I am the proud owner of a 26 tall t. I am looking for frame and ft end options. I hear boxing will not hold up? Any help whould be great! You guys have been there done that...... What works ? Thanks.
I made the frame under my Bucket. It's just straight 2x3 steel tube. That way, you can kick up any part that needs it as far as ya want and suspension choices are wide open.
I used a T frame under my modified and ran two 4" channel cross members and boxed it and have not had any problems. I'm running a blown slant six motor with an automatic, been on the road for four years and I still love it. I used a 42 Ford pickup front end under mine with GM 12 bolt under the rear.
I would really like to use my frame if it will hold up. I heard that two stk frames mated together will hold up fine. Has this been done? I dont plan on this car hooking up. But I do want to drive it daily.
interesting, how is this done? one rail lapped into the other? you building a fenderless car? I used a boxed A frame under my open car, they can look good on a '32 frame too.
I'm planning on using a TT truck frame under my T roadster, boxed & with a custom X-member. Dimensionally the TT rails are very close to the size of A rails. Just have to shorten up the rear to get the wheelbase I want.
The stock Model A frame is a lot stiffer.A rectangular tube Model A chassis would be easier,and stiffer than trying to box the stock frame. JUst like these guys in England did : http://www.the-antidote.com/one/1chass01.htm
I too have a tall T body. No intentions of hijacking this thread.. Anyone have any experience with later 20ish Chevy frames?? I may get flamed here but it looks to me that Henry realized his simple rails were not holding up and he therefore modeled his 32 frame after these.. Flame away!!!
Rather than box the original T frame or try mating two, I would build new or box an original A frame. The T body will bolt right up to a A frame.
Friend of mine put a 27 T touring body and fenders on a California Custom Roadster built 2"x3" rectangular tube frame. Very nicely built and designed to take the torque of a Chevy 350. Total Performance offers one to. I am looking for a body like yours and if I find one I will most likely build my own frame out of 2"x4" tubing. Not much to it.
Hi, I have seen a 1932 frame boxed by using another 1932 frame...what they did is use the right side rail to box the inside of the left rail (a perfect match) and then do the same on the other side. It actually looked really clean. I'm sure that's what was meant by using 2 stock T frames (and much cheaper than 32 rails!) Good luck !!! Casper.
Not to hijack but I have another T frame if you need one! Cheap too! $50.00 you come get it. Good luck!
I think by the time you box or weld two overlapping t frame rails together, you would be much better off building a box tube frame. How long is a t frame? 10 feet? That's 40 feet of weld to weld and grind, all the while trying not to warp the pretty flimsy frame. And in the end, will it really be any more "traditional" or asthetically pleasing than a 1 1/2x3, or 2x3 built frame? You say your car is going to be a highboy, so fender and running board mounting is not going to be an issue. IMHO, spend $40-$50 on a couple 10 foot sticks of tubing. Karl
Model A frame is a good traditional starting point, step it in the back, maybe suicide front axle with bulldog spring perch if you want to get it low in the front, my first car I ever built, 42 yrs ago when I was 15, was a 27 T coupe channelled over an A frame built this way, with an Olds engine & hydramatic. Or use the stock front crossmember with a dropped axle and reverse eye spring. Back in the REALLY old days two T frames welded together, flat side to flat side, one upside down, was a way of using T frame and making stiffer, never tried it, just heard of it being done, saw pics somewhere. Would not go this way, frame is too short unless you are building a modified roadster or such Keep us posted on your build, pics etc. Good luck.
I like the idea of lapping the frames leave all the stock holes and skip weld it together, use Model A cross members, I think it'd be plenty strong those frames are super cheap, if not free. rectangle tube always looks like rectangle tube, no characture just a little too sanitary.
i think making one out of 2x3 steel is your easiest route... it's so much easier to weld on fresh metal
Thank you all for your help! I will let you know how it is going from time to time. I think it would just turn more heads if I use the two stk frames heck its worth a try.
I have seen a few lapped frames over here ,it was quite common in the early sixties when frames were a lot easier to get ,it was cheaper to get 2 frames rather than buying new steel to box up a frame ,repro frames are harder to get full registration over in Oz so if i had the option id go with joining the 2 together the 2 frames are mated together by slightly flaring the outside rails and slightly closing the inner rails just enough to allow them to over lap by about 1"then stitch welding together,some early chev body builders in Australia were doing this in the 1930s and its more common to find good chev chassis over here than for ones so it must have something going for it ,plus if you have 2 frames already give it a go ,and post some pics of the results as i think we can all take on some new ideas with some old time ingenuity
I have seen a few lapped frames over here ,it was quite common in the early sixties when frames were a lot easier to get ,it was cheaper to get 2 frames rather than buying new steel to box up a frame ,repro frames are harder to get full registration over in Oz so if i had the option id go with joining the 2 together the 2 frames are mated together by slightly flaring the outside rails and slightly closing the inner rails just enough to allow them to over lap by about 1"then stitch welding together,some early chev body builders in Australia were doing this in the 1930s and its more common to find good chev chassis over here than ford ones so it must have something going for it ,plus if you have 2 frames already give it a go ,and post some pics of the results as i think we can all take on some new ideas with some old time ingenuity
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