Another build thread? Yep, my track-style T

[Whiplash23T]

Hi Jim, I'm new to this club (if that is the correct name) and have spend the last few days reading your build thread. I must admit that I have had to go back and reread some of the input from fellow members in regard of how you have nutted out problems etc. I have enjoyed your thread and also have learnt a great deal from it,thankyou. Now I know you were going to use those bucket seats then changed to a bench type of seat that really got my attention,but towards the end of your threads you stated something about using bomber type seats. Why I'm asking is that I am almost at the stage of working out seating for my Bucket and want to get away from that sitting on top of the Bucket to sitting inside my Bucket feel. I had not thought of the idea of using (oh heck,my brain has gone dead) ribbon I think then foam to form the seat base as like you and your friends,my T will be driven and not trailled, so must be comfortable to drive and when I arrive to theplace I'm driving to ,I don't need a walking frame to be able to walk.I also noticed that you havn't posted for awhile so I hope all is well up your side of the world.
Cheers Whiplash.

[J. Robinson]

Hi Whiplash and welcome to Club Hotrod. Yes, all is well here. I have been sidetracked on home improvement projects and not spent any "quality time" on my T build for several months. Also, we have been having one of the coldest, longest winters in history for our part of the country, so when I do have time to do anything, I end up staying indoors quite a bit.

Like you, I want to sit down low in my T. I have studied the old "track T's" of the late 1940s - early 1950s and most of the drivers of those cars sat down low. The high seating position with a tall windshield and really tall top is a trend that came about with the fad-T's of the 1970s. There's nothing wrong with that, just not for this style car. I also needed to get down low enough that a rollbar wouldn't look out of proportion. The first set of seats looked like they would be just the right thing, but the shape of the bottom boosted them up too high when I tilted them back to a comfortable position. If I attempt to remove the upholstery and re-shape the bucket, then the upholstery won't go back in. So, rather than ruin a perfectly good pair of seats, I have put them aside to use on a '64 Falcon gasser project that is awaiting my attention.

The wood frame with web straps in the bottom is nothing new; upholsterers and furniture makers have been building seats like that for a couple hundred years (since before springs and foam rubber were available). The straps will stretch and move slightly to relieve pressure on the tailbone and hip joints... Now, however, I am considering tearing it all out again and getting a pair of bomber-style seats. Military surplus aircraft seats were the common type of seat used when the "Roaring Roadsters" dominated the short tracks of the post-war era and I think they would look good in my roadster. Whatever/ whenever I decide, it will be posted here.

In the meatime, check out the thread below. Don (Itoldyouso) started out to build a "budget" T roadster. He blew the budget early on, but built one of the nicest T-buckets I have seen in a long time. The pics don't do this car justice; in person it is just fantastic. http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23618 .

Post some pics of your car on this forum. We all like pictures!

[Whiplash23T]

Thanks for your rapid reply Jim. I will try and upload some photos of my T and I will get in first.... The steering wheel is on the right/wrong side and yes, it does make the problem of fighting your way around the starter motor for the steering box.

[Whiplash23T]

Sorry I forgot to post a better photo of my T.

[Whiplash23T]

Hey Jim, Am I right in shout out one loud HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you today. I also started in on Don's Itolduso site and agree..... awesome car and well worth the 200 + pages.....need read,thanks.

[J. Robinson]

Thanks, Whiplash. Yeah, I'm 62 today which means I am now officially an old fart! That's OK, though. Now I can blame all my mistakes on senility!

Your T is lookin' good. It is nicely proportioned. I like the longer bed; it's a pleasant change from the thousands of short ones we see most of the time. Nice choice of wheels, too. I noticed in an earlier pic that the body has steel reinforcement inside. Did it come that way or did you fabricate the reinforcement yourself?

[stovens]

Happy birthday Jim! Do something fun today.

[Whiplash23T]

Hi Jim, I originally purchased the car 10 years or so ago as a finished legal road worthy car that I enjoyed driving over our summer months. I worked out what had to be improved and what needed to be reworked to make it safer and better mannered driving car. When purchased it had a wooden flat deck that once had stake style sides on it which I didn't like so managed to find a fibreglass pickup bed and tailgate for it which improved the look. Again used over the next summer but one of the main problems with it was that the rack and pinion steering was bolted direct to the I beam and apart from been worn out, the car wandered all over the road which made for an unpleasant drive. So, I am sure you can guess what happen then? I pulled it apart to fix one problem and ended up with a bare chassis sitting on the garage floor with the idea of while I am doing that I should also do this etc. The only original parts on the car now are the basic frame, body, 350 block and t400 trans and the 10 bolt diff. After getting it all together apart from final paint and upholstery and using for another summer I decided I need opening doors to aid in getting my old bones in and out of it, hence the steel work. I have also lost my job recently so that has pulled the handbrake on at the moment. I have to get out in the garage and start playing with my tig welder again to improve my welding skills so that when the money starts flowing in again I will be confident enough to get stuck into it quickly.

[Whiplash23T]

Hi Jim, I originally purchased the car 10 years or so ago as a finished legal road worthy car that I enjoyed driving over our summer months. I worked out what had to be improved and what needed to be reworked to make it safer and better mannered driving car. When purchased it had a wooden flat deck that once had stake style sides on it which I didn't like so managed to find a fibreglass pickup bed and tailgate for it which improved the look. Again used over the next summer but one of the main problems with it was that the rack and pinion steering was bolted direct to the I beam and apart from been worn out, the car wandered all over the road which made for an unpleasant drive. So, I am sure you can guess what happen then? I pulled it apart to fix one problem and ended up with a bare chassis sitting on the garage floor with the idea of while I am doing that I should also do this etc. The only original parts on the car now are the basic frame, body, 350 block and t400 trans and the 10 bolt diff. After getting it all together apart from final paint and upholstery and using for another summer I decided I need opening doors to aid in getting my old bones in and out of it, hence the steel work. I have also lost my job recently so that has pulled the handbrake on at the moment. I have to get out in the garage and start playing with my tig welder again to improve my welding skills so that when the money starts flowing in again I will be confident enough to get stuck into it quickly.

[Mr Blue]

Happy Late Birthday J.
Love that intake. Looks realy cool to be sure. car is coming along great!

Whiplash. Cool T. must be different driving from that side!
Don Jr.

[Whiplash23T]

Hello Don Jr, I have just looked up the Atlas to find Bonita Springs and man that place looks to close too aligator swampland. I would be to afraid to let my pet cats or dog out encase their make a meal for something. You haven't told us where your dad was moving too,hopefully not too far from you.I have never been out of NZ and if I had the money to, I would love to fly to LA,purchase an old rod and travel all over your great country. Thanks for the compliment on my bucket. I am envious of your T too.

[J. Robinson]

Hello Mr. Blue! Thank you. Did you ever go any farther on your plans to build a Grafitti Coupe? We'll be wanting pictures when you do... Is your dad moving his living quarters, his shop, or both? Tell him we're all waiting for updates on his '27 rebuild and Dan's roadster pickup.

Whiplash - Looks like the 10 years has paid off so far; nice car. There are a few on this site who will adamantly disagree with me, but putting a rack & pinion unit directly on a sraight front axle is just trouble looking for a palce to happen. You apparently experienced that and I'm glad you changed it. I bet it drives much better now, huh? If you have enough pics of your proceedure for opening the doors, there are some of us who would like to see a "how to" thread on that.

Don Jr.(Mr. BLue) and his dad (Itoldyouso) have two of the nicest T's that I've seen in recent memory. Both are always immaculately clean and impeccably detailed. When I get mine on the road I'm going to park it on the opposite side of the field so mine won't be compared to theirs! Seriously, Don, maybe we (you, your dad, and I) should make plans toward the T-bucket nationals in another year..?

[Whiplash23T]

Sorry, but I don't have the confidence on a " how to " thread. I struggle out in the garage attempting to put my ideas I have in my head into fact and I end up asking the Lord for forgiveness because I get so fustrated because my brain says "do it this way,but my hands do it that way,and it is rubbish". So I tend to do most things 2 to 3 times before it passes my inspection. My X-wife always said I was a perfectionist in everything I tried.Maybe she was correct

[lamin8r]

Jim,,maybe if Whiplash takes the pix,and e mails them to us,we could help with the how to..Just a thought..

[Whiplash23T]

Well guys, to be totally honest,I'm just a dumb blonde that has just managed to teach myself how to use this laptop, so to start my own thread would be like asking me to build the next space shuttle. But in saying that, I have taken some more photos of where I'm upto on steeling out the bucket body for opening the doors..so with baited breath... I will try to upload them... Sorry If I am pushing in on someones thread. Sorry I have just previewed this post,and man, have screwed up big time.... now how do I resize those photos again.