Been lurking awhile, first post with new project. Lifted Craftsman!

genegillis5,
The amount of lift is different from the front end to the rear end. I took a ton of measurements before I started and created a drawing in a CAD program I have. I worked with the CAD program to figure out what it would take to get the frame to sit level. The program gave me the numbers. Unless your tractor is the exact same model as mine I don't know if my numbers will work for you seeing as every tractor is probably different. How much lift I gave it was just an arbitrary number based on the drawing I made in the CAD program of how I wanted it to look. You may want to go higher than I did which would be a different amount of lift in inches. I believe for the rear I went up 9 3/4". Once the rear was lifted, I jacked up the front of the frame till it was level with the rear and figured out how high I needed to cut the pieces to lower the front axle so it was even with the rear axle.

If you want something that's done right, it's not just as simple as cutting a piece of metal and welding it in place. I spent a few hours taking measurements to assure that both axles were on the exact same plane as well as the frame being level when I install the same size tires all the around. I am a bit of perfectionist when I build something and probably more so than most. Unless you have access to a CAD program or can draw and do the calculations on paper, you will have to mock everything up. My advice to you is take your time and measure twice and cut and weld once. Get the tractor jacked up in the air to a height that is to your liking. You will need to know what size tires and rims you want to run so you will know were the front and rear axles will have to end up (In reality, you are lowering the axles in order to raise the tractor.). Once you are happy with how it looks in the air, then unbolt the rear end and get it set in place at the height that matched your rims and tires. Now measure the distance you need to make up. Once that is done, move to the front and repeat the same process. I not only ran the numbers, I also did the mock up method to double check everything.

This may not be the best way, or the way others have done it. It's what worked for me and you can see by the pictures and the video it seemed to work well.

Looks and sounds awesome! Very nice build. Now you gotta paint up your new steel.

Doug,
I really want this to be a "LOW" budget project. So far to date I only have about $300 into and that includes the tractor. I still have to get tires which in orger to get four of the exact same I am going to get new ones. The best price I have found for 4 brand new 23X9.50-12" turf is $256 delivered. The paint on the body is in really great condition. I am going to have a friend who is a detailer compound and buff it out. I am going to repaint all the metal I added and welded on black. The transmission will have something done to it also.

Looks great.
Very clean build.

Got the tires ordered today. Should be here by Friday. Hopefully the spindles will be here tomorrow and I can get them bored out this week.

Are those for the rear?

Same tire and size going on all 4 corners.

Oh ok.

What type rims will you be using?

redneck999,
If you go to the first page of this thread there is a picture of the rims.

Yeah i had a brain fart.

Looks awesome, defiantly needs bigger tires to complete the look, lol

Awesome build..you take alot of pride in your work..I like that..keep it up!

Still no spindles and hubs for the front. I got them off of Ebay and they were supposed to be here by this past Monday. I have emailed the seller and haven't heard back from him. I went and checked his feedback and this seems to be his MO. He offers free free shipping but takes his sweet A-- time! You can bet i'm gonna leave less than average feedback. He's holding up the build. I'm at a stand still till they get here.

Hate it when people on ebay do that. I always make note of checking feedback before buying.

Wait wait, If you have all four tires the exact same size, and it sits level with the front smaller than the rear, wont you have a dragster incline? (front end is lower than the rear)

Murray modder,
It you read carefully thru the thread again, you will see that I accounted for that in my calculations. The amount of lift I added to the front is different from the rear. With the same size tires it will be sitting level.

The tires and spindles/hubs actually showed up today. I ran over to Mavis Tire and had them mount the tires on the rims. Then I headed home to figure out how much I have to cut of the spindle to have the tires spaced properly and not hit when they turn. I will give them to my friend to modify tomorrow when I go to work.

I like those rims they look good on it.

I think it's gonna look Bad Azz when it's done!

Yeah.

Got the spindles bored out so tomorrow it will be a marathon in the shop. I should be able to get the front end completed!

fireman wrote:

Got the spindles bored out so tomorrow it will be a marathon in the shop. I should be able to get the front end completed!

nice!

Ok sounds good.

cant wait to see it when its done

Got home and assembled hub and spindle and slid it on the old spindle. Cut out a piece of 1" X 1/4" steel bar to weld in as a gusset to strengthen it up so it doesn't end up bending. Looks great! Can't wait to hit the shop tomorrow and get cracking. I should the front done by noon!