Trip Down Memory Lane

[Indycars]

That's not me in the pic without a shirt, that's my friend David ...... I'm much better looking. We worked together when I was in high school. The TBucket was built at his house in a ONE car garage while I was in school at Okla State Univ. Took roughly two years working on weekends, the car was about 80 minutes away.

Notice the price of $159.95 in the top left corner.



The car just after graduating from OSU and moved to Houston in 1980 for a job. Loaded it inside a Ryder truck and towed a 1976 Toyota Celica behind. So all three of us show-up in Houston at about 4:30 pm and I have not idea where I'm going.



Today


I just couldn't resist posting when I stumbled across these pics now that I can't drive the car anymore. Had to take a trip down memory lane!!!

Thanks for looking!!!
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[LongJohn]

I wish I had pictures of my first bucket. I just didn’t think about documenting progress. I built mine in my parents basement. I think it was about 2 years to build also.

 

[Spanky]

Here's my 1st . . .bought, not built. I think I paid $4,000 for it. Kept it a couple of years & sold it to build one. It had a stock Chevy 307 and TH 350 trans. Kinda rough in spots but still fun.

 

[lincolnuT]

Rick what do you mean you can't drive anymore..........I like your car and you most of the time.......With the Nationals being in Artesia New Mexico in 2025 I was hoping to see you all one more time................

 

[Indycars]

I like your car and you most of the time

Funny ...LOL!

I haven't driven the TBucket for about 1.5 years now because of my eye sight. Didn't figure my eye sight and a 500HP/1900lb TBucket would mix well. I haven't driven the family car either now for roughly 5 months and even before that it made me nervous to drive to well know destinations, never to places I was not familiar with. My visual acuity is 20/200, so what I see at 20 feet, a person with 20/20 could see at 200 feet. I've been seeing a Retina specialist for 3 years now.

I do miss driving the TBucket so!!! I've had several operations and injections, but they have been of little help.

Thanks for asking.

 

[lincolnuT]

Damn sorry to hear that and I wish you the best......

 

[fletcherson]

Funny ...LOL!

I haven't driven the TBucket for about 1.5 years now because of my eye sight. Didn't figure my eye sight and a 500HP/1900lb TBucket would mix well. I haven't driven the family car either now for roughly 5 months and even before that it made me nervous to drive to well know destinations, never to places I was not familiar with. My visual acuity is 20/200, so what I see at 20 feet, a person with 20/20 could see at 200 feet. I've been seeing a Retina specialist for 3 years now.

I do miss driving the TBucket so!!! I've had several operations and injections, but they have been of little help.

Thanks for asking.

 

[fletcherson]

Sorry to hear that. I wish you the best in recovery. I can relate in a similar situation. I’ve been trying things I never dreamed of in an attempt to alleviate spinal issues and recover physical function. It’s not enjoyable.

 

[Spanky]

Rick, I remember when you built your own custom headers. That was quite a thread!

Header Design & Build

GM spends millions of $$ on exhaust-sound research, and puts a lot of engineering know-how into the design of exhaust systems, especially for 'performance' vehicles. I'm looking forward to the systems you guys come up with. :thumbsup: Well since you made the above statement, I'm guessing you...

tbucketeer.com

 

[Indycars]

Sorry to hear that. I wish you the best in recovery. I can relate in a similar situation.

Thanks @fletcherson. The recovery is over now, this has been going on for several years now.

We all have some kind of hardship to bear by the time we get this old! LOL!!!
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[Indycars]

Rick, I remember when you built your own custom headers. That was quite a thread!

Thanks Spanky, I sure did enjoy that project!

BTW, anyone that goes for custom headers, the O2 sensor should be at least 12-18 inches from the exhaust exit. It's amazing how much air travels up the exhaust collector during the reversion process and dilutes the exhaust gases, rendering the O2 sensor invalid.

I had to be turning maybe 2500 rpm before I got a reasonable number. It was off the scale lean at idle.
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