Hot Rod Ford T-Bucket with a Blown Big Block

**crowie** · 26th February 2018, 11:02 AM

Hot Rod Ford T-Bucket with a Blown Big Block....

This project has helped me keep an even keel over the past 7 weeks since the birth of our newest grandson...
He was born with heart issue having his first heart operation at day 2, followed by another minor op a week later.
He was allowed home at 2.5weeks for some 3weeks but last week things became an issue and he'd had to have his 6month heart operation so he's spent the past 1.5weeks in ICU at Westmead Children's Hospital. While he's stable with lots of special around the clock care by the beaut staff, it's a long slow road.
My prayers are for our youngest grandson to grow up healthy & strong to enjoy all the wooden toy vehicles I’ve made.
His 2 cousin [3 & 7 year old boys] gave it good test drive this last week and it has survived well.
*******************************************************************************************************************
This is the closest to “scratch built” that I’ve done thus far.

And firstly a few THANK YOU’S to those who has assisted, encouraged, and advised on the project…
Bruce, aka HTL; Alex, aka Little Black Duck; Jan, aka Dutchy and Tony, aka Grumpy

Each of these Lumberjocks have given me specific assistance on the build so gents, THANK YOU…

I started with a “Blown Big Block Ford” engine build then some clever computer overlay work to get the scale of the T-Bucket onto the base of a T&J plan; I’ve even done a blog on the project..
Hot Rod FORDS #1: Every good FORD has a big V8 engine.. - by crowie @ LumberJocks.com ~ woodworking community

Firstly, it’s a toy to be played with by our grandsons, taking some 50 – 60 hours.
The Engine is a mixture of “Spotted Gum”, “Iron Bark” and “Blackheart Sassafras” with “Tassie Oak” extractors and exhaust.
The Chassis is “Red Gum” with “American Walnut” a front transverse spring.
The Body sides are “Blackheart Sassafras” as is the firewall while the tailgate, front & rear bumper bars are 100+ year old “American Walnut”.
The Radiator is ””Blackheart Sassafras” with a “Merbau” insert and “silver solder” stays.
The Steering Wheel is home made from timber buttons on “American Walnut” post, with the Gear Stick also “American Walnut” but with an “Oak” bead glued to the top.
The Pedals are “American Walnut” on bamboo tooth picks.
The Seats are just a pretty figured & grains timber I found in my stash.
The Wheels are “Red Gum” with a “Huon Pine” highlight.
The Ford seat decals & tailgate badge speak for themselves, as does my “Peterbilt” number plate.
The Ford T-Bucket is 16” [400mm] long x 9” [230mm] wide x 5” [130mm] high.
The finish is 4 coats of clear satin polyurethane [satin was recommended by my friend Ian to highlight the timbers grain & figure]

A fun build which has tested and stretched me in a good way.

Here a selection of FINISHED project photos along with Work In Progress photos... Cheers Peter

aDSC03522.jpg IMG_2925.jpg IMG_2926.jpg IMG_2937.jpg IMG_2938.jpg IMG_2941.jpg IMG_2942.jpg IMG_2943.jpg IMG_2975.jpg IMG_2976.jpg IMG_2977.jpg IMG_2924.jpg aDSC03534.jpg aDSC03524.jpg aDSC03523.jpg aDSC03525.jpg aDSC03526.jpg aDSC03527.jpg aDSC03528.jpg aDSC03529.jpg aDSC03531.jpg aDSC03532.jpg aDSC03533.jpg IMG_3050.jpg IMG_3055.jpg IMG_3056.jpg IMG_3074.jpg IMG_3075.jpg IMG_3077.jpg IMG_3078.jpg IMG_3079.jpg IMG_3080.jpg IMG_3082.jpg IMG_3083.jpg IMG_3090.jpg IMG_3089.jpg IMG_3072.jpg IMG_3071.jpg IMG_3057.jpg IMG_3058.jpg IMG_3059.jpg IMG_3060.jpg IMG_3061.jpg IMG_3065.jpg IMG_3066.jpg IMG_3067.jpg IMG_3068.jpg IMG_3070.jpg IMG_3085.jpg aDSC03538.jpg IMG_2939.jpg

**crowie** · 26th February 2018, 11:05 AM

Here's a real one that "fenderbelly" found a while ago!!

1923 Ford T Bucket, i think !!!!!!

**Keith_1** · 26th February 2018, 11:17 AM

Pete,

That is really nice.

Fords are always going to look good.

Top work

Keith

**chambezio** · 26th February 2018, 11:37 AM

Would it be a "Ford" you are building?....It's a bit hard to make out past the signage......(tongue in cheek) Good looking job and seems very therapeutic for you too. I hope all goes well for the little bloke

**cava** · 26th February 2018, 12:08 PM

Wow.

How did you do the wheels?

**crowie** · 26th February 2018, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by cava

Wow.

How did you do the wheels?

G'Day George,
Rear wheels....10 blanks with a T/C holesaw followed by 20 slots in each wheel on a jig [which came from a mate in central Victoria]....
Front wheels....6 blanks with a T/C holesaw followed by 20 slots in each wheel on a jig...
Each blank is routered with a 1/8" roundover bit in the dremel before glueing and sanding on the disk sander...
The centres are then bored out from 1/4" to 5/16" along with the forstner bit to create the dish on the rear wheels...
Simple but time consuming....
Cheers, Peter..

PS - I did the wheel kerfing at 5deg when I should have done them at either 10 or 15deg...
I've attached a "pdf file" of the wheel jig....

**Uncle Al** · 26th February 2018, 01:23 PM

Ahh, a Peterbuilt hotrod!. This has kept you busy while the little bloke fights his battles.
Sincerely hope he will be able to play with this masterpiece in a year or so.
Really like the wheels, they look very appropriate for the vehicle.

Keep up the good work.

Alan...

**Treecycle** · 26th February 2018, 01:29 PM

Top job on that build Crowie. That's a fancy jig that LBD has designed and his write up is filled with his usual humour.
Thought recently I hadn't seen a lot of you lately and now I can fully understand why. I am sure that everyone here is with you and all pray that he will fight his way through this and live a happy healthy life. Television shows like RPA give you great hope when you see what miracles they can perform.

**Handyjack** · 26th February 2018, 06:58 PM

Our thoughts are with you and your grandson.
One of the girls who grew up with my son had heart operations when a baby. (26 years ago). She is soon to marry.

And I thought they no longer built "Ford's" in Australia. Well done.

**cava** · 26th February 2018, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by crowie

PS - I did the wheel kerfing at 5deg when I should have done them at either 10 or 15deg...
I've attached a "pdf file" of the wheel jig....

Thanks for the PDF, fascinating initial reading Peter.

**crowie** · 26th February 2018, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by cava

Thanks for the PDF, fascinating initial reading Peter.

Alex who designed and built the jig is a pretty smart cookie, for which I am very thankful....

**KBs PensNmore** · 27th February 2018, 12:10 AM

Lovely piece of work Peter, I like the little sign on the back bumper too.
Hopfully, Handy doesn't drive the Rod into something and damage it, before the little bloke can play with it
My thoughts are with you and the family that the little bloke (not handy) will make a full recovery.
Babies can be quite the little battler.
Kryn

**Dalboy** · 27th February 2018, 07:30 AM

Good to see that through all of the ups and downs of life that you are able to find a little therapy by going out to the shed. Hope everything is now starting to settle down our problems here are very minor compared to what you and the family have been going through.
I am not going out soon as it has now turned cold here as can be seen from this photo I captured off of my outside camera's. Taken within the last 1/2hour

snow .jpg

**robbygard** · 27th February 2018, 07:44 AM

impressive, peter ... i love the detail in it

regards david

**htl** · 27th February 2018, 10:50 AM

That there hot rod came out just right and read

y for the roads!!!

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