Ok, found my camera but was having some problems with it, resolution is off and the quality isnt that good. I'm no high tech whiz so it will take me a few minutes to get the pics posted. Paul
This is the old dump truck that is sitting out back, he (ED) has owned it since new. He is gonna restore it "one of these days..." Actually he said he would think about selling it to me. Paul
Just dawned on me tonight that I didn't retell the details on this old tractor. Ed, the 80 yr old father to the mechanic, that is letting me use his shop to work on my cars bought this tractor "as is" 40 years ago. He said it was running a year ago but his wife quickly corrected him and said it was closer to 2-3 years ago. I gave him a set of lowback buckets to use on it and a couple of days later he had the tarp off and was building brackets for the seats on the tractor. In the same day he told me he had also already run a couple of new wires and a new gas line. He is hoping to get it running again asap so that he can drive it in the town festival. His son told me that even with the international rearend and the model A motor it will still run 50mph down the road as long as you could hold onto it(until now it had no seats, you had to stand in the back to drive it) Ed is planning to repait the tractor as well and clean it up a little. I offered to help him and he said he would really like to have it painted. I asked him what color he had in mind ***uming he wanted the yellow it was painted and he suprised me by saying he wanted it black like my T..flat black. Just thought this was a neat story and that you all might enjoy hearing it and getting updates on his progress, I doubt that he has many more projects ahead of him, but I will do my best to make sure he gets as much done as he can handle. Paul
Good for you helping him out. I'm always amazed by old people and their stories. Many of them haven't had anyone to listen to them in a long time so just taking an interest will get you a history lesson. You'll definitly make his day by helping him paint his tractor. Frank
Further proof that nothing is new. I've been looking (not too hard yet, though) for a good donor tractor to hotrod (thought it was an original idea). Did you know that it's legal to drive tractors on the street? Without a tag or insurance? BTW I'm new here but have been building custom cars for 30+ years. You kids have got my hotrod blood flowing again; I had plans to build a Mopar (early to mid 30's) but just could not find a decent body (especially on my tight budget). I've currently got about 7 projects including a '77 Z car that I'm putting the 340 in that I had planned to use in the rod. Always willing to trade body/paint/custom fabrication for parts... I'm about 60 miles above Atlanta. ~ Paul aka "Tha Driver" Giggle Cream - it makes dessert *funny*!
a few guys in this area put flatheads in their early ford tractors, its pretty cool looking / sounding. Even a mildly built flathead would put out good hp for these smaller tractors - the early ford tractors also use some really beefy "split" front radius rods - I always thought they could be used somewhere on a hotrod.
I was thinking more in the way of a tractor hood & grill - with any drivetrain under it - built on a custom frame. I'll use mudders on the back & tall skinny street tires on the front. Seating is yet to be determined (may make a 2-seater). It would be longer, wider, & lower to the ground than a normal tractor. I currently have a 300HP 283 & a ZX inline 6, but no trans for either. I also have the independent rear from the ZX, but not sure how to gear it properly. Perhaps a chain drive from the back of the trans to the rearend, with different size sprokets? The first thing I want to do is get the hood & grill, from any tractor other than a Ford. Must be cool looking.... ~ Paul aka "Tha Driver" America - made in China! :-(
I took a pic of the radius rods on an 8N a few weeks ago before I frigged my back up. Now my PC at home is down. One of these days I'll get them on here. I really liked the way they mount. There is a ball on the end that is sandwiched between two plates, then bolted to the ******(structural member on an 8N). They looked very "race car" .
1950 Ferguson TO-20. Continental OHV 4 Banger, I guess it's a "Rat Rod" because it's flat grey with red wheels - no hubcaps - big ones in back and skinny ones up front: This torquey little bastid' will easily - "Walk the Ring Gear" , anyone know what i mean? Powerband
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