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Hot Rods Total T questions

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Gearhead Graphics, Oct 1, 2019.

  1. Gearhead Graphics
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 3,890

    Gearhead Graphics
    Member
    from Denver Co

    I just picked up a wrecked total t. Plan is to knock the 90s off it and make a tribute to the t my dad built, and sold to have me.

    The passenger spindle was bent in the wreck. They're stamped "total" but appear to be chevy style spindles. Does anyone know what they were made to resemble?

    Photos to come, currently sorting out broken and repairable parts.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. KevKo
    Joined: Jun 25, 2009
    Posts: 926

    KevKo
    Member
    from Motown

    Pretty sure Speedway bought all the Total Performance T stuff. I'd try them.
     
  3. Fordors
    Joined: Sep 22, 2016
    Posts: 5,373

    Fordors
    Member

    B70B8999-1A90-4C1F-A217-B0E3C730C37C.jpeg
    Looks like an early Chevy, takes early Ford hubs, Chevy disc brackets and steering arms, and Econoline king pins. No idea why they developed a hybrid with so many differences other then marketing. If you bought their front axle kit to build a T then you were locked into their spindles. Cast ductile iron.
    Designed for the 1923 T bucket and vehicles with 106” wheelbase or shorter. Oh really? And what makes them so special for those cars?
    That is just Total BS.
     
    Last edited: Oct 1, 2019
    dana barlow and loudbang like this.
  4. Gearhead Graphics
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 3,890

    Gearhead Graphics
    Member
    from Denver Co

    Yeah. Lots of odd stuff, good way to lock in a customer.
    Speedway no longer makes total stuff, but did confirm the correct parts I need to replace it.
     
    loudbang and catdad49 like this.

  5. RAT "T"
    Joined: Mar 27, 2010
    Posts: 334

    RAT "T"
    Member

    MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO CHECK THE CROSSMEMBERS, MINE WERE BOLTED IN WITH A SELF TAPPING TRIANGULAR SHAPED BOLT THAT LOOSENED UP AFTER A WHILE
     
    loudbang likes this.
  6. What makes you think the actual spindle is bent? If that centerline wheel is what was on it at the time it was wrecked I can't believe the spindle shaft is hurt. That Alum wheel isn't hurt bad enough to bend anything else. Do some more checking on the rest of your steering parts before you just start spending money. How about a photo of what you think is damage.
     
  7. Had a Total Performance T in the 80"s.The spindles looked just like 49-54 Chevy car spindles.
     
  8. Gearhead Graphics
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 3,890

    Gearhead Graphics
    Member
    from Denver Co

    Well the wheel sat cockeyed once it had air in the tire and the king pin was definitely bent. I guess I should finish pulling apart the other hub and look.
    I need to take a lot of photos.

    And yes, @RAT "T" you're correct, self tappers on the cross members and coil over mounts, they will all be going away, as with the nutsert body mounts that all pulled out in the wreck


     
    loudbang and 2OLD2FAST like this.
  9. Knowing just a little bit about Spindles and Wrecks, those Tube Axles, welding on mount hardware and seeing your bent Tie Rod the Forged spindle would be the last thing on my list to think was the cause of the Wheel sitting Cockeyed. Your saying the King Pin itself is bent but I'd bet it's the actual King Pin Boss bent with the Tube Axle outboard of the welded on hair pin bracket.
     
    upspirate likes this.
  10. Gearhead Graphics
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 3,890

    Gearhead Graphics
    Member
    from Denver Co

    If that spindle isn't bent... then I dunno what bent is...
     

    Attached Files:

    wvenfield, loudbang and Inked Monkey like this.
  11. 41rodderz
    Joined: Sep 27, 2010
    Posts: 6,540

    41rodderz
    Member
    from Oregon

    Apparently , you are a smart feller.:D
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  12. Yeah, looks bent.You might find one on e bay.Other wise that spindle is such a hybrid that you may have to replace the axle to one that takes ford spindles to repair it.
     
  13. Try a 1949-1954 Chevrolet front spindle. Make bushings to fit the king pin bore, and have the I. D. bored, and reamed to the Econoline king pin size
     
    hrm2k likes this.
  14. Fordors
    Joined: Sep 22, 2016
    Posts: 5,373

    Fordors
    Member

    Be sure to verify that the king pin inclination is the same also.
     
    irishsteve likes this.
  15. Pretty sure I have this magazine. Let me know and I will go dig it out. I was involved with road test back in 75.
    I also think Speedway bought them out! Good Luck.

    Larry 001.jpg
     
  16. From a earlier post....uses Ford hubs.This spindle was a custom mess.
     
    seb fontana likes this.
  17. 2OLD2FAST
    Joined: Feb 3, 2010
    Posts: 5,217

    2OLD2FAST
    Member
    from illinois

    It's possible that axle could be bored,/sleeved/spaced/ modified to acceptv49-54 Chevy spindles if the geometry ,( K.P.A.) is compatible , otherwise you're looking at a whole new assy .
    Hope you got a good deal on it .
    I put your picture on the nationaoTbucketalliance Facebook page because I thought I'd seen that car before , best guess is it was a total performance co. car used for advertising , it was in the total catalog in about '96 +-
     
  18. Well I sure agree with you now! I can't believe how well that wheel survived the hit. :eek:
     
  19. 0NE BAD 51 MERC
    Joined: Nov 12, 2010
    Posts: 1,783

    0NE BAD 51 MERC
    Member

    Those entire axle assemblies where pretty lite weight. If the spindle is bent , which your photo shows, the axle itself did not survive without damage either. Order a new axle assembly and replace also level the chassis and measure to see if it is straight and square . They are nothing but 2x3 box tubing with lite weight cross members and spring out of shape with little effort.
     
    Hollywood-East likes this.
  20. 2OLD2FAST
    Joined: Feb 3, 2010
    Posts: 5,217

    2OLD2FAST
    Member
    from illinois

    One person said on the aforementioned Facebook page that he may have a spindle
     
  21. flatheadgary
    Joined: Jul 17, 2007
    Posts: 1,012

    flatheadgary
    Member
    from boron,ca

    if the pic of the brown t is your fathers, you will have to do some frame surgery to get it like that one. obviously get rid of the grille and if i was you, i would just buy a new front end from speedway. you can see how much longer the front of the frame is on your t. cut it off and weld a new crossmember in. put the tie rod behind the axle too. i have always thought it is dumb to use your tie rod as a bumper.
     
  22. manyolcars
    Joined: Mar 30, 2001
    Posts: 9,176

    manyolcars

    How do you read others posts?
     
  23. RAT "T"
    Joined: Mar 27, 2010
    Posts: 334

    RAT "T"
    Member

    I HAVE A 40" TV I USE AS A MONITOR, BUT I CAN'T SEE LOWER CASE LETTERS THAT WELL AS I'M TYPING. I ALSO HAVE TO HOLD THE KEYBOARD ABOUT 5" FROM MY FACE TO SEE THE LETTERS
     
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  24. flatheadgary
    Joined: Jul 17, 2007
    Posts: 1,012

    flatheadgary
    Member
    from boron,ca

    i find it pretty silly to worry about how somebody types. it's just stupid internet crap about typing in caps. if the person is ragging on something what difference does it make if it's caps or not. don't tell me it's internet edict either. you should be happy his english is readable compared to some. i wouldn't mind if there highlighted either. i am old too.
     
  25. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Well we now know and understand Rat T's situation and so be it.
    On the T we know it needs an Axle, tie rod, spindle, at least one hairpin and ?? what else on the front end. that might justify a swap to a complete new front end setup.
     
  26. Gearhead Graphics
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 3,890

    Gearhead Graphics
    Member
    from Denver Co

    Speedway does a spindle they say fits, but I haven't gotten it in my hand yet.
    Frame is square, amazingly.
    Yes, I know it's longer than the one my dad had, it's also a stretched body that wasn't available when dad built his. It won't be a clone, but a tribute. And yes, I'm considering shortening the frame some too.
    Have a link to the Facebook group?

    Going to take the axle to get it checked out, if it's straight I'll keep it, if not I'll be changing out to something much less convoluted.
    So many things to keep me busy on it, I haven't gotten nailed down on the front yet.
     
  27. manyolcars
    Joined: Mar 30, 2001
    Posts: 9,176

    manyolcars

    THANK YOU FOR THE RESPONSE. I HAVE SEEN A GUY USING A SCREEN WITH A MAGNIFIER CLOSE TO HIS FACE
     
    RAT "T" likes this.
  28. Gearhead Graphics
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 3,890

    Gearhead Graphics
    Member
    from Denver Co

    Tie rod and spindle for sure. Hairpin it just sheared the heim joints off, they will come out easy. Taking the axle to check it for true. If its bent, yes, whole new setup and less confusing spindles. Trying to save 700 plus dollars and not buy new axle. keeping my fingers crossed.

     
  29. 2OLD2FAST
    Joined: Feb 3, 2010
    Posts: 5,217

    2OLD2FAST
    Member
    from illinois

    With the spindle bent like that ,is the hub/ bearings ok ?
     
  30. Gearhead Graphics
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 3,890

    Gearhead Graphics
    Member
    from Denver Co

    Hub was a fancy aluminum willwood job, It was a 2 piece unit. When I unbolted it, there were 4 or 5 pieces.
    Amazing all the damage, caused by drilling a hole in the steering box because the splines in the column were worn out.
    So many high dollar parts on the car, so many corners cut.


     

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