Thread: I couldn't build it for $3 K either!

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I am going to do that somewhere down the road, probably after I get my '27 back on the street. That way I'll have something to drive while I tear it apart to put the trips on.

BTW, I know this will sound like BS, but it is absolutely true. I had been getting 20+ mpg on the highway with my T. I finally have a couple of thousand miles on it and it seems to have finally seated, it has stopped using any oil at all. Anyway, on the way up to Billetproof I got about 25 mpg, going about 60-65 mph. On the way back on one leg we went 120 miles and I used just over 4 gallons of gas! We filled up in Ocala and when we stopped 120 miles later Dan thought I didn't fill it to the top, so I had him look in the tank. I couldn't get another drop in there.

While I am surprised, I think the combo of 3:00 gears and 30 inch rear tires are really doing it. At 60-65 I am just laying my foot lightly on the gas pedal, probably not turning over 2000 rpms (no tach but I can watch the arm on the carb and it is just off idle) The lack of wind resistance from it sitting so low probably helps too. That is one reason I am hesitant to pull the 600 cfm Edelbrock off, but if your experience and Gastricks experience are any indicators, my milage may actually improve!!

Don

Way big fun and way good fuel mpg!!!!! Who sez you can't have it all????? Way to go, Don!

Thanks Dave. Like I said, even Dan didn't believe me when we were refueling until he saw it for himself. And we know it was 120 miles because we started at mile marker 243 and refueled at 122. I'm liking these small block Chevies more and more all the time. I'm serious about that statement, I still like Ford small and big blocks, but this 350 just goes on down the road and never misses a beat. Obviously they wouldn't be the most swapped in engine if they weren't that way.

Don

Don
Just how light is that little gas milage wonder. I think we've found the hot rodders version of a prius!

I think Pops gets a couple extra mpg just by the aerodynamics of his "forehead"!

Tough crowd.


Don

Mike, i've just spent the last 3 huors reading and studing this thread. My hats off to you. that is going to be one of the sweetest T's i've ever seen. You must be very proud, and rightly so.

Ron

Check your PM's.

nice i always love too see those rides

Who says a guy can't get buy without spending a fortune in this hobby! Don's car is proof that you don't have to be a millionare to be a rodder!

You seem to have forgotten the pictures of the vault room loaded with cash!
Don said his vault was empty at the end of the build!!!HaHa!

I don't know about Don's vault, but mine sure has an echo now!

Who needs money, I think eating regularly is highly overrated anyway. My ex-wife and I were talking the other day and she was saying she is hesitating to buy a new condo because she wants to save the money for the kids for when something happens to her. I told her I am leaving them my inheritance in steel and fiberglass. As usual, she didn't see the humor in that comment.

Don

I always worry over that! I have some nice old tools, a harley and now the truck, all of value to the right person. To the wrong person they equal junk , but to the affectionato their very valuable. So if I pass before her, they'll go to the highest bidder at a steal! She just doesn't see the value in these things!
Vice versa, if she goes first her ceramic figurines, knitting supplies, etc.. would be sold for a huge loss!
Our legacy lasts only as long as there is someone to appreciate it! Luckily for you Don, both of your boys will inherit your passion, good memories, and an automotive legacy( much more valuable than cash in my opinion!)

Time for another update and this time I have pictures!

I got the new rearend installed. The new setup doesn't look much different than the old one, but does have a few changes. I lowered the bag mounts an 1 1/2" and lowered the bar mounts by about the same amount.

The bag mounts were modified because I noticed that when the mounted hieght of the bags was increased the suspension seemed to be more compliant. With the old setup this raised the back of the car and screwed up the rake.

The bar mounts were lowered to level them up. The angle of the bars relative to the ground at ride height effects roll steer in the rearend. Keeping the bars level should give neutral roll steer. I added an extra set of holes for a little adjustability.

I added extra holes for the lower shock mounts. Since the shocks serve as the lower stops for the suspension(to keep the bags from over-extending) I wanted some adjustment.

I also got the driveshaft finished. All 12" of it.

I also fabbed a brace for the brake pedal. It probably didn't really need it, but it couldn't hurt and proved to be a good place to mount the brake light switch. The switch is activated by an arm on an adjustable sleeve. This allows me to adjust where the switch turns on.

Why would that be so important? This car is going to have cruise control. I have a hydraulic switch on my 46 and it takes a pretty good tap on the brakes to get the cruise to disengage. That may be OK on a heavy car. but I don't want to get that rough with the brakes on a light car like this. With this mechanical switch setup I can have the cruise drop out with just a tiny bump on the brake pedal.

BTW The pics were taken with the frame upside down.