Here's something I've been brainstorming on. I want to take the front drive powertrain from something like an Escort or Taurus and put it in the rear of a t-bucket. Basically, I want to start with a frame and t-bucket and transfer all of the parts (drivetrain, seats, etc) from a cheap, ugly car and make a hot inexpensive street rod out of it.

There are reasons:

1) Hot rodding used to be all about making something cool from cheap parts. There seem to be fewer and fewer front engine/rear drive cars in the wrecking yards and lots of front drivers. (many, many, many Escorts)

2) There are some pretty hot parts available for front drive cars, especially the Focus (unfortunately not cheap yet).

3) What a great way to show off a hot 4 or 6 cyl, normally aspirated or turbo engine. (You could tuck it under a mini-flatbed to keep most of the rain off.)

4) Companies like Total Performance have great kits for traditional front V-8, rear drive T-Buckets, but the prices get pretty steep when you add things like V8, tranny, brakes, seats, guages, suspension, etc.

5) What a great handling lightweight car it would be!

6) Economics: $500 for the '23 bucket shell + $500 for frame materials and welder + old ugly front driver = fun, cool, cheap hot rod.

7) More leg room!

I've seen this done with VWs (VolksRods) and saw a '32 highboy with a Northstar in the rear, but never an Escort, Contour, or Taurus (if you want to keep it in the family). In my state, they recently changed the law so that specially constructed vehicles are subject to the year of the car for emissions purposes if you like.

What do you guys think about this? Am I crazy? Am I forgetting something? I think it would be a fun project.

 

I think it's a great idea.

I don't understand how you're going to get more leg room out of it if you're using the original frame and body?

You'll definately learn a lot about fabrication and welding. I know even with the kit we used to modernize our '41, there was quite a bit of fabricating needed.

Have fun and keep us informed.

 

Thanks for the encouragement! I'm still at the brainstorming phase, but just bought a welder. In answer to the quoted question... Since there's no tranny, driveshaft, or exhaust under the floorboards, the floor box can be lowered a few inches deeper in between the frame rails.

 

And without the engine up front the fire wall can be easily moved foward as far as you need.

If you need any help with your brainstorming I'll be glad to help in anyway I can. I had an idea to do about the same thing, but my idea was to build a body like one of the 1903 model A's with some skinny wire wheels to put the drivetrain in.

Do you have a copy of the Speedway Motors catalog? They have a good selection of T-bucket parts. Their website is www.speedwaymotors.com

Clayton

 

Thanks again for the notes.
I'm starting to collect parts.
It will be based on a 28/29 Model A because the gas tank is conveniently located.

I have the front half of a phaeton and a few other parts.

Right now my thinking (to make it easy) is to start with a Fiero donor car so I can make sure and get all of the right steering parts, shifter cables, and so on. Then once it's running, adapt in a Model A 4-banger.

 

I'm new to this forum and saw this discussion so I'll stick my nose in.
Isn't there a company selling rear engine frames that use FWD cars?
They were running an ad a few weeks ago. I think it uses a 4 cylinder but you might be able to adapt it for a bigger engine.

 

Off road buggies have been using Honda and other fine brand engine/transaxles for years. Add turbo for more snap, easy to work on.

If you're going to have it under the bed, maybe you could find a Subaru WRX wrapped around a tree and use the flat motor....(not a Ford, but so what...)

 

hey not kidding . think v6 turbo altima .figure a way to couple with a vw bus trans/axle and we .. you got wheel stands at every lite. oh thats called something illeagal I cant spell..excebitionism? concept sounds neat.

 

Because the FWD car already has the transaxle, all you have to do is zip tie the tie-rod ends and tack weld the whole thing to your frame....

 

I dunno about the concept, I'm thinking death trap when driven unless some weight and wide-ish tires are put up front.

Ever seen a traditional T Bucket with them skinny tires take a corner to fast? And they have some weight-bias in the front.

 

yeh 3mike6 you rite. but what an adventure.in my late teens ,a friend and I built a mini sand rail. it basicly was the rear drive from a lawn tracktor on a home made frame with ifs.some square tubing and stuff .no breaks... power was a honda 750cc motorcycle motor and trans that sat pretty much beside you .. we both lived . the motor was put back where it belonged some time later .