Dirty Rat - Sears

The tree kickers are flash rusting nicely.

 

Also, my adventure rack is back on as well.  I was tired of stubbing my toe on it on the floor. LOL

Hmm... I wonder which one of those bolts are new below on the hub?

Looking good man! I wish we lived closer so we could go for a ride!

Brianator wrote:

Looking good man! I wish we lived closer so we could go for a ride!

Definitely!

Another new update.  Came to me this afternoon and ran with it...

First, I tore part of the tractor back down...



OH NO!  What could cause a teardown?!?!







That's OK... decided to work on the dash.  Had some wood grain stick on tile that I decided to wood grain the dash.





Off to the next idea...

That looks great!

Thanks!  This is part of the build that gets interesting.  Nothing planned but could change things up from time to time!

I also turned the shifter into a # 7 Billard ball.



Put it on the drill, sanded it and polished it a bit.  Painted a white circle on the top and drew a 7,

So, I am toying with the idea to winch, or no winch, or maybe set up a receiver that I could put a winch on?

Hmmm....

Question is if you're planning on taking it places where a winch will be needed often? If yes then winch. If occasional then reciever winch! Lol. Either way, yes to winch in my opinion.

At this time the biggest use for the winch has been loading and unloading into the back of the pickup.  SO... receiver may be the best bet as you said.

You're a fabricator, you can change your mind at any time depending on your needs!

Well, I've had one of those 2500 badland winches that was blowing solenoids but seemed to work with jumper cables straight to it.  Well tonight I confirmed that the winch was bad.  Strangely when the spool release is pulled, it seems to work.  I realized that is all that I checked in the past.  Today, I did it again.  Sparked some but spun with the spool released.  I reengaged the spool and it was like I was crossing the battery.  I almost welded the cable on.  I think it best to cut my loss on that one.  I think it was the 2nd one I ever bought.  I scavenged the cable and hook, as well as the knob for the release.  I've lost one of those in the past.  I'll replace that one with this one.

So, I've had a lot of heavy thoughts about the winch and all.  With the offroad tires and rack in current config, I'm losing the "Rat" in the tractor and becoming just another "Rally" machine.  I'd hate to lose too much of the personality I was originally going for.  

Hmm...

In the mean time...

I cleaned the hot rod wheels back up.  Touched up the paint and reinstalled.



Got the off-road set and the rear rack sitting to the side.



I also realized the rear rack stands up nicely on the quick attach adapter I made for it.  Now I just bust my shin and not stub my foot on it.  LOL

Sharing a couple pix I have of the tractor...

Those wheels look so much nicer

Thanks!  I like them too.  It's my main set, the others are for if I can go off-roading or mud.

@MightyRaze I love that second pic the way the tire is in focus and the rest is out of focus ! NICE! brings attention to those nice red rims.

Another shot I made tonight with a little photoshop help!

MightyRaze wrote:

OK, new belt!  Got it today.  The 95.5"

Measured a tick over 95 5/8. Going to call it 5/8 for error tollerance.



Right now it is PERFECT!  If it stretches the .5 inch, I'm back in the 96 territory that is too big.  This tells me, If I found a 95 that was actually 95 and not 94 something I would be good.  I'm going to roll with the 95.5 and when it streches out that .5, I think I will change out the adjustable pulley from a 3 inch into a 4 inch that I have on hand.  Just need to make a belt guide for it.  Before the B/O is over this will probably happen.

@Diddie's belt issue brought me back to this.  I have just a little over 11 hours' time, stressed and not stressed on the belt riding.  The belt is still "PERFECT".

So, I wasn't happy with the original leaf spring bumper, so I made the one with the stinger like I do all my tractors.  I wasn't 100% happy with that either and this past weekend tried to mod it a little and screwed it up.  It had holes all over it anyways.  Today, I had the day off and made me a new front bumper that matches the theme a lot better!  This time 1/4 angle and I used the bender and some scrap left over from the tree kickers to make a hoop.  Here it is....

Few more images to dump...

I was never a huge fan of square fronts but damn it has a nice ass.

Love those fenders

Love this build tons of quality work! As far as the winch how bout a hidden winch? Mount it under the frame and run the cable up front through some guides, so you have winch capability but you don’t have to look at it

I’m
Thinking mount it right behind the motor plate, then run the cable in the section of frame above the front axle but below the motor plate, could even drill a hole and mount it so the knob to free spool sticks out under the foot board so you can access it easier but the winch is still hidden

@Creepycrawler I have been toying with that very idea myself.  Something I'll continue to stew on for a while.

Cool, you definitely have the skills needed to pull it off!

Still debating even installing one. Like I mentioned, I only ever use the others to load and unload from the pickup bed and I don't even need to do that now...

Really I’d say it just comes down to intended usage. If your planning on bigger solo or group rides with it I’d add one, if your just keeping it as more of a show type or street type rig I wouldn’t worry about it