Hot Rods T Bucket Interiors

I suddenly feel inadequate.

 

Interesting Fred. Thinking outside the norm and using something like this is what hot rodding is all about.
I’m curious to see how it might work.
Sounds like it might be good.

 

I have a question for you guys that have done a T Bucket interior or worked with ABS sheets or Luan wood in general. Will a 1/8" Luan panel make that inside curve in a T Bucket body? Or would ABS panel be better and if so, how thin?

I know the cast stuff I found would work, but if I used Luan or an ABS sheet, I could make the panels all one piece.

 

Fred, I haven't done a T-Bucket interior but I can tell you that lauan plywood will not form like ABS will.

 

Okay. How thick could I go with the ABS sheets?

 

ABS panels are the way to go; they can be easily shaped with a heat gun. Here's a pic of a one piece rear window panel my daughter-in-law shaped out of ABS for a '33 sedan she trimmed. If you get a full wrap with ABS in a sedan; T bucket quarters should go pretty good.

 

Thanks, Rich. That's an awesome job! I also did a search and found this thread:

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/abs-plastic-and-door-panels.318310/

Reads like it can be stapled into, which is a plus. Do you know what thickness she used?

 

I used 1/8” Fred.

 

Thanks. The more I looked at Luan, the less moisture resistant it looked. It gets VERY humid here and I was also known for driving my old T in the rain on occasion (not planned showers). So, ABS looks like the way to go. Homedepot has heat guns for $25. This a slight change in plans, but that's why I research stuff so much.

 

I would prefer to go with at least 3/16 for more strength, but you might want to check and see what you have available locally instead of having to order it online.

 

It's available here in assorted thicknesses and locally. So, when I go shopping, I'll compare and make my choice then. I'm sure the people who work there will be a big help, too.

 

THeverfres - I Do a lot of forming ABS panels and I use thin sheets ( 1/16" Thk) and glue them togethet with ABS black plumbers glue the thinner sheets are easy to bend and form without heating them. If you heat them they warp real easy. -36fordguy

 

Then, how does it hold it's shape after you bend it?

 

1/8” is plenty strong and more than enough for any interior panel.
Besides trying to form 3/16” ABS would be practically impossible with a heat gun.

1/8” itself can be tricky as there is a point in heating it where it will bend and stay relatively smooth and flat.

A tiny bit more heat than that and you have permanent wrinkles and hills

Not fun and it’s easy to create a pile of scrap plastic while you are making your panels.
Ask me how I know

 

You have more experience working with it than I have so I will accept your opinion on this.

 

1/8th luan has always been the staple for years in a t interior. i have used it on many a t. what you do is make a poster board form inside the bucket and cut it to fit. then transfer it to to the luan. soak it with water for quite a while and then put it inside the bucket and clamp it,screw it or whatever and leave it till it dries out.

 

Hard to describe but here goes - I put duck from the back side to the other edge back side (like opening of the letter "C") to the curve I want I laminate a second layer to the inside of the first piece starting at one edge and only gluing the section where the curve is matching- let glue harden- readjust duck tape to tighten or loosen curve- add more glue between the layers of ABS- Let the glue harden- most of the time I can match the curve with two or three glue application. Once the two laminates dry they will hold their shape -36fordguy

 

What's "quite a while"?

 

I think I get what you're doing. Thanks.

 

Sorry if I offended you Dick with my comment.

Wasn’t what I was going for.

Edited accordingly.

 

Here's mine. Black with white pleated inserts, custom piping that matches the color of the car.

 

i have magazines from the early 70/s showing how to wood the inside of a glass bucket. if you are a old fart like me that was awhile back. hahaha

 

Very nice!

 

i like the black and white interior , excellent work and execution

 

I've had it back for a week & Scott's post just made me realize I didn't post any finished pics...


I had him attach a loop on the seat bottom so I can lift it out easier





I saw this thread too Fred, on options for panels https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ior-panels-using-plastic.177348/#post-1929232

 

Beautiful work. I think I'm going to TRY and take advantage of the extra room I'll have and make my back panel about 3"-4" thick. With the back panel starting up and tilting back, where the kick up on the frame is, loss of space would be minimal. That's what my sketches tell me, anyway.

 

I was searching solutions for the back piece and found this website:
http://www.catalinacustom.com/showc...case_gallery_street_rods_23_ford_t_bucket.htm

It shows a few ideas on making an interior in a T Bucket. What caught my eye was a possible solution for the back panel. I'm assuming two pieces, one on each side, were used. What I don't like is the amount of interior space it appears to use. Maybe a couple pieces that narrow as they approach the top edge of the body. That would create a slant to mount a back piece to.


The CCR body has a 1 1/2" ledge that would support 2 or 3 sloped pieces. They could be 'glassed in with minimal effort.

 

Have driven from Liverpool to South of France and Spain many times sitting in 2CV seats. Very comfortable - the problem comes when the rubber bands perish and the canvas strip rots. You end up sitting on the floor.


Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Ok. I give up. How long does it take you to contort yourself enough to get into this thing?