The bike as purchased — bold, heavy, and full of character, but ready for transformation.

• Huge oversized gas tank
• Unique custom seat
• Extended rear frame section
• Solid foundation to rebuild from

Stripped down to the bare essentials, this is where the real transformation began. The rear axle was brought back inside the frame, eliminating the extended section. Gussets were welded in to improve structural strength and ensure long-term durability.

• Frame stripped completely
• Rear axle repositioned
• Extended section removed
• Structural gussets added

Initial mockup with wheels installed. This stage helped determine the correct fork extension needed to achieve the proper stance and proportions for the final build.

• Wheels installed for alignment
• Fork length measured and planned
• Frame geometry evaluated

At this point the bike was really beginning to come together. The new tank, extended forks, and reinstalled engine gave a clear picture of the final form.

• New gas tank installed
• Extended forks fitted
• Engine mounted back into frame
• Rear guard and handlebars installed

Major structural and functional components were added, bringing the build closer to a complete rolling machine.

• Rear sissy bar installed
• New seat mounted
• Exhaust and oil tank fitted
• Foot pegs installed

The electrical system was installed, bringing the bike closer to operational condition.

• Wiring harness installed
• Battery mounted
• Carburetors installed
• Systems prepared for operation

The frame was carefully prepared for paint to ensure a clean and durable finish.

• Old paint fully stripped
• Frame sanded smooth
• Body filler applied where needed
• Primer applied and prepared for color

The bike received a fresh iridescent blue paint finish, giving it its signature look and bringing the vision to life.

• Iridescent blue paint applied
• Frame fully refinished
• Final finish completed

The bike was reassembled for the final time following paint. The last mechanical and finishing components were installed.

• Final assembly in progress
• Exhaust system installation
• Brakes installed
• Lights and controls fitted

The finished bike in its final form — fully rebuilt, painted, and shining in the sun. A complete transformation from its original state.

• Full custom rebuild completed
• Final paint and assembly finished
• Fully functional and road ready

This was the logo created for the Duckie Chop project when I was documenting the build on YouTube. The artwork was designed by my wife’s cousin.

• Original Duckie project logo
• Created by family artist
• Used for build documentation
• Part of the project identity

A look at the completed bike. Starting with the end in mind helped guide the design and fabrication decisions throughout the build.

• Final design reference
• Long fork chopper concept
• Custom geometry and stance
• Vision for the full build

The frame was heavily modified by extending the engine mounting section approximately 8 inches. This allowed the steering head to tilt back and properly accommodate the longer forks. Custom curved sections were fabricated to connect the frame components.

• Frame extended approximately 8 inches
• Steering angle increased
• Custom curved frame sections fabricated
• Geometry designed for extended forks

A custom swing arm was fabricated, including bearing mounts and a jackshaft system. This allowed the drive line to be offset to accommodate a wider rear tire.

• Custom swing arm fabricated
• Bearing mounts welded in place
• Jackshaft drive system installed
• Designed for wider rear tire

The frame was aligned and prepared for final welding. The front suspension was a completely original design using rear shocks adapted for use on the front forks. Air shocks were used on the rear.

• Frame aligned and prepared
• Temporary bracing installed
• Custom front suspension design
• Air shocks installed on rear

After professional welding, the engine was test fitted to confirm alignment and overall proportions.

• Frame fully welded
• Engine test fitted
• Alignment verified
• Final structure completed

The smaller components were prepared and painted, ready for final assembly.

• Components cleaned and prepped
• Individual parts painted
• Prepared for assembly

The major components were painted, bringing the visual identity of Duckie to life.

• Major components painted
• Finish applied
• Ready for final assembly

The frame was professionally powder coated by a local shop, resulting in a durable, high-quality finish.

• Professional powder coating
• Durable finish applied
• Excellent final result

The completed Duckie sitting on the hoist for the final time before returning to the ground. The hoist itself was custom built and operated using my engine hoist.

• Final assembly completed
• Custom build finished
• Ready to ride
• Custom hoist used for lifting

The completed T-Bucket — a traditional bucket with strong Holden underpinnings and unmistakable hot rod character.

• Holden 253 V8 engine
• Trimatic transmission
• HT rear end with 3.55 gears
• Built largely from scratch

The chassis was fabricated from box section steel following traditional T-Bucket design principles. I used a crossover front spring that I picked up at a sale, along with a Holden differential to complete the rear setup.

• Custom fabricated box section chassis
• Traditional crossover front spring
• Holden differential
• Classic hot rod proportions

The fiberglass body was modified to better suit the build. I sectioned the body and added an additional eight inches to provide room for three people. This also allowed the rear panel to properly display “Ford T” rather than just “Ford,” giving the proportions a more centered and balanced look.

• Fiberglass body shell
• Extended 8 inches for added space
• Improved rear proportions
• Custom body modification

The front suspension was built around a purchased drop tube axle paired with a Model A cross spring. Front stubs and brakes were Holden components, and shocks were sourced from a Mk3 Zephyr.

• Dropped tube front axle
• Model A cross spring
• Holden front stubs and brakes
• Mk3 Zephyr shocks

With paint complete, final assembly began. Engine, transmission, steering, and interior components were brought together to transform the rolling chassis into a finished hot rod.

• Final paint completed
• Drivetrain installation
• Interior fitted in cream vinyl
• Steering system finalized

At one point I had to repair the timing chain on the 253 Holden V8 after realizing I had not installed it correctly. Fortunately, one of the advantages of a T-Bucket is how accessible everything is — making mechanical work straightforward.

• 253 Holden V8
• Timing chain repair
• Easy engine access
• Practical hot rod layout

The finished car later appeared at a rodding event and was featured in a New Zealand hot rod magazine. The article included a detailed write-up of the build, highlighting the Australian Holden drivetrain, custom fabrication work, and overall presentation of the bucket.

• Featured in NZ hot rod magazine
• Australian Holden drivetrain
• Custom fabricated chassis
• Cream vinyl upholstery by D&L Upholstery

After starting from raw steel and a fiberglass shell, the project became a fully functional traditional T-Bucket. What began as admiration for the style turned into a complete ground-up build and a car I am proud to have constructed myself.

• Ground-up custom build
• Traditional T-Bucket styling
• Holden-powered performance
• Built by hand

The completed go-cart after several months of use. Despite its simple appearance, it proved to be a powerful and reliable machine.

• Fully custom fabricated chassis
• Powered by Honda 450 motorcycle engine
• Lightweight and responsive
• Tested and driven regularly

The heart of the build was a 450cc twin-cylinder four-stroke Honda motorcycle engine. It provided more than enough power for the lightweight frame.

• 450cc twin cylinder engine
• Four-stroke reliability
• Excellent power-to-weight ratio
• Repurposed from donor motorcycle

The frame was fabricated from 1" x 1" box section steel tubing to create a strong and lightweight structure. A simple plastic chair was adapted for seating.

• 1" x 1" steel box section tubing
• Fully custom fabricated design
• Lightweight construction
• Simple functional seating

The chassis was built in two sections with a pivot point behind the roll bar, allowing for suspension movement and improved handling.

• Two-section pivoting frame
• Integrated roll bar
• Designed for strength and flexibility
• Improved ride characteristics

Major components were positioned on the frame to confirm fitment and layout before final welding.

• Engine positioned
• Component alignment checked
• Clearances verified
• Prepared for final welding

With suspension mounted and alignment confirmed, the chassis was fully welded to complete the structural assembly.

• Suspension installed
• Frame fully welded
• Structure completed
• Ready for finishing

The frame was painted to protect the steel and complete the visual appearance of the build.

• Frame cleaned and prepared
• Protective paint applied
• Final finish completed

The completed go-cart sitting quietly under a tree. Its modest appearance hides the performance of the motorcycle engine powering it.

• Build completed successfully
• Fully functional and driveable
• Unique custom fabrication project
• Extremely fun to operate