Thread: New from Lathrop, CA.....WHERE?

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Hi...One of my latest finds is this all original Dan Woods T Bucket built in the late 1960s or early 1970s. It has since had a motor swap as it now has a late 70s early 80s 305 Chevy....Dan Woods was the creator of the "Milk Truck" that he built in the 1960s when he was 16 years old. The T grabbed the attention of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth who then hired Dan Woods to work for him.


Will probably leave it as is...mechanically it runs great, and is one bitchen looking T...then again, maybe it deserves to be restored!

Welcome to CHR!

Part of me says, “leave it as it..” but the louder voice screams, “Polish the brass, detail that engine, restore the paint and interior and new headers!”

Either way a real piece of history. Thanks for posting.

Regards,
Glenn

Man I love that the only thing I think I'd do if it were mine is put a nailhead in it with 2 4s just for fun

That steering box setup scares the h_ll out of me!

I know it is your car to do whatever and I would think to leave it alone as is,BUT, I would have to look at the steering set up and ,yeah Dan Woods built some nice cars, BUT, did he drive them ? Make it safe to drive and use it for awhile until you know what you want to do with it.

Very kewl find!!!! I'm with the "other side" of Glenn on this one, polish the brass, restore the paint and interior, some new headers and hold onto it!!!! Oh yeah, welcome to CHR, good having you with us!

Sweeeet Ride.... Make it as safe as possible and drive it. You can always change things later if you so desire. Think Id set the driving hook deep in my mouth and just enjoy driving it for awhile. Changing out small things as time, money and desire allows. But safety first and foremost!

Just my .02... Enjoy and welcome to a cool site. New here myself and everyone seems to be very helpful. Again welcome!

Originally Posted by 34_40

That steering box setup scares the h_ll out of me!

First drive was a bit scary...rebuilt the Corvair box, and lubed up the front end. second drive much better....ya just gotta get the right slump/lean, and she steers great...it can be a handful especially when ya nail it off the line and it hits the next two gears....nothin cooler then a crossed up T Bucket smokin the tires!

I dont want to be a stick in the mud but until you get some wheel time in I'd take it stupid easy with her! They aren't your regular hot rod. I've lost two friends in those things, both from being squirrel and ejected... My buddy had it sliding sideways and bumped a curb. It spit him out on his head and that was the end. They recovered his car a few blocks across town as it stopped on its own... Another came off the hwy. off ramp too hot and overshot the corner. He planted it into a building and the wall stopped him. It was so light that the film of oil on the street erased what little braking grip he had... Be careful in that thing!

Originally Posted by flootiebuell

First drive was a bit scary...rebuilt the Corvair box, and lubed up the front end. second drive much better....ya just gotta get the right slump/lean, and she steers great...it can be a handful especially when ya nail it off the line and it hits the next two gears....nothin cooler then a crossed up T Bucket smokin the tires!

The part that really "bugs" me is the close proximity of the pitman arm to the ground. One good speed bump or driveway... at least that is how it appears in that picture.

First, welcome to CHR! Sorry I missed the post initially, but welcome. That's a really cool old T-bucket, the lines are great and it sits "right". I agree with MT1, I'd not start tearing into it for a re-work, but instead would drive it - apart from one thing. I've never liked or been able to abide those pure vertical, through the floor steering columns. Yeah, I know it's one of those "Dan Woods" features, but before I put much "stick time" in that one I would be looking at how to re-work that column, and like Mike says get the pitman arm up away from potholes, speedbumps or driveway swales. Maybe something like the SteerClear due to space constraints?? I recall that Master Builder Ken Thurm, who left the forum quite some time back, was using his own version of a SteerClear on a new one he was doing - Steer Clear Steering System - Street Rodder Magazine

Since its an all original----------and the majority votes for steering changes------take out the column /box and set on a shelf somewhere so as to have all the original stuff-

Put in a shorter column---both from top and bottom perseptives---lowered steering wheel, raised box/pitman arm---use a center link in the shaft going forward---------


Of course, if you hit those speed bumps fast enough, you'll bounce high enough for the pitman arm to clear----