953 nut 55,175 #1 Posted February 25 Pow’R Pup My father subscribed to several magazines while I was growing up. Mechanix Illustrated, Popular Mechanics, and Science and Mechanics were my favorites. Their pages were full of wonderful projects and ideas that stimulated a young boys mind. I can recall several “You Can Build This” articles that were so intriguing that they have stuck with me for sixty years or longer. One of them was the “Pow’R Pup Suburban”, a small garden tractor that could be built from salvaged auto parts which were readily available at very low costs at the time. The article appeared in the August 1961 edition of Science & Mechanics and gave an overview of the project with a full set of detailed drawings available for $ 10.00. I didn’t buy the set of plans, wish I had, but the article stuck with me. It might cost a bit more than $ 175.00 to build the Pow’R Pup today. If you happen to have a 1932 to 1948 Ford transmission and rearend hanging around as well as a 1951 to 1953 Studebaker steering gear and related components you are off to a good start. The price of machining of various parts has probably gone up too. I doubt that an old Ford axle could be shortened, threaded and a keyway cut for $ 10.50 anymore. Nonetheless it is fun to look at these old magazine projects and remember what it was like to be a kid. Here are some pages from the article. 6 5 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,408 #2 Posted February 25 16 minutes ago, 953 nut said: My father subscribed to several magazines My paternal Grampa did as well. He was an absolutely voracious reader of many things mechanical. I remember perusing the pages as you did. Always something fascinating in there. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 8,314 #3 Posted February 25 1 hour ago, ebinmaine said: I remember perusing the pages as you did. Always something fascinating in there. AS did I - my Dad had a woodshop in the basement. He had about 100 back issues of Popular Machanics above the workbench.... 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sailman 1,291 #4 Posted February 25 My grandpa had an old metal cabinet in his shed back on the farm in Iowa filled with old popular mechanics magazines. Spent many an hour reading and imagining the possibilities. Kids today have tic toc and instagram....guess that's why so many of us old farts are here...... 4 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,175 #5 Posted February 25 Glad this is restoring good memories for some of us.I have found several other "Build This Tractor" articles I will be posting from time to time. 3 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldlineman 1,481 #6 Posted February 25 Yes I also remember those days when life was much simpler, and we had a lot to be thankful for but didn't know it at the time. Time really makes a person much smarter I guess. Thanks for the memories Richard . 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 8,314 #7 Posted February 25 8 hours ago, 953 nut said: The price of machining of various parts has probably gone up too. I doubt that an old Ford axle could be shortened, threaded and a keyway cut for $ 10.50 anymore. I could not buy even the fasteners for that price !! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lee1977 6,656 #8 Posted February 26 (edited) Here is one I built, didn't go exacly like the plan. 70 Mercury Cougar shorting 8" rear end and steering box,71 Ford pickup transmission, fairlane front spindles, Not sure what Ford the drive shaft came from. Cut 5" out of one axle and 8" out of the other. Friend of mine drilled and pined them and we welded them back together.\ Then I cut the axle housing and welded them beck together. One axle slid right in the other lacked a little bolting up. Pulled it out ground about 1/16" off the end and then bolted it up. If my memory is still holding up the rear width is 56".it will fit on my 5' x 10' trailer. Edited February 26 by Lee1977 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,175 #9 Posted February 26 10 hours ago, Lee1977 said: one I built, Very cool, I see you used the parking brakes for stopping power too. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lee1977 6,656 #10 Posted February 26 (edited) Cost for pulleys, sprockets, you joints, engine, bearings, new brake drums and shues was around six or seven hundred Most of the car and truck parts came from my dads farm, the rest were given to me by friends or I aready had, The frame was left over steel from from a trailer build. Edited February 26 by Lee1977 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
