Mower powered jeep buggy!

About a month ago I picked up a frame with axles, tires, steering, transmission, transfer case, and part of a body on it. Reason I got it was for the frame. It's needed for the restoration of other jeeps. I bought another jeep in that had a couple more things on it, it's frame isn't the best.





Then I get to brainstorming.... There is nothing there, it looks really light... But I have steering, brakes and pedals... Why not slap a mower engine on there, and gear it 2 to 1 to the tranny?

So now I am going to install a jackshaft with a hub mounting the original flywheel and clutch, and drive that by chain with a 18hp horizontal engine. Weld on a couple school bus seats we have, plywood floor, and I'll have a 4 seater, 30mph, 4wd toy! Chains, welded diff, and I should be able to go anywhere. Leaving the hitch on for moving stuff around the yard. Haven't figured how far I'll go with lights and such. I'll pull all the gauges but the speedo. Not going to get crazy with it, no rollbar, yet...

I need the frame, rear crossmember, and maybe some tranny parts out of them. But I should have plenty left to build with.

Pics!

Wait so there's 2 jeeps that you showed there. What 1 are you working with?

Looks like a cj2a because you're into the earlier stuff. Our cj3a has the flat 4, peobably as much hp as the twin cyl you're talking about

Actually, Jeep engine is 60 hp, 105 torque, which was really good for when it was built.  Mower engine is much lighter, but only 20 torque, 18 hp.  I am using two Jeeps, it will be the parts left over from restoring my other 2 1946 CJ2A's. 4 Jeeps total

Ooooo now this looks fun! I need to stop by and help build this abomination!

This is a amazing idea! Hope the oppy has enough sack to move this beast even though it's fairly light.

Exceedingly cool! Is 2:1 going to be deep enough?

I figure it will be about half the weight from stock. Plus, with low range, you have 6 gears. First gear low range idle should be 1 mph.

Sounds pretty reasonable. I was batting the numbers around in a free moment yesterday, and I think at 2:1 it might struggle in the higher gears in high range, but it's worth a shot. Worst case, you regear lower. No great loss.

I'm not sure where the weight will end up.

Stock is 2215

I'll be missing
engine 3-400lbs
body 5-600lbs
radiator, wiring, seats, etc, 100lbs?

Adding
bus seats 150lbs
engine 100lbs
drivetrain adapter 50lbs with clutch

I can pick the back end of a jeep off the ground(at least I could 15years ago)

Will I be able to do 30mph up a hill? doubt it. But I might be able to hold speed on the flats.

Of course adding 4 guys will slow me down alot.

Heck with regearing, I'll just find a bigger motor!

I'll take on the banner tractor when done!

This project just has so many advantages.

Bullet proof 4wd drivetrain, with a real clutch!(using stock flywheel/clutch on jackshaft)
Brakes and steering are already done.
Suspension!
Cheap. I paid 160 for one jeep, 200 for the other, and can get most of the money back selling extra parts. Old jeeps are everywhere with bad bodys.
Parts are cheap and easy to find.

Heck maybe some day we will abandon the mowers and go with this idea.

@Stretch
Stop giving me ideas for more projects! I dont have the room or the time as it is now!

...that said, I always wanted to put one of those Kubota 3 cyl diesels in it for giggles......ACK! Must...stop...thinking about..it!

If you could find one of those wisconsin v4 engines that would be killer, or possibly two twins.

V twin bike engine, no gear box attached to then like a street bike.

Stretch44875 wrote:

Heck maybe some day we will abandon the mowers and go with this idea.

Hang a deck off it... LOL

The restored jeep will have a PTO for running farm equiment, such as a mower...

Moose and Therainbowboxer stoppey by saturaday. After a quick, muddy romp, we got started on the buggy.

Pulled engine, radiator, fenders, grilled, tub, and tires from my old jeep. This has the worst frame and rear axle, and will be used for the buggy. All the good parts are going to another frame I have for restoring.

Pulled partial body for buggy use. Pulled another jeep engine for flywheel and clutch.

A ton of work got done, thanks for the help guys!

Future buggy frame. Tires are swapped and engine is gone since pic.

Lots of work was done totally worth the effort!

Made some progress. Got a horizontal shaft engine. Made hub adapter to mount flywheel to 1 in shaft. Got a 1 in shaft and bearings. Almost ready to start putting things together.

Front side of hub adapter. Pretty cool, this started out as a chunk of round stock, turned it on the lathe, drilled and tapped 3/8 fine for bolting flywheel, broached 1/4 keyway, and drilled and tapped set screws.



Backside



Mounted to flywheel, has a nice press fit into recessed part of flywheel.





16hp briggs opposed engine.



Flywheel, hub, shaft and bearings on transmission, just stuck on there for now.



Frame, with drivetrain and old tires.



Body section being used.



Hand winch.

And Video!

Stretch, you mad man.

It's not going to be the fastest thing ever, but I hope to see it crawling up some hills.

I'm gonna have to get down there and help out some more!

Offer some sacrifices to the Jeep gods(maybe just set some old tires on fire or something), and beg for their blessings...

I have a 5 speed jeep or ranger trans stashed away, Id like to someday link it up to a big engine and a cut down jeep rear end.

those old cjs are the jeep gods!

Moving along nicely. Its stuff like this that makes me really want a lathe and a mill, great machine work.

Maybe a bit of an old thread but have you done anymore work on this? I cant wait to see it climbing some hills and going through mud!