Kelly's Rat Tractor

[Kelly 1,030]

To start I did not cut any round hood tractors up I used parts that were not good for a nice tractor, with that out of the way.

I wanted to build a rat rod tractor ever since I got the white wall tires, they just made me think of a old rat rod, well I never did it, then TT starts building one and lit a fire under my butt, But I did not want to look like I was copying him so I went with a round hood big block, this is a project that will take a while (other things in life) but I will keep you posted as I go, Here is a run down of the parts used to get this far.

68 charger frame

656 trans

400 front axle

502 body tank and fenders

to mock up the engine a spare 1055 with short pan (will get a 16hp)

very ruff round hood I found in junk yard

rear wheels and tires off a CC 1650 23x10.50x12 (I want 24x12x12's)

front tires and wheels off MTD

custom torch cut spindles with bar stock welded in,(I have a buddy that works for a steel com. and does CNC 360 deg. laser cutting and we made a program to cut nice one's will be a few weeks)

I have droped the front about 6" I was going to cut the frame shorter but it is working out as is, I will even be able to use a stock drive belt for a 1055, I used the belt guard to set my engine up and have JUST room for the starter (I like the looks of the old S/G) I will be putting bars from the tank to the grill shell like a old rod would have, and lights from a bicycle chrome bullet style.

And many other mods as I go.

[whlpny 203]

Hey Kelly- now that looks cool- your off to a great start- I really like it!!Love the idea of the hood/ grille rods!

[BPjunk 184]

Well Kelly,

There is two items your rat rod is missing!

1) The chrome skull gear shift knob

2) The tear drop head lights

And what ever ya' do paint it primer black and take a picture of it for me with the white wall tires on it if only for just one picture ..... Please!

Bill in Richmond, Va.

[Stigian 1,234]

That there be very nice work Kelly

I think the rake is spot on, i like your thinking on the lights as well.

Keep them there updates coming :thumbs:

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,513]

Kelly,

It's looking good. That thing is low to the ground. :thumbs:

[KyBlue 655]

Thats a pretty sweet lookin project! A buddy of mine did one similar to that for his Son a couple years ago. Its not as Rat Roddy thou.. Two thumbs up for originality and creativity, cant wait to see what else ya do to it!

[BPjunk 184]

Uh Kelly,

When ya' get 'round to the hood ....... take it from me clearence can be a problem with a big block!

Bill in Richmond, Va.

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[Buzz 502]

Uh Kelly,

When ya' get 'round to the hood ....... take it from me clearence can be a problem with a big block!

Bill in Richmond, Va.

Imagine how much room you would have needed if it had electric start instead of the hand crank . Of course then one of your arms wouldn't look like Popeyes.......

[Kelly 1,030]

Quick up date I received my headlights yesterday , so today after work I stopped by the local farm tractor dealer to get some steel hyd. line, lucky me they had a piece that was the right size and free to boot, love the free part, trying to bend it was another story so I packed it full of sand out of the kids sand box, and stuck it in a hole in a big block of wood and bent it that way worked pretty good, the sand kept it from kinking, what a pain to get two bends the same that way after a little thinking and a smoke I welded a nut to the ends to mount it though the frame and another side ways at the top to mount the lights, I plan to drill the tube to run the wiring inside of it. They are bicycle lights about the right size and style that I wanted.

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,348]

I am diggin them lights, they are something!

[WheelHorse_of_course 99]

You have won me over. I have always considered hot rods to be a shameful waste of old cars that were plenty cool on their own.

Your disclaimer put me in the right mood though, and I really do like the way she looks.

I think you need a hood scoop!

[CasualObserver 3,408]

I'm loving those lights! Looking Sweeeeett!! :whistle:

[Stigian 1,234]

Nice lamps Kelly :whistle:

[Kelly 1,030]

Well it's been kinda slow going with warm weather, and other things to do.

I got the grille welded up hole in the bottom broke out welded up, and the hole in the side for muffler at some point, and the tabs to mount the strut bars to, built the strut bars 5/16 all tread with stainless tubing over it, tie rods built, steering shaft cut down from a long frame with a CC steering wheel, won't be much longer and I can tear it apart to sand blast. anyway here's where I am now.

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,348]

That sure does look slick, and I still really like those lights and the way they're mounted up.

[BairleaFarm 340]

that thing will be cool when you get it finished. Are you painting it, leavening it in primer, or as is?

[Kelly 1,030]

It will be black primer with a red engine I'm going to paint the head flat black and polish the tops of the fins, the wheels are still up in the air if I make a set of wide whites for it, they will be red, if I have black walls they will get powder coated silver as close to chrome as I can get, I can't aford real chrome, I will put chrome accents all over the tractor but not to much, not to make it over done.

[sorekiwi 761]

Thats looking awesome, Kelly!

:D

[kj4kicks 154]

Lookin' good Kelly !

:whistle:

[BPjunk 184]

How are you planning to make the exhaust? Maybe shooting down and back..... with duals out from under the rear.

And while your at it why not look for a 1-1/2 or 2 inch in diameter drive pulley ...... for a little speed!

I love the lights! What kind are they?

Bill in Richmond, Va.

[combatmp29r 27]

Lookin good Kelly Will it be done in time for the big show? :whistle:

[Kelly 1,030]

Ok exhaust that is going to be a tuffy HaHa, I want it to go down and out the back I will put a small muffler in it maybe, to keep it a little quite , fitting it between the tire, light and the drive pulley , I'm thinking of using conduit and bending it up, but that will be latter.

I have a bigger pulley but that will mess up the stock belt guard, and stock belt size, and I don't want to cut up the 1055 guard it's my only spare.

The lights are made for a bicycle I got them off ebay had to get the whole set up but I think I'm going to use the tiny torpedo tail lights they sent also, they are 6v so I need to put a resistor in to drop the volts.

I might be done by the show but I'm not taking any tractors, it is a family vac and that is just one stop for the week.

[KyBlue 655]

Thats impressive, I too am diggin the lights.

My only suggestion would be to find you some chrome acorn bolt covers and put em on the head bolts... Since the head is facing up and will be so visible, theyd really look nice, kinda like a flathead,

Ive got pictures on the other computer of a V8 Converted Ford 8n they did the acorn nut covers on the head bolts, looks pretty sweet, IMO

[WheelHorse_of_course 99]

Kelly,

lookin nice

I like the idea of rear bullet lights. If you can figure out a way to isolate one from ground you can put the 2 6 volt lights in series and voila 12 volts!

Other wise take the bulb to the auto parts store and see if you can find a 12 V version.

Keep up the good work! :WRS:

[linen beige 14]

This thing is just too SWEET! I love the headlights, and the way their mounts carry on the theme of the upswept front axle. Makes me want to do something similar with my 704 and I have a '60 front axle! Now, I don't want this to sound like I'm telling you how to build a hot rod, it's obvious you certainly do. But, since that engine needs a shroud over the head to direct air from the flywheel fan past the cooling fins, don't you think a custom shroud, made to look like a blower scoop, is in order? And a couple of the short "Plymouth Prowler" type front fenders would not only look good, they'd keep the sand out of your face.