[Winner] [23] [rally] Craftsman Mudder -- Project: Anne Murray

#Buildoff2023

Greetings! This here is project Anne Murray. (Best I could come up with, and figured she's canadian aswell, so it would work well!)
It's a 1980 Murray gt16. 16hp opposed, that supposedly runs, and a pearless 2300 out back. I purchased this tractor in the fall of 22', mounted my ATV tires on it, and then life got in the way. It hasent been touched since (as you can see by the 3ft snowbank around it)

-Project description-
Going for a good all around offroad build, something I can fly around at decent speeds, but when asked, can go around most obstacles, whether that be mud, rocks, gravel, or inclines. This build will feature -
- Stock engine, ungoverned (have a backup engine if need be, 20hp intek v-twin)
-peerless 2300 with a locker
- pully swap, thinking of a 1-1 , this may change
- full frame reinforcements
- steering reinforcements + heim joints
- steel bumpers, front and back. Possibly include a 3000LB winch on the front
- Lighting (rock lights + front LED bar)
- hand operated brakes (possible hydraulic)
- foot throttle (of course!)
- Custom exhaust to keep the operator awake!
- skid plates
- storage (ammo boxs)
- full electrical rewire, to include tether (possible instrumentation aswell)

I'm sure other add ons will happen, thats how most of my projects go! I plan to drag it into the shop in a few weeks, as my other projects are nearing completion, and my garage is full of snowmobiles at the moment.


I have included a few photos aswell.


Thanks everyone, and thanks to my girlfriend for making my pretty sign

[adm]Welcome to the 2023 Build-off!
[/adm]

That one has a 2100? Intersting. Mine had a 2300. Good transaxles.
Here was mine when I recovered it and when it was in it's prime.

@MightyRaze My apologies, it is a 2300 series. Il edit that up quick, and holy cow that one you got sure is a beast!

Anne Murray?! Lmao!

Welcome to the Build Off! Nice rig and plans, sounds like it's going to be sweet!

Evening guys! Little update nothings really happend. Been about -25C/-40Cthe last few weeks so haven't touched Project Anne Murry yet. However have been gathering scrap steel for building, and a 3500# winch aswell as other small bits. Nearly done my other build, the list is getting smaller. Once it's done, il drag Project A.M into the garage! Will keep updated when I make progress!

This is exactly why I like starting the B/O on Jan 1. Most cannot build at this time, but you can gather parts and when it warms up. Building can be easier! Nice update!

Quick little update the gears are starting to turn on this build. Drug it out of the snow today, nice workout,only -26C today. Also got my new winch for the build, and have been gathering other odds n ends. Gonna start tearing into it over the next few weeks as the weather slowly gets warm.

Well finally turning bolts! Weather finally is maybe taking a turn! Just had 6" of snow blow in last week, as a last hurrah for winter here in Saskatchewan. Got the murry gutted of all mowing related items, and most of the wiring. Probley going to be pulling the engine next. Had it running and driving, but seems to burn some oil. Il open it up eventually and probley throw some new rings in it,and do a valve job, or come to think of it  I have a 20hp Intek V-Twin in a parts mower.. choices choices... hmmm

Evening folks. Been slowly plugging away. Been busy with life and work. Front axle has been beefed up substantially, using 1/4" plate and 5/16" plate. Spindles are beefed up! Tonight just finished the steering rod. Used a tie rod end from a 90s chevy pickup, worked great! Sleeved it with a piece of 1.5" gas pipe and shes bomb proof. Also tied the entire front frame together so my winch/bumper has some structure to mount to (next phase)

Well I seem to be working front to back! Front bumper & winch mount are complete. Pretty happy with the bumper I made and how it's mounted. Seems rock solid, mounted the 1" x 2" tube through the frame, and bolted to the frame itself  may weld it aswell in the future. Made a winch plate out of some 1/8" plate, and built mounts for the "pre-runner" bar & fairlead onto that. Next up, is the power plant, the original 16HP opposed is gonna go back in (for now). Gonna run to town this weekend and grab a new crankcase gasket for it  and slap it back in. Then il probley tackle some wiring aswell as driveline next. Gonna be going with a 1:1 pully Ratio, and using 6" pullys,to maintain that bottom end tourqe. This tractor will eventully have a plow mounted to it aswell, so Gonna need that power! Wish I could work on this more often, but that's life. Got a busy full time job, and 2 other projects that are always going!






The Two other projects, my 73 Lemans, and 85 Buick lesabre

Looks awesome!

Morning!  Still making progress, working on it in my evenings and weekends. Got my steering finalized and buttoned up! Engine pully mounted and height set. Belt guards done. Also got my light bar mounted behind the grill, not super thrilled with how it looks, but will work until I can find some scrap diamond plate to make a nicer bezel. Got all my switches mounted, and battery hold down fabricated. Gonna be doing the wiring next. I have a winch, lightbar, tether and master power switch to wire up along with a simple push button start setup. I also threw some fancy paint on the engine tin, turned out really nice, all just to get covered In mud oil and grease lol. Won't be painting this machine either, she's got 43 year old paint and it's oozing with character! Just a good cut n buff, and clearcoat will be it!

Looking good dude!

Wiring is all complete on project Anne Murry! Winch, tether, push button, light bar all work and wired to my "key", the master power switch. Just need to secure the wiring looms to the engine cover, once I make a pullstart (thinking il just use a extra water pump pully off my Oldsmobile 307, or a pully off a parts tractor. Next big item will be exhaust, gonna be doing some simple side pipes that go down, under the floorboards and angle out. Would like to run some small "hot dog" mufflers aswell I'm thinking, I like loud stuff, but there's a limit lol. If anyone has suggestions on mufflers for a Opposed twin that would be great! Also need to hook up my choke cable and fab a throttle pedel, probley gonna be running with the govener for now, this may change if im feeling brave lol.Hoping to start the exhaust later this weekend, or after work in the evenings next week! Once the exhaust is all finished I can put the rest of the engine tin on the engine.

You seem like a pretty handy guy so why not make your own muffler!? You could probably find a scrap piece of schedule 10, 4 or 6" pipe (about 1/8" wall) for free or cheap and go from there. Would be plenty rugged thats for sure! The size of the oulet will determine the volume, 1-1/2" would probably be good.

Just a suggestion... make a build off completion video of it as soon as you're able to comply with the rules just in case anything happens, this way you're eligible for voting regardless but that doesn't mean you have to stop building!

@Brianator
I have made a muffler in the past and was pretty happy how it turned out, I can always fire two of em together, just curious if other folks had luck with those "hotdog" style ones  I am pretty cheap so I may just built some!


This is a baffled muffler I made for my project "Saber"

Currently on exhaust and foot throttle. Acquired this tonight to help with my exhaust, looking forward to using it!

Knocking off more things on my list. Foot throttle is done, hooked up to the governed throttle for now, if I need some more jam il just reroute the cable directly to the throttle butterfly. Also got my exhaust done. Did duel exhaust, with two, 2 1/2" custom baffles. Inside those pipes are some washers used to cut the sound waves and add back pressure. Curious how she sounds! Also finished a quick emergency pullstart tonight, bringing it, and the air cleaner housing to work for a bath in varsol tomorrow, then some paint. Gonna replace the fuel lines and flush the tank and it will be ready for a test start!

Also found some photos from when I initially got the machine! Can't wait to rip it!
This wouldeve been augest ish, 2022

Note those OSHA approved Jack stands

I like the exhausts, can't wait to hear them! I like that the "mechanism" of the gas pedal is more inside the tractor, should eat a little less mud and water. I have some problems with my throttle on the outside of the frame getting stiff when the cable eats some grit.

Brakes are nearly complete. Fabbed up a bracket and using a hydraulic caliper off Amazon, originally intended for a gio dirtbike or atv, 39$, the price was right. Essentially copied Ryley at OKOffroadMowers with the rotors "anti smash plate". Will be adding a skidplate for the rest of the underside eventully. Just need to find some pipe to add a upright to mount the resovior side of the brakes, bleed and test. Should be ready for a start up this weekend, should also start the hassle of finding a belt. I know the owners of the local napa in my small town, and in the past they let me just take a handful of belts home, and bring em back and pay for just the correct one  so shouldn't be to irritating. Also flushed the tank, and replaced the fuel lines + filter. May make a youtube video of the exhaust to show others. If I do il add a link somewhere.

That was a clever way to mount the caliper!

Looking good man, keep it up!

Stole the idea from the boys at OKoffroadmowers! Works just slick

Video of the exhaust. Sounds good, good rumble but not annoying loud either. Video quality is kinda blegh.
Took the carb apart and cleaned after the video, and tuned it. Runs way better. She sure smoked once running, cleared up mostly. Im sure it needs rings but will be good for now. There's some paint left on the exhaust to burn off aswell

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jBGhR_Ov2Nw?si=oDCCwNOiZTfCePcB

Brakes are finished, just need to be bled. Finished the headlight bezel with some diamond plate aluminum, looks wayyy better i think! Whole tractor looks funny in the pictures just cause the back is up on jackstands, and one front tire is flat. Just waiting to get a atv rack from a friend, mount my rear D ring, and a belt. Then i can start testing and tuning!