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

Hahaha, you guys.

Well no progress lately, but I managed to ger a couple small but important parts for the drivetrain:



So I'd like to start mocking up the shaft setup soon, then I can hopefully make it work properly and get that part out of the way, haha.

those look good!

Yeah they should work nice I'm thinking.

Well I finally got back to working on this rig today. I wanted to get the driveshaft setup all figured out, so first thing I did was get the engine yanked back out:




Then basically I started gathering parts. I ended up getting a short section of 1" shaft with a keyway on one end, a slider shaft with two heavy duty U-joints, and a couple things to use for adapters.

I had to remove the rear axle bracket that was still in place, as it was in the way:



Don't think that'll weaken the frame any, bit if so it'd be pretty easy to make a new crossmember.

Anyways I finally got things all figured out, and this is what the mock up looks like:







Not too bad! Gotta cut a couple holes for the universals to clear and then clearance the rear pillow block a bit, but I think it should work out in the end.

Gonna try and get the all welding done and get the pillow blocks mounted tomorrow, so hopefully that goes well. Let me know what you think!

Lookin good man.
Fabbin a driveshalf to mower been on my todo list for awhile, can't wait to see where this goes from here.

Thanks!! Yeah I've wanted to try a shaft setup like this for some time now. Pretty much new territory to me though so hopefully it goes well, haha.

Looks good!  I am very curious how this build goes!

Thanks Mighty! That makes two of us.

Sweet looking!!
Why did U use the universal joints there? Wouldn't do it a straight driveshaft? Maybe i'm wrong, but on the pic it looks like a straight line

Thanks. Also no, it was close but they weren't quite in line with each other.

You could put some springs back there!  Full suspension!!! 

did you get lucky the u joins fit the shafts?

MightyRaze wrote:

You could put some springs back there!  Full suspension!!! 

Not this time around, trying to make this a little easier on myself, haha.

TheBeal wrote:

did you get lucky the u joins fit the shafts?

Unfortunately I didn't have that much luck, that's why I needed the adapters.

Nice! This is tractor modifying at it's finest. This is a neat project converting a vertical shaft setup to shaft drive.

Well thanks Carl!

I actually did manage to get both my adapters rigged up today.

This is the rear universal:



Fits nice and snug, but I still have to cut a keyway into it before it's totally done. As you can see I also cut the hole in the frame a bit nore to allow clearance for the universal. I'm gonna clean up the cuts and edges at some point as well.

Here's a better picture of how the straight shaft will be set up:



Now for the rear adapter, I used this little piece that fit perfectly over the small end of the straight shaft, and perfectly inside the universal joint. What I decided to do was cut a keyway into both the adapter piece, and the universal.

The adapter:



It will get welded directly to the straight shaft, so that the universal just slips over it and the key.

The other keyway:



Fits pretty good!



Then I figured a set screw would be a good idea, so I tapped a hole for a 3/8 NC bolt:



Made a little set screw:



Presto!



Good to have that part figured out, haha



Hopefully gonna get that keyed adapter thing welded to the shaft tomorrow, then possibly try and get the pillow blocks mounted as well. Oh, I gotta cut that keyway for the rear universal too. But that's gonna suck, so I might let it wait for a while.

Slowly making progress. Let me know what ya think!

I’m liking it. Getting ideas for that old dynamark from a couple years ago...you remember that? Basically gonna be a rat rod like this.

Looks really good so far. Your inginuity is quite good

Thanks a lot CQ!!

Haha, yeah I remember that little Dynamark you and TGH were working on. Be pretty cool to see it done!

I'm excited to see them both take shape. Two shaft drive rat rods would be really cool next to each other. Some real life side by side photos would be awesome, but I think that’s a couple years off on my end

Yeah that'd be pretty darn cool.

I am totally digging this build. May have to steal some Ideas in the future.

Thanks Mighty! No problem with using some of my crazy ideas, just try not to use the ones that don't work.

@AllisKidD21 don't use the ones that don't work lol. Looks like you have been brainstorming. I'm liking the progress.

Lookin Great!! I had failed miserably in that stuff I guess...

The rear square driveshaft is a 2 piece? would make a great slip joint for a suspension setup. Going to candy stripe the driveshafts like a candy cane?

Man that sounds cool.. LOL