Make-A-Wish sled restoration project.
- Thread starter snoluver1
- Start date
phazerpilot
New member
snoluver came by today and dropped off the tunnel, he did a great job getting everything straightened out.we put the hood on to test fit it and it sat in place perfect the hood is now ready for paint 
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so i will be able to work on the tunnel this week ( seeing that mother nature has no love for chicagoland!!!!) to try to get it ready for paint next weekend.
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so i will be able to work on the tunnel this week ( seeing that mother nature has no love for chicagoland!!!!) to try to get it ready for paint next weekend.Thats a good question. I'm still not sure if the sled will be complete by the ride in. We are on a pretty good roll now, but there is still a ton of work to be done, and a bunch of parts to be ordered. I am kind of thinking that a raffle may be the best way to go with this. My thought was if maybe a 100 people bought a raffle ticket at say 20 bucks a pop, it would raise 2K. Obviously more than the sled is worth, but no one person would be paying an exorbitant amount. Also with a raffle, we could post it on the site, and let people who may not make it to the ride-in have a chance at it. Maybe John could chime in with his thoughts on the best way to handle this? I'm just thinking out loud here. I'm not sure how involved it would be to do a raffle on a web site?
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polarisrider1
New member
In MI you will need a raffle license for any one raffle over $100 per day for a non profit. There is a lot involved with that. Best to get the "Make a wish" folks involved with the license. They will know how to set it up.
skiroule
Well-known member
This thing is so cool! I always thought that the T'NT was one of the hottest looking sleds of the era. It just looks like it means business. To see one being brought back to life really brings back a lot of good memories.
I can tell those of you that have contributed to the build that the return on your investment is 100%. There is no overhead on this project. If you're considering donating a little moola, even a few small donations would go a long way towards securing a couple of items that have eluded the low/no cost route and must be obtained from "cash money" sources.
I can tell those of you that have contributed to the build that the return on your investment is 100%. There is no overhead on this project. If you're considering donating a little moola, even a few small donations would go a long way towards securing a couple of items that have eluded the low/no cost route and must be obtained from "cash money" sources.
skiroule
Well-known member
It's kind of a tough call. Snoluver1 is most likely right in that a raffle would generate more money so if the time were taken to set up a raffle for whenever it could be held, it certainly would be a good option.
On the flip side, while an auction might not generate quite as much revenue, it would guarantee those that are really interested in the sled an opportunity to buy it. Maybe in some ways that's a more fair approach. I agree that it's hard to look at the pics and not have an urge to throw in a bid, especially knowing the story and the quality of the work that is going into it.
I can see it now...cruising down the trail on the Make-A-Wish Special. Not that it will be a slouch. What it lacks in horsepower it makes up in way less weight. It's amazing how light these things are.
On the flip side, while an auction might not generate quite as much revenue, it would guarantee those that are really interested in the sled an opportunity to buy it. Maybe in some ways that's a more fair approach. I agree that it's hard to look at the pics and not have an urge to throw in a bid, especially knowing the story and the quality of the work that is going into it.
I can see it now...cruising down the trail on the Make-A-Wish Special. Not that it will be a slouch. What it lacks in horsepower it makes up in way less weight. It's amazing how light these things are.
I suppose if its not done by the event maybe we could do an e-bay auction, but I would really like to see this sled go to a J.D. member (maybe even the man himself!) Keep it in the family so to speak. John is it possible to do an "e-bay" style auction within the confines of the web site? Just a thought.
I am trying like heck to get this thing done for the event, but we have to face reality. We got off to a very slow start, and it is now crunch time. There is absolutely no wiggle room for any kind of snags along the way. Unfortunately, when your dealing with a 35 year old machine, you are almost guaranteed to run into a snag here or there.
I am trying like heck to get this thing done for the event, but we have to face reality. We got off to a very slow start, and it is now crunch time. There is absolutely no wiggle room for any kind of snags along the way. Unfortunately, when your dealing with a 35 year old machine, you are almost guaranteed to run into a snag here or there.
polarisrider1
New member
I think you could do the payment into the donation account you have set up (paypal). then request a check after the aution and item is paid for. The payment can be set up as a gift. the winner prints a paypal reciept and can deduct it from his taxes as a donation.
phazerpilot
New member
ready for primer and paint
skiroule
Well-known member
This is why it's good to have a spouse that understands snowmobiling. I'm pretty sure she didn't buy this to be used as a drying rack for Make-A-Wish sled suspension parts.
Phazerpilot - looking good. Do you have a dedicated area at home to shoot or do you just have to cover everything up?
Phazerpilot - looking good. Do you have a dedicated area at home to shoot or do you just have to cover everything up?
Attachments
I finally found a business willing to donate to the project! Danny's Glass and Trim in Island Lake IL, has offered to donate the labor to reupholster the seat. I already had the material, so I got a new seat pan made up and dropped it off today. We should have it back in a week or so.
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I also got all the engine parts ordered and coming. New pistons, rings, wrist pin bearings, complete gasket set and a carb overhaul kit. I also ordered up some new wear bars and found a NOS gas tank grommet to replace the cracked one I have.
That just about ate up the donation money I had. There are quite a few more things that need to be purchased. The decal set is quite expensive and we are having problems locating a track that is in any better shape than the one I have. Mine is not completely terrible, but there are some questionable spots where dry rot has set in. Seems any used one we have found has about the same issues. It would be great if we could put a new one on, but the cost is almost 5 bills.
So all that being said, if anyone is feeling generous, we could use a few more donations. I figured now that there is finally some talk of SNOW, maybe it will put folks in a good/giving mood!
I also got all the engine parts ordered and coming. New pistons, rings, wrist pin bearings, complete gasket set and a carb overhaul kit. I also ordered up some new wear bars and found a NOS gas tank grommet to replace the cracked one I have.
That just about ate up the donation money I had. There are quite a few more things that need to be purchased. The decal set is quite expensive and we are having problems locating a track that is in any better shape than the one I have. Mine is not completely terrible, but there are some questionable spots where dry rot has set in. Seems any used one we have found has about the same issues. It would be great if we could put a new one on, but the cost is almost 5 bills.
So all that being said, if anyone is feeling generous, we could use a few more donations. I figured now that there is finally some talk of SNOW, maybe it will put folks in a good/giving mood!
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phazerpilot
New member
skiroule, i don't paint at home that often( just do not have the room). a friend of mine has a bodyshop so i do most of the little painting i do is at his place in the booth. up until recently i spent all day teaching and working with painters all over il. and wi. so i really didn't want a gun in my hand outside of work. hope to get everything painted on sat. before i have to go to the company national sales meeting next week (4 days of crap,like a winter without SNOW!!!).
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Hi Guys,
I've been watching this thread from the sidelines and have enjoyed seeing the progress. A very ambitious project and a worthy one. I know time is getting short to have this ready for the Ride-In so I thought I would suggest an alternative.
Maybe rethink the date for the sale, raffle, or whatever you decide. It would give you guys doing the heavy lifting more time to to enjoy the project, collect donations and plan accordingly. Having it ready for the Ride-In is an excellent idea but maybe there is another event or date that can raise interest and awareness to the cause. John, you always have your "glacier contest" in the spring, maybe that's an option. Another would be to tie it in with your Seasonal Forecast next October. You could still use the Ride-In as a Fund Raiser event for this project to generate more interest.
You guys are doing a great job with this and I'll be anxious to see the pictures when it's done!
Gary
I've been watching this thread from the sidelines and have enjoyed seeing the progress. A very ambitious project and a worthy one. I know time is getting short to have this ready for the Ride-In so I thought I would suggest an alternative.
Maybe rethink the date for the sale, raffle, or whatever you decide. It would give you guys doing the heavy lifting more time to to enjoy the project, collect donations and plan accordingly. Having it ready for the Ride-In is an excellent idea but maybe there is another event or date that can raise interest and awareness to the cause. John, you always have your "glacier contest" in the spring, maybe that's an option. Another would be to tie it in with your Seasonal Forecast next October. You could still use the Ride-In as a Fund Raiser event for this project to generate more interest.
You guys are doing a great job with this and I'll be anxious to see the pictures when it's done!
Gary
skiroule
Well-known member
Gary, certainly food for thought. It's clear to me that the guys that are really logging the man hours (I think I'll call them the Illinois Boys) are not cutting corners just to buy some time. Not only will this make the machine a greater value for it's new owner, it will hopefully produce more revenue for the intended cause.
Regardless of how the eventual owner is awarded the sled, it will be something special. I look forward to each new series of photos and like you, I can't wait to see the last photo.
Regardless of how the eventual owner is awarded the sled, it will be something special. I look forward to each new series of photos and like you, I can't wait to see the last photo.
phazerpilot
New member
engine compartment is done
