[FINALIST] - AK's LT-08 Rat Rod Tractor Build [2019 Build-Off Entry]

AllisKidD21 wrote:

Yeah well of course it had to happen right when I really need it to run, I think that's just the rule. lol!

Oh yes, that is most definitely the rule!

Oh boy... definitely jumped the gun on this one. Turns out I actually just had a bad condenser on the ol' K Series. I said I was gonna try a different one before deciding it was the coil, buuuuuuut I didn't. LOL.

Put a new condenser on and she has beautiful spark and runs like a champ once again!

I then decided to finish up the shaft setup, so I finally cut the pinion shaft to the proper length and got it all assembled:



You can see the lock collar and thrust bearing that keep the pinion shaft sticking out properly.

Then, the test!!







It works!! Has some pretty decent wheel speed too, which is good.

Still a bit of vibration, part of which I think comes from the engine too. (No balance gears in this one) But it's nothing really to worry about. I actually sat on it to run it through the gears and it didn't feel bad at all, even when I revved it up. I'll keep an eye on it though.

Anyways I'm gonna call this one a success, let me know what ya think!!

Any video of it?! 

Yup! Those last two pictures are actually screenshots of a video I made. Nothing special, just a short video of it working and what not.

SWEET!
Hope your driveshaft is reliable!

Nice, that thing is going to be lots of fun! Next up, suspension, eh?

Thanks, haha. Yeah that will probably be the next thing I tackle on it!

Little bit of tinkering today... I've been wanting to seperate the hood from the grille for a while now, so I cut the rivets for the hood hinges and popped them out with a punch.

Got a piece of angle welded to the front of the frame, the slice on the one side is to clear the U-bolt for the clutch pivot bearing:



Made some little brackets to bolt the grille to the frame. Watch out, they're pointy!



Then she's bolted up!



Lots of room in front of the engine now:



Probably gonna add a support that runs back to the dash as well, just to really keep 'er secure.

Looks good allis! Using the stock incandescent bulbs in those lights? Or do you plan on wiring them at all?

Not too sure, I'm not planning on running a battery so unfortunately that kinda rules out any lights or accessories on this rig.

We'll see though, maybe I'll think of something and I'll end up running the stock headlights.

I hope your planning on grinding those edges, those things'll hurt!

Why don't you try to move the hood lower. I don't think it will look too good with those supports running back to the dash at an uneven angle. Are you gonna put your supports about half way on the grille and at the top on the dash to even them out?

If that hood has a lip on the bottom you may be able to mount it lower by welding the top of that lip to the bottom of your frame. That might give you a couple more inches. And I'd also consider removing what's left of those side panels.

Just my two cents.

Gee.... I'm guessing you don't like it.

The hood on this rig is tilted back like that from the factory, if you look at the chassis stance mockup I did earlier in the thread you can see that with the frame being angle forwards, the top of the hood is about level with the ground. It's just the way it is, not much I can do about 'er... Also I really don't wanna have to cut the hood anymore to clear that air filter, which I would have to if I lowered it.

I can do that thing you mentioned about trying to make the hood support level by mounting a ways down from the top of the grille, I think that'd work alright.

Haha! Nah I love it.

So if I understand correctly your planning on putting the hood back on the grille at some point? Still, something's not adding up. Did you lower the dash? Wouldn't the hood hit the gas cap if you put it on?

The grill is maybe an inch higher.

I don't know, I don't think it looks bad:





We'll see. If it bother me I can change it I guess, haha.

Okay. Yeah I didn't know you were gonna put the hood back on. I thought you were just putting the grille on and leaving the engine exposed. So if this is the case yeah it doesn't look bad at all.

Patiently waiting for front suspension......

Looking good AK!  Loving the look.

When's the video of the engine running the shafts?

Thanks Mighty!

I didn't upload the driveline test video to YouTube or anything, it wasn't anything special so I didn't really think I should.

I might make a video here sometime though, maybe show some of the stuff on the tractor so far and demonstrate the drivetrain setup.

I really like the look of the hood with the relief cuts for the air cleaner. Does give it a true rat rod look.

Thanks muddstir!

A few more things done here, I replaced some of the one ratty looking wires for the ignition parts, and also wired up a kill switch into the dash:







Gotta love those neat little push/pull switches! Haha.

Then I finally got around to making some more front end progress.
Got two trailer leaf spring shackles I had and bored the 5/8"  holes out to 3/4":



The plan was to use those and a couple pieces of flat stock to make some steering knuckles!

Cut the pieces in half:



One side done!



Other side:



Didn't turn out too bad!



I only had the one king pin bolt, so a 3/4" pin is holding the other knuckle in place for that picture, haha. I'll pick up one of those and a couple other bolts for the wheel spindles as well.

But for now, I'm glad to be getting some front end work done!

Looks pretty sturdy Allis!

mint!
Might do that kind of work someday as well!

Thanks Rich. I figured I wouldn't have to go too heavy duty for this type of rig, so I didn't add any gussets or anything.

More front axle work today! Got a few more bolts, so I put two new ones for the kingpins:



Two other bolts of the same length for the wheel spindles, I ground down an edge on the heads so the way they sat against the flatstock would allow for proper K.P.I. once they were welded on:



Measured and marked:



All welded up!



Turned out nice! Did a little mockup with some old wheels afterwards (these aren't the wheels I will be using for the final product)





Should work well! Definitely glad to have that done, haha. Tomorrow I'd really like to at least get a start on some wishbones for the front end, so hopefully I'll have some pictures of that soon!

MINT!!!
Lookin very good!

Looks good and straight. Nice job on the spindled. In your mock-up... Your axle going to be that far forward?