Fear the Deere

skiroule

Well-known member
These were the last couple of tems on the chassis to be completed before final pre-paint priming/sanding:

It doesn’t always work out but I try to test fit everything before I have to worry about doing serious damage to paint. The snow flap required trimming to accommodate the TX bumper and I also needed to figure out where to drill the flap mounting holes. Flap isn’t the best but with a little cleaning and freshening up of the logo, it will be fine.
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Last thing to do was to test-mount this curious piece. Apparently, it is intended to reduce the chance of the vertical hanging flap getting sucked up into the tunnel by the track by holding it further away from the track. I don’t remember seeing this on other sleds but it’s clearly meant to fit the chassis.
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skiroule

Well-known member
I had to think for a while to remember where I got this hood but I did remember getting it as a potential replacement for the hood on the project sled, which was pretty busted up. I pulled it down from the garage rafters, which was no small task. These hoods are heavy!

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First step was to remove the old graphics/stickers and do a little clean-up.
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mezz

Well-known member
I had to think for a while to remember where I got this hood but I did remember getting it as a potential replacement for the hood on the project sled, which was pretty busted up. I pulled it down from the garage rafters, which was no small task. These hoods are heavy!

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First step was to remove the old graphics/stickers and do a little clean-up.
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Way to go you sled hoarder. What else do you have stashed away? Love it!
 

skiroule

Well-known member
It’s surprising how much stuff I’ve accumulated just from the few projects I’ve worked on. Compared to some of the guys I’ve bought parts from though, I’m not even in the game. These guys literally have hundreds of sleds and thousands of parts. I don’t know how they do it.

Knocked off some of the bigger “small” parts. Got the ski assemblies and the front frame reconditioned and painted.
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Also got the tank cleaned up and painted. I’ve had pretty good luck with painting tanks. As I’ve said before, if some defects show up down the line, I just touch them up.

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euphoric1

Well-known member
It’s surprising how much stuff I’ve accumulated just from the few projects I’ve worked on. Compared to some of the guys I’ve bought parts from though, I’m not even in the game. These guys literally have hundreds of sleds and thousands of parts. I don’t know how they do it.

Knocked off some of the bigger “small” parts. Got the ski assemblies and the front frame reconditioned and painted.
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Also got the tank cleaned up and painted. I’ve had pretty good luck with painting tanks. As I’ve said before, if some defects show up down the line, I just touch them up.

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what do you paint the tanks with? do you use a plastic fusion paint?
 

skiroule

Well-known member
what do you paint the tanks with? do you use a plastic fusion paint?
Typically I have used Fusion 5X and, as advertised, it seems to bond well to the plastic.

On this project I've been painting all the black stuff with Rustoleum satin black so I just painted the tank with the same paint. Paints just keep getting better so we'll see how it works out.

One thing Rustoleum has come out with that I really like is the 5 in 1 spray can that has five different spray nozzles. It's great to be able to switch output volume/pattern just by dialing a different nozzle. I've been painting low gloss but in fan spray mode I think a person could lay down a pretty decent gloss job on a hood or a tunnel. Be advised though, buy some extra cans. You'll go through a few.
 

skiroule

Well-known member
One might wonder why someone would drill holes in a hood that seems to be in reasonably good shape.
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Or cut a large hole in that same hood.
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You guys will figure this out pretty fast.
 

skiroule

Well-known member
You guys are a lot better at creative thinking than I am. Knowing my fondness for motors sticking out of hoods, a giant motor (maybe even with a blower:)) is a appealing idea. There have been a few Polaris liquid transplants in this chassis but to my knowledge, no one has stuffed a big cylinder free air in one.

Even Gary’s “out of the box” sunroof suggestion is intriguing and again, I have not seen one, but if not, I’m surprised someone hasn’t done something like it. If you think about it, if a person built a showpiece motor why wouldn’t they want people to see it without lifting the hood? After all, look at some of your mid-engine sports cars. What do they have but an engine enclosed in glass.

But sorry guys, nothing so exotic here. This is where I’m going with this sled.
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Yep, it will be a Liquidator pretender or I prefer to call it, a “tribute sled”. Some guys are building true clones but that is not the case here. It will still be a fan-cooled Cyclone in Liquidator clothing.

Some think they’re ugly. I disagree. I think they are one of the most iconic sleds of the 70’s. Maybe it’s the John Deere legacy they represent that appeals to me. After all, a Liquidator was the only sled to ever win the Winnipeg/St. Paul 500 that was not built by Arctic Cat, Polaris, or Ski Doo.
 

mezz

Well-known member
I would have never guessed that one. That hood mod reminds me of the mid 70's Yamaha GPX. I assume you are going to stick with the original headlight location. What is the plan with the opening in the front? Perhaps a window to view a custom engine & exhaust?
 
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