Hey I got 2 of those and I was feeling sorry because I didn't have a rat rod... stupid me, wasn't thinking I guess. I love my tractor's, the neighbors think I'm crazy because I wax them.
I loved my '39 9N. I bought it with a bad engine. Pulled the motor and took it to the rebuilder. He called me a week later and asked me to come down and take a look. Seems the shop guys couldn't figure out what size pistons to order for the rebuild... the ones that were in it were way too big and nothing matched what the books said. There was an old guy sweeping the floor... he used to be the machinist there before he retired. He was listening to our conversation, and confusion, when he walked over with a micrometer. He measured the one old piston and told us these were flathead V-8 pistons. He explained that after WWII parts were expensive and hard to get. they used to overbore these engines, sleeve 'em, and use USED flattie pistons knurled to fit the required cylinder clearances. American engine-uity rules.
The bucket supports look kinda spiderwebby and the top mounted lights really make a statement about your differentness. You're letting us down on the shifter length though, and betties like long shifters. Needs red rims. Seriously.
nice hydraulic conversion on the old bucket framework. My neighbor had one that I used all the time, the bucket had the handle that was mounted on the right side frame. You had to pull the handle to release the bucket to get it to dump. When it was empty the bucket had enough counterweight to tip itself back and latch again. I loved that thing, slow, inefficient, but a direct connection back to those that really worked the land by hand. Cool "ratrac" bubba...
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