I am thinking about building a '50's style tradition '23 T.  Apparently my father has most of the parts to build one, but probably not the parts that I want to use.  I might be buying a 272/four barrel soon, and would start with that.  I have a few C4 transmissions.  I would really like to use a T5, but my father keeps telling me don't even try it.  On a side note, my father worked for Speedy Bill Smith (Speedway Motors) for around ten years.  He designed a bunch of the products that I will probably be using or buying.

There's only a  dragster that I know of and I don't think anything on it is an original or even correct part.

Did he elaborate on why you should not even try a T5?  If a C4 is on the table, I can't think of a reason why a T5 should not even be tried as, without knowing the specifics of fitting either into a T Bucket, it should be easier to fit because it is smaller and will require a thinner, more common adapter.  That thinner, more common adapter should make it a much less expensive conversion, as well, with the trickiest part being working out the clutch linkage, which can be quite easy if you go with a hydraulic setup.


Lawrenceville, GA

I think the lack of floor space is why my father said I should not try to use a manual transmission.  Mounting three pedals, steering column, seat, and then trying to drive it.  It would be a chore, but I am not one to have "normal" stuff, or "what everyone else has".  But, in my defense, all T's had manuals at one point...

Factory Five sells a fiberglass '33 roadster that uses modern drivetrain components from Mustangs.  It will accept almost any engine imaginable, especially the Coyote Ford, so a Y-Block would be easy.  Joe-JDC

JDC

Floor space is the deal. My channeled 32 with the truck bell and the TKO500 is very limited. I can’t wear much more than a driving shoe and still get on the pedals. The clutch and brake are Model A pedals turned vertical, and the throttle is a spoon, so they’re pretty small. Model T’s had 3 pedals, but they weren’t channeled, and the column and seat height helped. Those 3 pedals were different than ours, too.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

I had a T with a flathead and 3 speed and didn't have any problem with three pedals.


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

From an aesthetic standpoint the distance of the waterpump looks off on a non-hooded car. That said, a lot of cars in the day rocked any OHV motor they could find. For clearance i wouldnt hesitate to run a '39 style box. They are small enought to fit under a floor and a good tight box wont have issues on a light car with y-block power, also it's topshift which is a huge plus. As it goes with pedals, well you are building a model t, so you are fucked anyway. I have 2 1927 roadster projects in my garage right now, one has a 283 and the other has a 291 hemi, unless you want to go fancy joints or cowl steering, even steering box location is a fight. Just dive in and make stuff fit