How to Build a T-Bucket + History, Tips, Tricks, Inspiration, Events, and Fun!
We’ve been serving the T-Bucket hobby since 2009 with the best “how to” plans, stories on historic T-Buckets, news, photos and fun facts on all aspects of the T-Bucket world. And if that’s not enough, our new Hooked on T-Bucket Hot Rods Podcast.
We’re true T-Bucket enthusiasts and have written over 300 fun, informative blog posts filled with inspirational T-Bucket photos. We continue to add new material all the time.
Below are our 6 most recent blog posts, but you’ll enjoy discovering your personal favorites in our Blog Archive.
The Steve Scott Uncertain T – Resurrected!
I was hugely influenced by the Steve Scott Uncertain T…
Y-Block Ford T-Bucket: Ted Kramer’s Snoopy Inspires Me
Not only am I a T-Bucket lover, but also a…
Terry Brown T-Bucket Sets the Fad-T Standard
When I first saw the Terry Brown T-Bucket on the…
Jim Unruh T-Bucket – Is it old, new or both?
I’ve been in love with the Jim Unruh T-Bucket for…
You’ll Love Our Plans, Too!
Good info and pics
Great buy
Great books,a lot of useful information.
The manuals are informative and clearly written.
Pictured are hard to see but useful
It’s an educational read,I’m on the third reading trying to grasp everything as the pictures did not turn out very well well. I’m finishing a project now and I think I’m going to try and build a “T” bucket next.thanks Don
Did a quick look through and there looks to be a lot of good information. Can't wait till I start to build.
It gives me insight on the chassis and mounting of stuff. I think I can now take it from here. The bucket has been a dream but now I can see some of the details. I have ordered several books on it along with several books on Flathead engines. Thanks. Dave
Using this book to setup a tbucket with a decent amount of power. It's nowhere near complete, but with how complete and full this guide is, I've been able to push through with little to no issues at all.
I bought this download 8 years ago and I built a 1927 c cab from it
Loving the book! Still slowly collecting parts. I messed up when originally ordering online. Your customer service went so far above and beyond to help me get everything straightened out. It was very much appreciated.
Great fun. great read. Took me back to the 50s when I was a teen.
Great book. Got me off to a great start.
Fast response, exactly what was described.
Very quick and easy, and being electronic, I will be able to access these files anywhere. Very thorough and gives a lot of great tips. I recommend getting the full package than just 1 or 2, it is well worth it even just for having it on hand.
Been wanting to pull the trigger on these for a while now. THANKS!!!
Within days of the purchase I had a frame created and the info is awesome. I am well on my way into the project. The books are a great blueprint to building a great T Bucket project.
Great buy
No issues with download and printing. Some stuff in there that's us well before my time and I wouldn't be able to learn about without your books
Great book
Great book!
Have me a while pile of ideas that I can adapt to my project
Lots of good info but lacking some of the details I would have liked to see. Good start, but only a start.
Easy to read and excellent visuals
I like it. Provides a lot of answers to how to do many things that arise during the build, especially when it is your first and there is lots to do.
Items were ready for immediate download upon payment.
Educational and a look into past hot rods
Great info and plans
Easy to understand info/guide.
Great service and an outstanding book!
I am starting my own T-bucket using this book. I have been a fabricator for 40 years. I am going to enjoy following this book.
I love looking at them just for different ideas
The only way this could be better is if you came over and built it for me. ?
John thankyou -I love all of them – I built my first one when I was 15 and drove it to the detroit nationals when I turned 16 in 1972 – going to build another one when I retire in 8 months and wanted to get some other ideas -thank you very much Joe keegan
Great set of plans . Get it before the old school info is gone.
Book is easy reading. Giving me good ideas and an understanding on how things work.
It's everything you know to build a simple, low-buck, T-bucket. A GREAT place to start!
Very happy look forward to going into them in more detail, thanks very much.
A must read if you want know how to build your own bucket from scratch. Lots of info and clever fabrication tips.
Good book helped me build my 26 T Bucket I think I got it right for a first time build
check out my pictures powered by a 700HP 427 small block, have a polished jaguar rear end in this. Gave me Motivation for my other builds Mustang Eleanor, Champion Trike and 34 Ford among a few others. I have the print and digital version of this book in my library.
Thanks For the Motivation.
I found the book to be very interesting with lots of common sense solutions to many design challenges. I have not really used it yet. I do not have a T-Bucket, or any car/truck project going at this time.
I purchased (a few years back) your book and plans to get started. I also had the plans from CCR and
used a mix of them all. You can never have enough info it seems when starting something new. I started with a 26 touring body with a badly bent up rear and converted it to my version of a bucket. So far I have spent more than $3000 because I wanted to use a drop axle kit from speedway.
For the power train I used what I had in my dead row out back. A small block (360) mopar that I rebuilt and an 8” ford rear end. All new brakes and wiring were installed also.
The plan is to have it running by spring as it gives me all winter to finish. All work so far has been done by me and I am enjoying it. A trick I learned from one of my friends who restored an old tractor was to use Rustoleum paint with a foam brush and the results are amazing. Looks like it was sprayed and way cheaper than auto paint.
The plans are great reference for my T-Bucket project. I plan to widen and lengthen the body and lengthen the frame and convert to a T5 manual tranny. ( a little ambitious lol )
No need to reinvent the wheel or frame in this case. Plans that have been proven over years of use. Great deal.
Great! My son and I built a car for him and his family with a budget of only $3000. We even extended the T Bucket body into a T Tub. He needed additional room for his family. We purchased very few parts new. Mostly junk yard, swap meets, yard sales and parts given to us. I would recommend this book to anyone who was considering getting into hotrods on a limited budget.
I actually have one of Chester’s original books on how to build a hot rod for under $3000. The information gave me lots of good ideas on how to do things a different way. I quite enjoy referencing his book every now and then.
They were great
The plans were easy to follow even though I made a few changes
Really enjoyed the plans.
Thanks John a great set of plans. It took twlce but got it. Do you offer a printed book? Would recomend to anyone.
Great plans, having had cancer I have not been able to use them. It takes a toll and not just physically but also financially but maybe some day. Today I bought some more plans.
Great plans... built the bare frame years ago.... dragged it out a few months ago... plans are to start the build again... retired now … been working on my High School car... first car... a '56 Chevy 210 dr. post.. purchased in 1965.. have owned.. 55 yrs... 350 4 speed...
Interesting look at old school plans , worth looking at ,you may find an idea you like.
Interesting look at a popular set of old school plans, lots of good ideas to help on your build even if you don't follow them exactly
I'm glad I purchased this bundle. The more information and choices I have makes building anything more fun to me.
Some folks like a printed copy. I understand that (being over 60) but the pdf version allows easy searching. With the pdf I can zoom in for greater detail (which my old eyes appreciate). And if I want a part printed.. I just print it.. and at whatever size I choose. 🙂
Yes, I recommend these books... even just for the history.
Loved it. Haven’t been able to build yet. Looking forward to using ideas to start
Plans were well drawn out. Easy to follow. Video was good. Built a 27 track T. Looking to build a Model A coupe next.
Fantastic plans,very easy to understand and very detailed ,unfortunately I have not had the chance to build my "T" yet due to family issues. I am happy I have them to follow in the future .
i remember when i was young seeing all the roadster plans out there. i.e. ohio, ccr ,bird, allied etc. i didn't have the tools or space to build one but always wanted to. since then, i have built quite a few t's and such but still like to look at the plans. i have most of the plans available too.
I have used the plans to build the chassis which I've since modified as the foundation for an altered drag race car. Rear bracket plans were used on my model "A" rat rod. Still to use plans to build a model "T" bucket. If you're a diy person excellent book, as they all are.
lots of good ideas it did help
I used the dimensions to build a rolling chassis, but did not put a body on it before I sold it.
I’m giving 1 star because I don’t know how good or bad the books are because they’re in e-book form which I find difficult to manoeuvre thru. I’m a dinosaur which likes good old fashion books. My plan when I bought them was to get them put together in book form so I could look through at my leisure and sticky note what I thought I may need to look over more in the future when I actually get to building a car?!
the Street ts T - Bucket plans was well made & helped in every one I built I still use it after Meany years
Very informative. Lots of details explained in an easy to understand manner. Highly recomended.
Loved the book
Helped me build my rod for $8000
(Inflation since the book was originally published)
I really learned a lot and have used the info to build my frame!!
Great plans. Helped me build my car. I added 10" to the chassis plans for my own custom twist. Highly recommend these plans
Great to have and dream of "one day"
When I bought the plans I wasn’t working because of cancer treatment have beaten it but now paying for it the plans are good easy to read and someday in the future I will build. Thankyou
Nice information, I would like hard copy better.
Great Plans, easy to read.
CCR is the best. I built my LS T from their drawings. Support from the CCR staff is second to none. Any questions were answered promptly and politely.
I purchased the three book package several years ago and they are excellent reading for the hot rod builder. I have not started a project yet, however retirement is very close and a project in the future is planned. Great information in these books!
Great plans, but before I started build,my computer crashed and lost plans. I'm trying to get another copy now.
This is another fine reference. "IF" I live long enough to build a T-Bucket, I think I'd like to try another rod with coil over shocks in the back and a VW torsion bar suspension in the front. My advice to anyone thinking of building any type of car is to gather up as many references as you can.
I searched for YEARS looking for a simple hot-to-do-manual on how to build a low-buck T Bucket. Now that I'm retired maybe I can get at it. Along with all kinds of references, I now also have all the components stashed away in my garage, in the crawl spaces under the house, on the front porch, and elsewhere. My goal is to put together an old-timey flathead powered rod. This book will be a great help!1
Easy to follow plans
i built the car using the ccr plans with just a few changes with a lot of the parts from ccr and a few of my own making. finished the car in 2016 & got it licensed in nv. & drive it now &then. the plans on whole were very good. dont know how to send pictures. really happy with the out come
Awesome info. Excellent book.
Just got the Download and Love what I'm reading .. Common sense and thinking outside the box makes this a win win
incredibly good.i have an ardun powered bucket sorry no images at thistime
I still refer to once in awhile.
I built for one of my customers. When I finished we had $3500.00 in it. Very good plans. I added 10 inches to the bed area. Small block chevy and 700R4 tranny. Don Lee /Oklahoma City,Ok. 5 stars
They look easy enough for a novice like me.
The plans for the t bucket frame were right on the money everything fit nice and they were free !!!!!The make a t bucket under 3000 was one of the best ebooks you could have.. It paid for itself the first day i got it ....
good book, have my own shop building T buckets for years. bought the book just to see what's new. it is a great guide for the novice and will save anyone who follows it quite a bit in the end.
I still use it.
Very helpful. Gave me some great ideas for my build.
Good info to be loaded onto the computer!
A great resource to use when planning your build!
The book is very informative . I have used it many many times. As a reference to my project . Thank you for making it available .
A MUST have!
The best way to use this book is to first read it through completely. Then as you work on specific parts of your build go back and use the detailed sections to guide you. As many of us are building Buckets that someone else started it a great reference to correct any previous construction faults or problems.
lots of tips and tricks.
Great investment. I refer to it often. Thanks.
Your information appears to be very well detailed. When I first ordered your book, many years ago, I expected a hard copy, that would be a coffee table addition to my books. So, I was a bit disappointed when I realized it was online only.All the information, again, appears to be very good. I still have not built a "T" bucket...
Thank you for the info!
Lots of great hands on advise in this piece. Very nuts and bolts practicality here. And if done smartly, with good skills and tools, and with just a bit of luck, you can build a cool rod on tight budget.
I used "Build A T Bucket" as a reference while building my hot rod. It was very helpful, full of great ideas.
Great information on building complete car! From start to finish! Fantastic!
I have a T that I bought 20 years ago & am planning to rebuild my T soon. Your info is great & expect to reference it many times during the rebuild.
Haven't started my build yet but I've studied the plan's and they seem to cover everything you need to know. Best part for me is that they seem to comply with Australian regulations. Highly recommend this product.
Great information. I am using some of the information and applying it to my own project.
would not of been able to build my T with out these plans a must for any one considering building their own car
I nave not had time to usethe plans, too many other projects right now.
Great set of DVD's , built a lot of street cars in the past 65 years and still going strong . bought this set for informational reading . your never to old to learn something new . Fun to see other peoples idea's and projects . I do recommend these to anyone building something as good reference material .
great information and time saving tips glad I got it
Definitely recommend it. It’s old school with an emphasis on budget and using what you can find, not buy, which is getting harder to find today.
Being a biker for over 40 years, not knowing much about street rods & wanting to cut doors in my Ford roadster, 1927, track t, your tips were helpful, however, for 1st time builders, I think it’s missing beginner teaching lessons. For instance, building the picture frame mounted to door, if you followed what was being presented, there were big gaps between door & frame, but if you look carefully @ the picture, the frame was split on the 2 side pieces to fit closer to the door. Also, there should be more time spent on placement & installation of door hinges, it’s the hardest part to master as this aligns door to body & is very problematic, if this isn’t correct, your door will not look good & will not function properly. You ask & this is my 2 cents. Aloha & be safe.
Great reference material. Nice to have for dismantling and building. Nice to see other builds, too.
Iv'e built a lot of street rods over the years but bought your set of books for reference reading . Never to old to learn something new . interesting and informative ,Thanks John
good reference material
Not quite at the stage where I could build a car but very detailed information. Fantastic graphics and templates. My next build will be a CCR. Loved these books.
Awesome, your information is invaluable, thank you,
Good reference material for building a t bucket from the ground up
Since it is my first open wheel car I needed a lot of help. It has been invaluable part of building my T. Still working on it but will finish soon.
I bought this for information on suspension and frame work to educate myself and that is exactly what the book is great for. The education on building as well as finding inexpensive materials is well worth the price.
This book showed the basics very well and inspired some additions I've made to my bucket.
I loved it. The plans easy to read and but had to slow down wife passed away and had heart surgery but as soon I get back on feet iam staring again.

FREE T-Bucket Chassis Plans
Download yours now and you’ll also receive Free eNews Updates on T-Bucket stories, history, new plans, tricks, tips, events, fun and valuable hot rod building information.
Download your FREE T-Bucket Chassis Plans now!
and then come back for more, because …
Our eBook Covers Everything About Building a T-Bucket on a Budget!
Whether you’re a builder, buyer, lover or just curious about T-Bucket hot rods, you’ve come to the right place.
It all started with Chester Greenhalgh’s “How to Build a T-Bucket Hot Rod Roadster for Under $3000”. It’s been called “the most complete Hot Rod how-to ever written!”
Prior to 2009, T-Bucket builders paid over $200 for it if they could find a copy! Now, the expanded revised digital edition is only $19.99 and for that, you get 258 pages, with over 400 photos, templates, diagrams and illustrations that reveal every detail of how to build your own T-Bucket hot rod roadster on a budget.
Even if you have no interest in building a T-Bucket but are in the market to buy one, this comprehensive eBook will show you every element that goes into a T-Bucket so that you’ll be a smart buyer and avoid big mistakes.
Get the details and download yours now>
Or if you’re ready to become a T-Bucket expert and master builder …


T-Bucket Master Plans Digital Downloads Package
You get ALL 5 of our T-Bucket plan sets in this big bundle that will save you untold time, money, mistakes and frustration. Become a T-Bucket building expert! Get loads of inspirational ideas for your own custom T-Bucket build by mixing and matching just the elements you want in your own hot rod. That’s over 450 pages, with 500+ photos, illustrations, diagrams and templates for building just the T-Bucket that suits your particular vision! And save over 25% with this incredible package download. All for only $39.95





