Looking ahead to 2018

I am looking ahead to next year.  This year is now half gone.  I have this early 80's Murray that I plan on using in next year's build-off.



Right now, it is sitting under a tree waiting.  I may yank the engine out of it since it is missing "crucial" items to make it go vroom vroom. (no intake for juice and no coil to make juice "BOOM")  I do have another oppy that I was going to try to fix.

Question is...

My original plan was to do a RATROD, but after this year's build-off with my hot-rod craftsman. I have recently started thinking about an off-road rally machine!  Maybe something with independent front suspension.  Who knows?

options.... options...

Things I do know.  Like I said the engine is missing vital organs.  The steering is shot.  Wireing is shot (i'd redo anyways).  The gear shifter is frozen, but I can manually turn the input pulley and it wants to turn the tires.  I'm thinking the shifter cup is rusted together. I know, I'm babbling, but I welcome input for consideration.  Yes, Alliskid21, I know you are voting RATROD.  LOL

Me?? I've never even heard of a "rat rod".

Hahaha, I think a rally machine would be pretty cool actually. It'd be nice and rugged for that.

But... making it into a rock crawler would also be a cool option. Especially if you built IFS for it! Have like 25"s in all four corners, some kinda knobbies or something would be good for rock crawling I woukd think. Build some good bumpers and rubs bars for it so it can handle bashing against stuff, some lights on the front and rear bumpers.
Obviously its your call mighty, but that would be a cool option I think.

Converted to a POLL. It would not let me earlier, but now it does. Who knows.

I voted for a rock climber. Haven't seen many good rock crawlers built on this forum in a while. I am hopefully going to be building a rock crawler out of my old Westwood S1200 with front and rear suspension. It's your call man, a purpose built rally tractor would also be cool.

I voted for rock climber, but I can't make anything look good so I just go for functionality lol. Plus if you have a good rock climber chances are you can go through mud and pretty much whatever else is in your way. Plus that 2300 series is perfect for crawling. Can pretty much bounce the cast iron case off anything no worries lol

Yeah plus the 2300's have that creeper first gear, which would be good for crawling as well.

I have the same engine and rock solid transaxle on my 1970s MTD Lawnflite. What does your clutch system look like?

Go for a rat-rod look, slammed. Thats what I would do with mine if I werent so lazy.

Dave.MTD wrote:

I have the same engine and rock solid transaxle on my 1970s MTD Lawnflite.  What does your clutch system look like?  

It's already a double pulley.



Sorry for the schematic, the darn thing is really heavy and I am feeling lazy tonight.  

Rock crawler is in the lead.  Hmm, never even thought of that.  I may need to do some research now.  I may end up liking that idea.    Not what I was thinking.

A long arm suspension with long coilovers would be cool on this! It would make a good droop style suspension for crawling over big stuff.

Personally, I am not a fan of how the belt has to twist 90 degrees on its way back to the transaxle. My MTD ended up flipping the V-belt inside out and chewing it up.
I am thinking of throwing in a 90 degree gearbox halfway to get rid of this problem. Maybe a 1:2 ratio to increase speed

You could build it to be a 'rat-rod rally rock crawler'! Combine all 3 ideas

Argh! Another cool looking thread that abruptly stopped. :-(

https://www.atltf.com/t3665-getting-started-on-the-murray

Don't ya just hate that? Haha, get ya all excited and then BAM... gone.

sad but life happens i guess

i think you could take care of the "rat" part by just clear coating it, lol

Yeah a rat rod rock crawler might look pretty cool.
I just thought, the handle on the right fender (deck height lever I assume) would probably make a great brake handle.

Starting to brew some ideas, and I think at this time moving for a bit of ralley/rock-climber build.  Threw this Photoshop mesh-up together.

mightyraze wrote:

Things I do know.  Like I said the engine is missing vital organs.  The steering is shot.  Wireing is shot (i'd redo anyways).  The gear shifter is frozen, but I can manually turn the input pulley and it wants to turn the tires.  I'm thinking the shifter cup is rusted together.

Don't worry, for a rugged off road machine all that gets replaced and or beefed up anyway. Espcially if your thinking of doing suspension, then you'll be down to a bare frame probably.....

That looks pretty sweet mighty! You could do rear suspension too, it wouldn't be too hard i think being as you've dealt with the twisted belt setupon Saspuatch II!

Photoshop image looks really cool. I like the independent front suspension. Might have to steal that idea for my Westwood build.

I'm sure it has been done several times. :-)

Rally!

Ahhh IFS aint as good for rock crawling as a long arm setup!



Long arm in the front, 3-link in the back!! Hahaha, that'd be a wicked setup on this old girl!

That does look really nice!

Yeah long arm is kind of more for droop than upwards travel I think, which would make it great for crawling over large objects.