller.

Jim

 

[fordnut]

Once I got my front end bolted on I felt like I was getting some where. Ratchet Rob is right my moral went through the roof.

 

[meangreen]

Jeez guys, y'all are raggin' on a guy about his morals? I've known Smokeyco since he was a pup and I think his morals are OK... Oh! You mean morale! (Sorry folks. It's the old school teacher in me that just had to bust on you all. I'm just funnin'.)

Smokey - I agree with all above. Definitely make it a roller as soon as possible. It's a mental thing, but as long as its sitting on blocks it's just a pile of parts; as soon as it rolls it's a car! You can always call our old friend Rudy for price and availability on a transmission when you're ready.

 

[EX JUNK]

There is another advantage, Smokey, of making a roller and that is when you start adding the body, windshield, pickup box or turtle deck, etc. you can roll it out of the garage and stand back from it and walk around it to see how it'll really look going down the road or parked at a cruise-in or show. If it doesn't sit right it's not right and you can't get a good handle on that unless you can stand back away from it. IMHO

Jim

 

[smokeyco75]

Thanks guys. I agree with yall. I was thinking about the transmission because I could start fitting the floor. I like the idea of being able to roll it around better though. Looks like I will be ordering and fabricating parts here shortly.

 

[RatchetRob]

Glad to hear your morals are intact smokeyco! Darn grammer Nazi! lol (had to throw another one at you meangreen)! Please don't grade me on my grammar cause when I was n English class I waza dream'n bout them there cars ya see.

 

[meangreen]

Grammar Nazi! Ha, I love it. Sorry Ratchet, I can't help myself sometimes, but it's all in fun. I used to get in trouble in high school for drawing cars and "wierdos" all the time. My teachers would bitch at me, "Why don't you do something useful with your time?!" Several years later I worked as an illustrator drawing diagrams in instruction pamphlets for an automotive accessories manufacturer. I'm 66 now and still drawing... By the way, is that your car in your avatar? If so, I'd like to see more pics. It looks mean in that little bitty picture.

Smokey - you can install the floor anyway and trim it out later to fit whatever trans you use. Once the floor is in you can proceed with wooding the body and other small (low cost) things until you get the trans.

 

[RatchetRob]

No the car in the avatar is my inspiration for my build. Back when I use to race I would find a body style I liked and would print out pictures and tape them on the wall of the shop. Then as I formed the aluminum I would keep looking at the pictures to remind me of what I wanted. Sometimes I would add notes pointing out what I liked in each picture. Seemed to help! Do the same now!

 

[RatchetRob]

I should of added that the car was one that Nick Conti built and was featured in a magazine I believe. It was based on the idea of building a cheap but good looking bucket. If only I could buy a hood that would fit! lol I have some ideas that involve a lot of pain staking work to build a fiberglass hood. I am thinking of asking around at local hot rod shops to see if they could form one out of sheet metal for me. Maybe a college with courses in this type of work would be interested in doing it as well. Otherwise I wonder about building it out of light ply wood using the cowl and radiator support as templates for formers and cutting light plywood to fit. Of course it would all be just a little undersized and then glassed top and bottom. Also considered buying an English wheel and trying my hand at it. May build the car with provision for the hood and do hood after car is on the road. As it stands that hood seems like a daunting task to tackle.