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8 day custom tractor


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Posted
Howdy all. Been real busy taking care of Mom and was about to go nuts so I managed to get in a little shop time. I dont know how many of you remember my little 1970 penncraft but it's undergone a transformation over the past 8 days. That's right......only 8 days. I was a man on a mission. Wanted to see if I could build a custom tractor faster than Fast Paul could restore one...lol. Here's a pic of the poor thing before I started. [img]/club2/attach/zippovarga/70Penncraft.JPG[/img] Now......this is the short version because i'm having to edit all the pictures to load properly but there are over 35 pictures of the process and transformation. I cut the frame and body to get a 2 inch drop. Closing the gap between the fenders and tires to a mere 1/2 inch. Moved the fenders back to better match the curvature of the tires. Moved the seat spring back 2 inches for more leg room. Enlongated the hood to dash an inch to gain clearance for the re-positioning of the gas tank and air cleaner in respect to the rest of the changes. Totally stripped all the metal surfaces, sanded away the surface rust, primed, painted and clear coated everything. Ceramic coated the engine with cast grey and ceramic clear. Replaced the stock throttle lever with a pull type throttle. Removed the obtrusive guards on the shifter box and added a few pieces of diamond plate to the grill, throttle and pull cord area, shifter area, rear fender and floor boards. Then I added a chrome stack with a stock muffler inside the stack to keep the back pressure up and noise down. I am also working on a pull behind trailer made from a 1970 Wards rear engine rider that will have an AM/FM CD stereo and beverage cooler incorporated under the seat where the engine would have been. Pictures of that will come later. So, on to the generic version of the whole process. fender set back [img]/club2/attach/zippovarga/70.1.JPG[/img] [img]/club2/attach/zippovarga/70.2.JPG[/img] frame and body alterations [img]/club2/attach/zippovarga/70.3.JPG[/img] [img]/club2/attach/zippovarga/70.4.JPG[/img] [img]/club2/attach/zippovarga/bd6.JPG[/img] result of fender set back and frame drop [img]/club2/attach/zippovarga/70.9.JPG[/img] [img]/club2/attach/zippovarga/70.10.JPG[/img] Now comes the paint and application of the diamond plate..... [img]/club2/attach/zippovarga/70.7.JPG[/img] [img]/club2/attach/zippovarga/70.8.JPG[/img] Any one want to see the finished product? Remember.....this was done in 8 days. From start to finish. Of course, there was pre-planning involved.....but from the first turn of the wrench to the last was 8 days. Enjoy!! [img]/club2/attach/zippovarga/bd10.JPG[/img] [img]/club2/attach/zippovarga/bd15.JPG[/img] [img]/club2/attach/zippovarga/bd18.JPG[/img] [img]/club2/attach/zippovarga/bd20.JPG[/img] [img]/club2/attach/zippovarga/bd23.JPG[/img] [img]/club2/attach/zippovarga/bd41.JPG[/img] [img]/club2/attach/zippovarga/bd43.JPG[/img] [img]/club2/attach/zippovarga/bd44.JPG[/img] [img]/club2/attach/zippovarga/bd45.JPG[/img] Hope you all enjoyed the pics. There are plenty more. But as I stated before, I had to edit them all and it's already after midnight. Zippo aka Sean.
Posted
Silly me........forgot a pic.....here's the whole thing. [img]/club2/attach/zippovarga/bd33.JPG[/img] [img]/club2/attach/zippovarga/bd34.JPG[/img] The colors are the new dodge ram blue and graphite. Both in metal flake. There's three coats of base and 5 coats of clear. Turned out pretty good for a spray can paint job. Now for the $'s of the transformation. Less than 60 bucks. Paint, diamond plate and a new coil, points and condensor. The trailer and this tractor will be at the Portland show so ya'll look for it. Stay tuned for the progress on the trailer.
Posted
8D8D8D8D8D8D8D8D8D8D8D8D Now that is some real nice work and great parade material. Just gotta find some chrome rims! You may have taken 8 days, but you had to be cookin that one in your mind for some time! Nice job.
Posted
Very Nice Work, You Can be Proud of that One :D:D:D:D
Posted
Thanks for the kind words. And yes Mike, I had been thinking it all over in my head for over 6 months untill Mom was well enough for me to leave her in the house alone. Went like clock work once I started it. Even shed about 30 useless pounds off of it in the process. It's a pull start 8hp that has always started on the first pull. To me, that's like the difference between a kick start motorcycle and an electric start. Wanted the wow feature to remain. It was a blast to do. The trailer that will tow behind should prove equally as fun and hopefully, all my plans for it will be equally as sucessful. Do any of you other guys have a custom something hiding somewhere? I'd love to see other's pics.
Posted
Very nice work. You are the American Chopper of Gardentractors.The paint looks Great along with the Diamond plate.
TomMaryland
Posted
That looks very nice! I like the diamond plate work too.
Posted
Awesome job ,I might be fast but I think you got me on that one !! Keep up the good work ;) Not So Fast Paul LOL
ZippoVarga
Posted
LOL, Paul.....you are still the king of restorations. If it wasnt for the fact that this tractor was assembled with very few parts it would have taken me MUCH longer to get everything prepped, painted, modified and re-assembled. By the way, I would NEVER do this to a REAL tractor. Paul, cant wait to see your tractors at Portland, can we expect you there???
goatfarmer
Posted
Nice ride,Sean! I especially like the added "Simplicity" touch! [img]http://www.simpletractors.com/club2/attach/zippovarga/bd44.JPG[/img] Looks like some of the older Broadmoors!
Posted
I Probably won't make it to Portland ,But Ill be at a lot of new England shows
ZippoVarga
Posted
Goat, The bottom angle was not quite the same as the broadmoor, but while I was looking at the custom I glanced over at this....and it's where the idea for that piece came from. [img]/club2/attach/zippovarga/Simp09.jpg[/img] It was a fun project. Now i'm under the gun to get the trailer finished before Portland spring swap meet. But if it isnt done by then we still have the later. Something to look forward to for sure though. It will be equipt with a AM/FM Stereo and a CD player as well as a cooler for beverages. Should be interesting.
ZippoVarga
Posted
Oh, by the way. For those who are curious.....it's name is the "Blue Diamond" as dubbed by my eldest daughter. She said, well.....it's blue, and has the diamond plate....Blue Diamond.So, that's it.
Posted
:DSweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!8D[:0]:D8D[:0]
Posted
That is very nice work. My eldest daughter named one of my tractors too, "Old Smoky". Not near as pretty as yours though.
ZippoVarga
Posted
Thanks cgraves and 4x......first time's a charm. I've enjoyed doing it. Perhaps it's a preempt to my getting my Simps restored. I now i've said in the past that I wouldnt restore a working tractor......but after staring at this one for hours.....I say, WHY NOT!!! I can restore, use and touch up right? Sounds good to me any how. Thanks again all for the nice comments on my first overhaul. Mike, still lookin for chrome wheels. I'm not happy with the graphite wheels my self. May try the chrome paint untill some wheels come along.
Posted
Nice work!! Looking forward to seeing the whole rig, trailer and all!!
ZippoVarga
Posted
John.........Looks like we'll have to wait till fall to see the trailer.....it's in process but my daughters projects and Mom's care come first. Just look for the bald guy at portland riding around on a non-discript diamond plated meduim blue tractos and you can rest assure'd that it's me. Sean aka Zippo
Simplicity314
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by cgreaves
That is very nice work. My eldest daughter named one of my tractors too, "Old Smoky". Not near as pretty as yours though.
My wife calls mine "that thing parked on the side of the house." It applies to whatever one is there. Hey Zippo--did you remove the front spindles and bearings to paint them (the spindles, not the bearings:D) or did you leave them on? Thanks.
Simplicity314
Posted
Oh...and beautiful work, by the way! Man, you're right--that looks incredible for a rattle can job.
Posted
Came back for a second look for inspiration - great. This time I noticed the chrome exhaust - is it a tailpipe extension?
ZippoVarga
Posted
Simple314, Yes.......I removed the hubs, greased the bearings so I could just wipe off the paint and shot them with a couple coats. PGL, that exhaust actually cost more than the tractor and paint job. But you are correct in a way. It's a Harley Davidson Screamin Eagle muffler. I had three sets of varying lengths and diameters laying around from my old hobby of building bikes and thought.........why not. NO expense, yet, the wow factor is there. Cant beat that for a cabinet find at the right time and place. Thanks for the double take!! Sean aka Zippo
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