Thinking of getting a 23 T-bucket, any BTDT?
 

Title says it all.
Always wanted a 23 t bucket with a supercharged chebby small block, front disc brakes, etc. A driver, not a show car.

I know it isn't practical, I know it doesn't make sense, but it would just be an occasional weekend car. Just somethnig to put around in and cruise over to friend's houses etc.

If anyone has experience with one, nowz your chance to talk me out of it ;)

I think you should go for it. if you keep it up its always going to be worth something.

You might want to test drive one if at all possible.

I drove a buddies once. Scared the crap outta me!!!!

His was a small block Chevy, N/A with a Powerglide.
That car would fry the 33 inch wide Mickey's at will.

Obviously, you could drive it like a sane person but c'mon, ya gotta light 'em up once in a while.

Have friend that has 32 Ford 5 window coupe with steel body....just finished and is about perfect, poured bunches of money into the project...wants 60K....appraised for more...has BMW buckets, Chevy motor, Fresh Red paint...power windows, AC, and the list goes on and on and on.....he lives in SO CA....

The T's have had a convention(?) in my town in July the last few years. I've seen some neat stuff and there's lots of camaraderie but it's not my kind of nuts & bolts activity.
They're pretty cramped to drive or ride in for more than a few miles. But kind of like playing a banjo, you can't do it without a smile on your face.
Jim

I use to be in a Hot Rod club, and too have always wanted a T-bucket. Is it a glass body or steel, real or kit?? Jag rear?? I say go for it!!!! Post pix!!!

Your killin' me man. I would LOVE to have a T-bucket. They rock.

Go for it!

My next project is going to be a 32 5 window (Like Milners in American Graffiti). I had bought a 34 Ford f/g kit yrs ago, never got to build it and wound up selling it.
Now I have the room and the time

It's going to be a rough ride, not something for a long trip. Do you go to the Donut shop on Adams and Magnolia in HB? Or the end of Crown Valley at PCH in Dana Point, always some around. Usually a 23 with a flathead and a glass one with a chevy, sometimes a bantam body chevy bucket, not my choice but not my ride.
I think at least a 32 type with the longer wheelbase, won't kill you so bad on the road.

I know two different guys that have had them. After about 6 months they hated them. No one wanted to ride it them after they'd been in it once.

*****en ride man!!!!

valid point, but they aren't built for road trips, just Cruises. I have a few friends with them, one has had his for over 20 years.

Coffin on wheels.

Insane power to weigh ratio, cannot get the power down to the wheels, and cannot stop worth a damn.

I loved them too when I was teen. I would never own one now.

I used to think you were crazy now I can clearly see your nuts.

Friend has his Red 32 5 window, steel body coupe, freshly done... FOR SALE....asking 60K...

That is about what he has in it....and that is what it would take to do one right.

If your a serious buyer this is the one...to take a serious look at. If ya want give a PM and I will give his number to ya...

Friend is a retired electrical contractor that builds M$ homes for people with dinero to keep himslef busy. He has built more hot ski boats over the years for the river than you can shake a stick at.

one of my dream cars:D
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1215480289.jpg

Thanks Tabs. Appreciate it. But I'm lookin for a ground up project.
I'm probably going to pick up the frame and body , and work from there.

I'd love a 32 highboy but the prices are still way up there. I drove a buddy's T bucket about 20 years ago, total blast but just a short trip cruiser. he didn't have front brakes and stopping sucked in that one, if I get one it'll have to have front discs.
His was a 400 cu.in. blown motor built by a pro, had to be 550 hp. I dumped it into second on the freeway once and punched it, lit up the plastic tires and almost looped it.
Don't need that kind of power. The best thing about a T is you don't have to go fast. Everyone knows it's killer, so you have nothing to prove. Just putting around town on a nice Sunday afternoon, getting thumbs up and pulling into a drive-in and talking nuts and bolts with gear heads. Doesn't get much better than that. I know they're not the safest thing on the road but I used to race a blown flatbottom so I know how to back out of it when it gets weird ;)

The prices are pretty low right now on em because of less disposable income. I could get a nice clean one for around $20k. A 32 in the same condition will cost twice as much.
Here's a couple different examples of what I'm leaning towards:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1215482346.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1215482355.jpg

If you have the cash that's the way to go but it's a whole bunch cheaper letting someone else do the work and take the hit. Building one from scratch usually means you'll only get back half if you ever want to sell it.
If you can find a project that's about half done you can get in cheaper and still make it your own.

Funny thing is, many years ago I got back into Porsches because I told the wife I wanted to build either a 23 T or a 427 cobra. When I told her what I thought it would cost she said "why don't you start fixing up old cars and selling them like you did when you were a kid" so I did.
I drug home a 914 the next day and started building a turbocharger system for it.
So I'm still basically on the original track, I just had no idea it would take this long ;)

I hear ya! Way easier picking up someone elses car. But to me, the fun is in the build. Anybody can lay out some scratch and drive something that someone else put together. Theres no better feeling when you turn the key and hear something that you built run for the first time!:cool:

Always wanted to do a 427 Cobra too, but the prices on them got out of hand.

Uncomfortable, knees in the chest, harsh riding, no fenders/wipers (iffy weather/rain? ...no way), overpowered-short wheelbase, gas hog (if blown)
no spare tire, no room.

Otherwise, if you aspire to the 'look-at-me' syndrome ...then carry on brother!

I could say hundreds of similar things about a 69 911 T.
I think you missed the point completely.

Well, actually no you couldn't. But i get your drift.

FIL had a t-bucket. very hot 327 in it (broke the alternator mount several times) and it was all of the things mentioned above. SCARY as ****, uncomfortable and so on. He was harassed pretty regularly by dirtbag cops with nothing better to do.

Front wheels came up easily.

Come to the Daytona Turkey Rod Run in Nov with me, we will find you a project there!!!!

A few years back (in the early 80's) another gear head/friend built one from scratch from one of the popular kits. He did a 6-71 huffed 1-to-1/ 427 BB chevy w T-400 trans. It was very well put together to include a custom roll cage. It had a bench seat (this is important info)
Soooooooooo.........................after some shakedown and tuning/braking issues he thinks this is pretty well sorted out. So he takes me for a ride. Now, mind you, I have driven and riden in some cars that most would be scared to get into. So I AM prepared for a thrill.
Off we go and he nails it at about 20mph................. that thing pulled so fast and hard I was literally being sucked out of the rear. He lets out of the throttle just before I yelled out. I had not ever been that close to dying before and I was white as a ghost.

He went back and yanked the bench seat deal out and replaced it with racing seats and belt harness. TOOOO much!!

I built a 32 roadster with a co worker a few years back. Fiberglass body and steel frame were pretty cheap (all new). Helped him rebuild a Ford 302 roller motor w/ a Tremec 5spd. Came out show car nice and he did it for under $20k.

T-buckets are cool but do something different.....put a BMW V12 up front.:)

Sidenote: Why do all hot-rodders morph into the same "dude" (shorts, white sneakers, Hawaiian shirt, ball-cap & full beard)? :confused:

http://www.corvettes-musclecars.com/...arShowDude.jpg

No way that'll ever be me, I wear flip-flops instead of sneakers and we have a no-beard policy at work ;)

That isn't just the Hot Rodders, but many guys over 40:p
You will not catch me in white sneakers, Vans are as close I get:cool: ball caps for the most part are out too, but I have been wearing hats lately, as my eye doctor told me that I need to for a while:(

I wasn't being critical of "those guys", just wondering why they all look the same?

I guess it's no different than any other uniform: "low-riders" (gangsta clothes/tats) or "Porsche guys" (pink/lime green polo shirt, plaid Bahama shorts & loafers)... :)

Sammy, have you been to the Long Beach Veterans stadium swap meet?

I have not been in years but when I did go there were lots and lots of various hot rods, muscle cars, race cars for sale.

If you go do not blame me if something weird on four wheels follows you home.;)

Every time I went I saw something I wanted to buy.

I used to go all the time back when I was still racing the boat but haven't been in a decade or so. It's still on Sunday about once a month, right? maybe I'll hit the one in august.

QUOTES: ....talk me out of it.

I think you missed the point completely.

______________

Tried my best.

Yeah.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1215577310.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1215577322.jpg