[FINALIST] - mrshaft696's The Real Horse [2019 Build-Off Entry]

So this is what I'm gonna roll with 1969 Wheel Horse Commando 8, I did have a few other good projects but I know I can get this one done...

I did drive this tractor twice, it had a 8hp tecumseh engine that locked up on the second ride..... so now its out and my plan is to try and run a opposed twin turned 90 deg if I can get it to fit correctly.

I plan to sand smooth and do a clear coat and keep a rat roddy look, I want to run AG tires front and rear, whatever I can get to fit but not to big.  I know it needs some adjustments with the belts and pulleys etc.  Its gonna be kind of what I would call a "super stock" build, kind of the way it should have came from the factory but better...







Approved: MightyRaze 2/11/2019

Good Luck!

MINTY! Excited how it will turn out! Awesome patina look!

Good luck! I hope that opposed twin will fit in there.

I'm looking forward to this.

the engine I want to use does not fit exactly, its pushing on the gas tank really hard & it is all the way forward in the hole on the frame, if I was to get a pulley on it, it would end up being microscopic to not hit the steering etc in the front of the tractor...

I could fit some type of gas tank under the seat, I measured to put the battery there and it would fit, I guess with the opposed engine it would be able to pump the fuel from the tank, since it would be lower than the carb? I could also mount a more narrow gas tank lower than the original I guess & rear mount the battery.


I like the gas tank & really want to keep the battery under it, so I may have to go back to a single cyl flat head....or use the gas tank in another wheel horse.

why not just turn the engine 90 degrees and tastefully notch out the hood to accommodate the oppy? This is a modified tractor contest after all.

Crazy_Carl wrote:

why not just turn the engine 90 degrees and tastefully notch out the hood to accommodate the oppy? This is a modified tractor contest after all.

I could but yeah I have to ruin a 50 year old hood. I will think about it... One of the coolest parts of it (just in my opinion) are the decals on the hood. Then I run back into the  problems with the exhaust exiting etc.  With the engine turned 90deg the intake & exhaust all clearance out the side of the tractor & just the engine cover is under the hood.

Just thinking about it now I could use a narrow tall tank, like from a newer MTD. I have to pull the tank out later and see if its even possible to get the engine in position that way. The tank is full of gas and I didn't feel like removing it last night.

Yeah I think leaving the cylinders parallel to the frame would be cooler, like you said you could leave the cool hood intact, and also it would be easier to do a sweet 2 into 1 header on one side! Hahaha.

Oh, and given the pulse pump on the oppy, you should be able to put the fuel tank anywhere you want.

this is the other side all the stuff hangs out in the open..... the motor is really large for the tractor...

I would go for @Crazy_Carl 's Idea with rotating the Oppy! The Carb needs to be under the Hood for protection! And if U dont want to damage the hood, Why not just raising the Hood a bit?

SebastianAlbrecht wrote:

I would go for @Crazy_Carl 's Idea with rotating the Oppy! The Carb needs to be under the Hood for protection! And if U dont want to damage the hood, Why not just raising the Hood a bit?

yeah I was going to do something so I could mount a cone filter over the carb, I thought it looked pretty cool hanging out, and Im pretty sure people have air filters sticking out of the hoods with no issues.

I don't think I can raise the hood easily because it has a mechanical latch, with a roller wheel thing & it sits level as it is, I would cut it before that...just in my preference..

Yeah I've seen different tractor builds with oppys mounted that way, and they never seemed to have any issues with the carb/air cleaner sticking out. Also I definitely agree that it looks pretty cool!

If you can mount the engine this way without chopping up the hood real bad, I'd say go for it!

How does the hood hinge work? Can't be too hard to lift.

thanks all for your recommendations....

I mocked it up a little tonight with the engine front facing, and the good is it will let me fit a battery & keep the gas tank where it is... I will just have to notch the hood where it says "wheel horse" and have to get new decals or something....The steering gear & a bunch of stuff is right under the gas tank so it is basically not an area where anything can go...

I would also just need to run the muffler like what is on the simplicity im stripping down right now & it would all fit....

Looking at it tonight the deciding factor I need to determine 100% if i cannot fit a gas tank or battery with the engine turned 90 deg that idea is not gonna work, even though i like it better....

Everything fits with the engine front facing, Ill have to notch it & if im gonna do that im gonna cut a hole in the top of the hood for a cone air filter to stick up.... Maybe one more night messing around and taking measurements and ill know....

Personally I love the carb hanging out the side it looks like a old hot rod

Creepycrawler wrote:

Personally I love the carb hanging out the side it looks like a old hot rod

I second this.

Double W Cross Ranch wrote:

Creepycrawler wrote:

Personally I love the carb hanging out the side it looks like a old hot rod

I second this.

Well one interesting thing about these tractors is the front end frame section from where the motor sits, is made of cast iron, and its bolted to the metal rear part of the frame section... that is a can of worms right there...

With the Oppy in the Correct Position it looks AWESOME!!

Y not takin a few pics of the hinge for the Hood? maybe we can come up with a solution for that, since the Oppy is higher than a Flathead that was stock under it, so it wo'nt get enough cooling air! And cuttin the top of the hood would look GROSS IMO!

So this is a close up of the dilemma from this angle... I would need to cut into the tower in front of the steering wheel by at least 1/2" to mount the engine this way. Then that leaves what to do with the gas tank. I would need like a little 1 gallon tank or something.

The back of the tractor flips up sort and I could mount the battery there.

So cutting the hood might not seem that bad, have to keep thinking about it....

it sounds like this way will require a lot less hacking. The carburetor sticking out the side of the tractor would look cool with an aftermarket air filter on it. I have a predator tank laying around with broken mounts but you could zip tie it somewhere if you want it.

LOL the Hinge isnt that complicated! There R some holes right on top of the old hood mount holes! U just need to swap the holes out and maybe notch a bit off the hood so it will open far enough!

I still support the regular way for an Oppy to mount instead of that 90° sideways

Looks better, more protection, easier to maintain, easier to make gas tank, muffler,....

Crazy_Carl wrote:

it sounds like this way will require a lot less hacking.   The carburetor sticking out the side of the tractor would look cool with an aftermarket air filter on it.   I have a predator tank laying around with broken mounts but you could zip tie it somewhere if you want it.

Be pretty funny running it with a little gas tank like that, id have to carry a jerry can around... Oh well I have some time to figure it out... I know I could stretch the tractor, but... I just did that, not doing it this time. I just wanna run a big stupid engine.

Just my two cents but that intake and carb hanging out the side is pretty sweet !

Wouldn't be much to redrill 4 mounting holes for that engine so you don't cut the gas tank mount. Get some kind of cone air filter if you decide the leave the engine 90%. Some sort of separate exhaust that has a small 4 inch tractor supply muffler would be cool. Something that comes out of the port, and turns 45% back straight into the muffler.