Big block OHV shoehorned in the 654

[Greentored 3,201]

Between a couple evenings and this week's 'mental health' afternoon, she got a name change and made it official, her new heavy duty hubs and a set of beefy tires done. Added a second set screw to the hubs, slotted the axles and installed full length keys. First true offroad ride, she did excellent, but changes need to be made.

I now understand why a couple of you mentioned "light front end" HA! It is flat out scary going up any decent incline, and im talking 2-3mph, near idle in first gear. The slightest change in throttle or traction and the front end comes up, and doesnt want to come down. Yes I got 'bucked off the horse" once, over backwards, and it hurt, im not 20 anymore. Shes getting loaded front tires and a weighted front bumper and/or wheelie bar immediately. The taller 25x8 rears are actually closer to 3" taller, and top speed is closer to 30mph or more now, rendering 3rd gear useless and even second gear nearly the same in offroad situations. Shes getting a pulley and belt swap with a goal of a more 'rock crawler' first gear and maybe 15mph top speed. The transmission is not disappointed in this decision, although she has been flawless thus far.

  The funny part is how many folks think this whole thing is nuts, ridiculous, childish, redneckin' at its best, yet it gets more thumbs ups and 'fist pumps' out the window by passersby than any hotrod Ive ever driven, and now a few others are suddenly asking questions about tractors they found on the local marketplace.

.....Cant deny the nuts, ridiculous, childish, or especially redneckin at its best, and couldnt care less. Life is to be enjoyed! 

"Do what makes you happy- they're gonna talk about you anyways" 

[Pullstart 62,785]

WHEEL’n HORSE looks great!  I like the tire combo!

 

The cement filled box hanging off of Putt Putt is easily removable... with some SBC manifold bolts just pinning it in place and the weight of the whole thing wedging it there.  Between that and my loaded tires, it hasn’t come off the ground since!

 

 

Frank’s box holds a battery, starter solenoid and a buncha steel!  No loaded tires, but he’s planted firm on the ground.

 

 

 

They are both proportionally scaled to each other in height and width.  I think for Frank, 1.4 was my multiplier.  Why would I remember that?  Who knows...

 

[Pullstart 62,785]

Here are some links to show how I “spotted in” the front hanging mount on the frame.  Yellow paint marker was my spotting dye.  On the ‘62 frame with the flat front, the angle iron was simply cut flat to rest straight across the front.

 

Comparing the ‘62 to ‘64 front end

 

First assembly after paint

 

Shot of the weight off after a couple years’ use

[Greentored 3,201]

@pullstart Thanks man! So, apparently this is an issue with these, and not just in my application? Granted, wheelies are fun, but getting tossed onto your back and a 400lb tractor following you down is not as much fun as it mightve been 20 years ago

Some of these 'mud mower' guys have built racks across the hood to store gas cans, supplies, beverages, etc... but I want to keep the 'tractor' look as much as possible. Perhaps a small rack up front built out of some excessively heavy steel would do the trick.

....just dont crack a cold one out of said cooler immediately after riding HA

Edited April 17, 2020 by Greentored

[ebinmaine 67,268]

4 hours ago, Greentored said:

folks think this whole thing is nuts, ridiculous, childish, redneckin

 

 

THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT !!!!!

 

 

 

Honestly. Not trying to be rude. But anybody that thinks that and has the gall to bring it to my attention without me asking their opinion first really just doesn't deserve the time of day or a response.

 

For several thousand years if not longer we have been trying to figure out what the meaning of life is as a mass society.

 

Be happy. That's it. There's no secret. Stop searching for it. Smile. Be nice. Be happy. Oh yes, and... Get a Wheelhorse.

[Greentored 3,201]

Gosh, its hard to figure out a good place to post updates.Think ill just keep this thread going for the ole 654 trail bomber. Shes been getting a back property ride every 2-3 days and doing great! 

Fabbed a wheelie bar with a solid link to the hitch lever and added a stop to it. Now can keep the bar out of harms way, and drop it in a moments notice when its time to climb a steep hill or questionable terrain.

...then decided, as if it isnt already a handful, lets beef it up some more! Purchased a .010 shim steel head gasket to replace the .040 stock one, did the calculations and milled .050 off the head which takes it from a calculated, CCd 8.4:1 to 11.5:1, and as long as I was there, ported the head and back cut the valves. Did it make the difference I expected? No. Does it have more authority, a much meaner 'bark', and will it lift the front tires on a roll in second gear without any clutch help? Yep.

I truly cannot wait til all this corona crap is over so I can attend a meet and put some names to faces. This ole girl will definitely be in attendance! 

[tom2p 2,394]

cool !

 

with that top speed you might be able to drive it to a meet  lol

 

first pic above - are you cc'ing the head ?

 

( heard the term but never saw it performed )

assume higher octane needed ? 

 

colder plug ?

 

can you feel the additional compression when you pull

start ?

 

Edited May 1, 2020 by tom2p

[Greentored 3,201]

7 hours ago, tom2p said:

cool !

 

with that top speed you might be able to drive it to a meet  lol

 

first pic above - are you cc'ing the head ?

 

( heard the term but never saw it performed )

assume higher octane needed ? 

 

colder plug ?

 

can you feel the additional compression when you pull

start ?

 

Haha, I have driven it home a few times and made a beer run on it  Granted, all three places are less than 2 miles, but anything to embarrass the girlfriend when I roll through the neighborhood on it. 

Yes, CCing the head in first pic. Yes, definitely needs 93 octane now, or at least 89. Same plug, no issues there. Due to the compression release, it still pulls over pretty easy, but can definitely feel it 'snap' over now, and when you kill the engine, it comes to a much more abrupt stop.  The difference in throttle response and 'bark' out of the stack is day and night. It definitely does not sound like a generator engine anymore ha.

[Greentored 3,201]

That old 4 pinion, 1" axle 3 speed is doing a wonderful job, but I am currently looking for something with the larger axles and high/low range. I really want to lock the diff, but think that may be a bad idea with those small axles.

[Zeek 2,286]

On 4/11/2020 at 9:39 AM, Greentored said:

Updated pics and rode her 1.2 miles home yesterday and terrorized the neighborhood. Check out the front spindle wear! I welded them up, then realized that spindle swinging around on the lathe while turning it back to size was a bad accident waiting to happen. I belt sanded them back to size, got some 1" OD bar stock, drilled it to 3/4", slid over the spindles and plug welded in the center, then polished the OD, knocked the bushings out of the wheels and drilled them to 1". Problem solved and heavier duty too!

@pullstart- fixed that hideous yellow too! Squirted some red oxide primer and dark red on it, attempting to make it look like the tractor itself. Just needs some rust and dirt on it

She hollars with that big straight pipe on it, but I went with 1 3/4" because I have a old Harley slip in baffle for those times I dont want to get a visit from the local PD ha.

 

 

 I used to do that too! I had a round hood with a V-Twin, straight pipes that was built by @clintonnut and is now owned by @AMC RULES Neighbors couldn't figure out what caused a late 40's LE guy to go screaming up and down the street on a old tractor that sounded like a Harley! 

 

Nice job on the tractor!

Edited May 1, 2020 by Zeek

[tom2p 2,394]

when I was a kid don't recall neighbors or police fussing much about tractor noise 

 

but two stroke dirt bikes ... ?  ... different story ... lots of complaints 

 

years later most of that property was developed ...  many of those open areas were transformed into office and shopping complexes ... bet many of the people with issues with the dirt bikes would trade back for the woods and the dirt bikes ... 

 

[Pullstart 62,785]

On 5/1/2020 at 8:03 AM, Greentored said:

That old 4 pinion, 1" axle 3 speed is doing a wonderful job, but I am currently looking for something with the larger axles and high/low range. I really want to lock the diff, but think that may be a bad idea with those small axles.

A “six speed” transmission from a Raider or the like would have limited slip and low range, plus be able to utilize your brake configuration.  Swapping to an 8 speed is doable Iike on Putt Putt, but I still don’t have a parking brake and had to modify my linkages to accommodate the different brake band setup.
 

 I recently picked up a 6 speed and am torn between putting it in Putt Putt to accommodate my plowing desires a bit more, or install it in one of our 953s or the pile o’ parts GT-14 I grabbed up last weekend..

[littleredrider 409]

I put a 13 horse engine which is prolly the same size as that 11 horse in a 63 lawn ranger. It fit pretty good, didn't cut or modify anything that couldnt' be put back to stock.

[Greentored 3,201]

On 5/6/2020 at 11:25 AM, littleredrider said:

I put a 13 horse engine which is prolly the same size as that 11 horse in a 63 lawn ranger. It fit pretty good, didn't cut or modify anything that couldnt' be put back to stock.

I can’t imagine a 13 horse in one of these little tractors. The 11 in mine is dangerous lol

[littleredrider 409]

I swapped pully's on it, but can't remember the sizes. It was a fun lil tractor, still had mower deck and a snow blower. Wish I didn't get rid of it, I haven't found another one....

[Pullstart 62,785]

On 5/9/2020 at 5:36 PM, littleredrider said:

I swapped pully's on it, but can't remember the sizes. It was a fun lil tractor, still had mower deck and a snow blower. Wish I didn't get rid of it, I haven't found another one....

how far away is Peach Bottom, PA?

 

 

[littleredrider 409]

bout 3.5 hours 1 way. As much as I'd love to get another one, and my g/f is awesome, she would pitch a fit if I got another one!!!! Maybe after the garage is built, prolly won't care, or even know lol.