RJ-58 vs Suburban 400/551

[meadowfield 2,595]

Hi all,

 

I know hoods change, front axles goes cast and trans goes to 2 piece... (probably more things)

 

a few questions if someone can help?

 

Does the frame stay the same from RJ-58 to Suburban 400 - whats the wheelbase?

 

Frame changes on 551 to accommodate the 2 piece trans, does wheelbase stay the same?

 

planning another project that I may or may not finish 

 

reminder of things I have finished:

 

http://wheel-horse.co.uk/images/C4/c4_a.jpg

 

http://www.wheel-horse.co.uk/images/Bendy/bendy1.jpg

 

no promises though!

Edited December 7, 2023 by meadowfield

[Pullstart 63,097]

11 hours ago, meadowfield said:

Does the frame stay the same from RJ-58 to Suburban 400

Because of the front axle mount changes, they are different.

Edited December 8, 2023 by Pullstart

[wallfish 17,080]

 

I believe all the wheel base lengths are the same and if not they are all very close

[meadowfield 2,595]

thanks for the replies so far, does anyone have any pictures of a bare frame 551?

[clueless 3,012]

I can get a photo of my 400 burb frame without the trans attached, but it will be sometime tomorrow (Thursday) before I can post it.

Edited January 11 by clueless

[oliver2-44 9,872]

Here’s a picture of a Suburban 400 and 551 frame side by side. They both measure 32-1/2”.  I can get you any more details if needed

Here’s all the parts to assemble a 400 except the hood and transaxle

 

Edited January 11 by oliver2-44

[meadowfield 2,595]

21 hours ago, oliver2-44 said:

Here’s a picture of a Suburban 400 and 551 frame side by side. They both measure 32-1/2”.  I can get you any more details if needed

Here’s all the parts to assemble a 400 except the hood and transaxle

 

 

super helpful, have you any more pictures of the 551 frame?    in particular the gearbox mount and a side view and the hood mounting.

 

thanks

[oliver2-44 9,872]

I made a new transmission attachment plate fro my 551 frame based on this drawing I found on Red Square.  

I made one change which was to make the 2.5" bottom angle dimension 2.75" and the top of that angle have a .250 flat section.  

If I had to do over I would make it 3" with a .500 flat at the top

The original design did not have bushing on the clutch rod, but I'm adding them to compensate for wear on the clutch rod at the narrow angle side area.

 

With the original dimension of 2.5" the (unshown) hole for the clutch idler rod is very close to the edge.  

I will get a dimension on the clutch rod hole in the next day or so.

 

The back plate is 1/4" and the sides are 1/8"

The original frame design did not have these bushing on the clutch rod.

I'm adding them to compensate for a worn area on the clutch rod where it went through the thin frame side angle 

[sjoemie himself 3,068]

15 hours ago, oliver2-44 said:

 

 

 

That is some proper reinforcement and very clean welds. Excellent work! 

[oliver2-44 9,872]

22 hours ago, sjoemie himself said:

 

That is some proper reinforcement and very clean welds. Excellent work! 

My welder nephew gets the credit, mine dont look like that. 

[meadowfield 2,595]

On 1/13/2024 at 7:47 PM, sjoemie himself said:

 

That is some proper reinforcement and very clean welds. Excellent work! 

 

I've got the steel cut - have you any pictures of the original chassis with mounting for the gearbox and clutch?  

 

thanks

[wallfish 17,080]

1 hour ago, meadowfield said:

 

I've got the steel cut - have you any pictures of the original chassis with mounting for the gearbox and clutch?  

 

thanks

Does this help?

 

[meadowfield 2,595]

17 hours ago, wallfish said:

Does this help?

 

 

perfect!  I didn't know there was a plate too!

 

thanks

[meadowfield 2,595]

have you any side on pictures of each side? - sorry to keep asking....

 

this is where I’m at 

Edited January 23 by meadowfield

[wallfish 17,080]

2 hours ago, meadowfield said:

 

perfect!  I didn't know there was a plate too!

There were 2 different styles of frames they made. You don't need to add that plate in the front if you add the sides like oliver posted in his pics.

I was just trying to show you the clutch bar as it's the same place for both syles.

[meadowfield 2,595]

Thanks for the help so far, I now have a frame that will take a 2 piece transmission. 
here’s a 400 beside for comparison. 
 

 

[meadowfield 2,595]

Making the steering quadrant…. 
 

I think it will work! 
 

Edited February 19 by meadowfield

[meadowfield 2,595]

the speed of this project is off the scale 

 

A few more pics....

 

A bit of work with some thick bar and a press and I made an axle - paint will hide the grind marks and joints....

 

Tie rods to make this weekend, and then it will roll. 

 

I've an engine coming soon too!

 

 

 

[meadowfield 2,595]

On 1/11/2024 at 4:39 PM, oliver2-44 said:

Here’s a picture of a Suburban 400 and 551 frame side by side. They both measure 32-1/2”.  I can get you any more details if needed

Here’s all the parts to assemble a 400 except the hood and transaxle

 

 

Hi, been making good progress - I thought the hoodstand frame was the same as a 600 - folded steel, but now looking it is different. Do you have any pictures and measurements?  thanks

[AlexR 733]

Looking forward to see you work on this. I really enjoyed seeing your other two builds, you do excellent work! 

[oliver2-44 9,872]

On 12/8/2024 at 11:01 AM, meadowfield said:

 

Hi, been making good progress - I thought the hoodstand frame was the same as a 600 - folded steel, but now looking it is different. Do you have any pictures and measurements?  

I just saw your request. It’s late here

so here are some pictures of a 400 and 550 Hoodstand. I will make a sketch with measurements in the next day or 2. 
 

Edit, we’re you wanting the Hoodstand for a 551?  I can get pictures of that if it is what you need. 

 

 

I also have this hood stand which is the same size, but has additional holes. I’m guessing it is for a 550. The lower hole is probable for the Tecumseh electric starter cable and the upper holes for starter bush button wires and maybe choke or throttle rod. 

 

Edited December 11 by oliver2-44

[meadowfield 2,595]

Hi, thanks - I've got a 400 hoodstand and that is as you have pictured, but the 551 is made from 1-1/2' flat bar and bolts to the frame differently. In the picture of the two chassis, you can just see the mounting tabs. from a poor youtube video, here is the part in question.

 

 

On 1/11/2024 at 4:39 PM, oliver2-44 said:

Here’s a picture of a Suburban 400 and 551 frame side by side. They both measure 32-1/2”.  I can get you any more details if needed

Here’s all the parts to assemble a 400 except the hood and transaxle

 

 

Hi, been making good progress - I thought the hoodstand frame was the same as a 600 - folded steel, but now looking it is different. Do you have any pictures and measurements?  thanks

[meadowfield 2,595]

saved my self the pain or finding an original engine....  Over here, there are cylinder mowers with the modern equivalent engine.  Same bolt pattern to the frame, electric start too!

 

[oliver2-44 9,872]

@meadowfield

Sorry I have gotten to start on this until this evening.

here's some pictures and a materials list.

I have a 1st draft drawing made and need to go verify some dimensions on the frame and a hood..

It is  7 simple parts welded into a somewhat of a complicated assembly

It may be a few more days until I get back to finishing the drawing.

Looking Forward

 

Looking Backward

Right Side

 

Left Side

Looking Down

 

Material List

1/4" x 1-1/4 x 25  Right Side

1/4 x 3-1/8 x 7-1/2 Upper Right Side

1/4" x 1-1/4" 17-1/2' est Left Side

 1/4"x 1-1/4" x  17-1/2" Upper piece

1/4 x 1" x 6-1/8"  Steering Support 

3/4" I.D. Schedule 40 Pipe   Steering Shaft Guide

1/8" x 3/4" x 2-5/5" strap

 

[meadowfield 2,595]

7 hours ago, oliver2-44 said:

@meadowfield

Sorry I have gotten to start on this until this evening.

here's some pictures and a materials list.

I have a 1st draft drawing made and need to go verify some dimensions on the frame and a hood..

It is  7 simple parts welded into a somewhat of a complicated assembly

It may be a few more days until I get back to finishing the drawing.

 

 

 

 

 

thanks - appreciate the help, doesn't need to be perfect, but does need to mount in the right place - hold the steering in the right place and fit the hood!