One day at a time. The journey of a T Bucket build

[T-Rex]

Bill, Nope. Unless I can hang it on 4 skyhooks.

Here are a few more from todays activities.

Test fitting body. Cutting firewall for 700R4 Trans.

[T-Rex]

Didn't get much done today. I reencountered problems I knew about but thought I had solved. No such luck. So basically 2 days of much work with no rewards. It would be a whole lot better if I had a place to work and didn't have to pack it all away each night.

Anyway ... (The last pic is my work area)

[T-Rex]

Didn't get as much done this weekend as planned due to waiting for a delivery and ... it's too dang HOT.

Just to keep things moving...

That shock bracket is NOT the actual bracket, just a test piece to make sure things fit. They do, in fact I can lower it about an inch.

[Dennis Neblock]

Oh, the wooden wheel. People made fun of mine, but be brave, it's the best way to do it. Couple things, in case you haven't thought of it. I used a dummy shock bar set for the correct length of your coil-over at ride height. They are more out of the way while you fab up and if it doesn't work out you haven't bought an expensive set of coil-overs. Second, we all like a tight tunnel on the transmission but don't forget about a Lokar style dipstick, if you can stick your index finger in there you should be good to go. One last thing, I set mine and I think from what I see a lot of others are similar, at about a 3 degree chassis rake. Use your eye but that might give you a starting point. Just remember to add it in when you set the castor on the front axle.

[T-Rex]

Dennis, What's wrong with wooden wheels? Apart from the fact they are way too skinny. Dummy shock, check... to a point. Trans tunnel, yep... needs more work. Chassis rake, check. Castor ... check. All things I've taken into account but thanks for the tips. I appreciate it.

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No pics today. Made a prototype shock mount. Seems like it will work. I'll have to wait until saturday to really check.

I was going to start building the engine today. At least get the crank in. I say 'was going to' because I couldn't find the main caps. Could have sworn I put them - there. Nope. Oh heck, where are they? After looking just about everywhere (which is not like me as everything is in labelled boxes) I finally found them in the last place I looked. My bedroom closet. Don't ask. Now it's too late to start.

[rbsWELDER]

"I was going to start building the engine today."

Out of wood? Maybe the pointer was moving to fast for me!

[T-Rex]

"I was going to start building the engine today."

Out of wood? Maybe the pointer was moving to fast for me!

Well it is a FORD (Fix or replace daily).

Actually a Chevy so no wood in sight.

When I was a kid my dad did a lot of maintenance on his and my 2 brothers cars. I remember one job in particular. My bothers old Holden (one for you Aussies out there) needed new main and rod bearings. Now, we were not 'well off' and had to make do with what we had or could scrounge. So Saturday came around, time to do the job. Dad jacked up the front of the car, removed the oil pan, and took off the main caps. When he finished his can of Coca-cola he took out the tin snips and cut into the can. Strips just about as wide as the bearings. Yep. He inserted the strips and replaced the main caps. Then did the same thing for the rods. Car ran great for 2 years or so until my brother sold it for something just as old. I guess things really do go better with Coca-Cola.

True story.

[rbsWELDER]

Fascinating T-Rex!

[fwestrup]

I can't get over the progress you are making on your build and in sure a tight space, hope to see you on the road soon, if we ever get a chance to get out again.

[T-Rex]

Thank you. It's getting there. I'm doing little things that don't seem very important or making any progress, but they make the bigger things go faster when I get to them.
It would go a lot faster if I could work on it during the week. This 'weekend only' situation is really bugging me. I might get a storage unit sooner than I had planned just to get things moving.

Also, I am thinking about buying a small trailer and a hitch for the car. I'm at the stage where I need to power wash the block but that means taking it to a car wash. I have a pressure washer but can't use it here. I can't just throw a block in the trunk. Then there is moving the frame back and forth to the welder guy. When the build is done I'd modify the trailer for use behind the T Bucket.

Stay tuned for more.