Summer Vintage Projects 2013

[skiroule]

Down to Bedrock

Some paint and decals and that thing will pop. It is such a great hood design and I think it's a big part of why these sleds are so popular.

Think I've stripped the chassis as far down as I will go. Since it's a rider and the pan is in good shape physically I'm not going to pull the pan off. Also not going to remove the "dash".

Straightened a small curve in one cross member connecting brace (cosmetic) and the running boards. It's hard to describe the setup I used on the running boards but it consisted of two pieces of angle iron, three blocks of wood, a large C clamp, a 12mm deep socket and a socket extension. Whatever works I guess.

Always a little caught off guard when I see the Textron sticker. Keep forgetting that for a number of years this was the parent company.

 

[skiroule]

Princeton

Sorry folks, I just couldn't resist reposting this from VS.

Have a few items on my list and heading up tomorrow. If you're up there, look for the guys selling TX stuff. I shouldn't be very far away.

 

[skiroule]

Princeton II

Told my wife I was going up just to pick up a couple of things, which I did. She wasn't impressed but I do think she was kidding about the shock treatments.

Good trip. Secured a lot of parts in these bad boys and got to talk to some people that are key people in the vintage sled business.

 

[snoluver1]

Told my wife I was going up just to pick up a couple of things, which I did. She wasn't impressed but I do think she was kidding about the shock treatments.

Good trip. Secured a lot of parts in these bad boys and got to talk to some people that are key people in the vintage sled business.

LOL!!! At least the parts are neatly packaged!
That shed of yours just keeps getting smaller, eh?

 

[Bradzoo]

Probably would have been alittle too conspicuous to take the trailer!! Nice finds, I think its time for a barn

Bradzooooooo

 

[Bradzoo]

Anybody got a drive axle for a 1979 TX jut laying around that they want to get rid of? Kelly at least yours had a bearing! I knew things were going too good!


I did manage to get the broken belly pan off and the engine, jackshaft, and chain case out also


Bradzooooooo

 

[skiroule]

LOL!!! At least the parts are neatly packaged!
That shed of yours just keeps getting smaller, eh?

It is getting crowded and it will get even smaller if I have to live in it. The suggestion has been made.

Probably would have been alittle too conspicuous to take the trailer!! Nice finds, I think its time for a barn

It's funny you should mention the trailer. I actually considered it but like you said, a little too conspicuous and I honestly couldn't assume that I would come back with anything. I do need a barn.

Regarding the driveshaft: At the risk of rubbing salt in the wound, I saw several at Princeton on Sat. but wasn't in the market at the time. I may regret that myself because the photo I posted really understated the situation. What the photo showed was only the outer bearing race. The inner race is still stuck on the shaft (like yours). I think it will eventually come off. Who knows where the ball bearings went.

 

[Bradzoo]

Well been kinda busy with other sleds haven't had alot of time to work on this one but here are some pics of how the hood is progressing, its in the wet sand stage now some how I got some bug's in my custom paint booth and of course they have to land on the hood, next comes the clear coat an the hood will been as done as it will be until stickers, guess it looks ok for a old guy with a brush and a roller


Bradzoooooo

 

[Bradzoo]

Well its not perfect but it doesn't look to bad after 34 hard years, I got it clear coated this evening, now to get the new stickers on it, the new belly pan will be here this week and I also found a drive axle so things are starting to come together still along ways to go, of course I may be sleeping in the barn soooooooon but at least I'll be dry


Bradzooooooooo

 

[Deleted member 10829]

I think it looks great Bradzoo! Pic 2 looks a bit better for some reason, can't put my finger on it.

 

[snoluver1]

Looking good Bradzoo!

 

[Bradzoo]

Thanks guy's, I'm scared the 1st big bump on a cold day and it'll look like a cracked egg!! Mark maybe you just need to come over to my barn and have a few cold ones!!

Bradzoooo

 

[Bradzoo]

Well I have the chassis stripped the rest of the way down degreased and pressure washed hopefully by the end of the weekend I'll have it ready for paint, got the dash cleaned up and brought back to life and my belly pan made it yesterday all the way from Boise Idaho and its in great shape. I ordered a bunch of parts yesterday all new bearings Idler wheel, shocks so things are starting to come together, once I get the chassis painted then the reassembly starts. Here are before and after shots of the dash.


Bradzooooooo

 

[skiroule]

The hood and dash look excellent! Can’t get over how well the heat gun treatment worked on the dash. Definitely setting a very high standard for quality – think I’ll have to start cheating.

Like many of you out there, I’ve come to realize that Brad is a sled restoring machine. The guy never stops working. I do some work on mine at least 4 nights a week (and some weekends) and I’m making progress but I’m pretty much in his dust. If I can stick to my schedule I’ll be OK but there’s no wiggle room. My “to do” list has over 100 items and I have about a dozen crossed off.

Guess I should have called the thread “Summer and Fall Vintage Projects”.

 

[Bradzoo]

Well Kelly you are a whole sled ahead of me! not gonna get as much done this weekend as planned, working 10 hours Friday and then installing the new dish washer made Friday a bust, work realized I was gonna be off a couple of days next week so its 10 hours both Sat. and Sun. between my wife and work and time to get this new sled I'm gonna fall behind, the goal was to get the chassis painted before the new sled arrives don't know if that is gonna happen or not now. I sure hope you took the time to go to hay days somebody needs to be having some fun. I still have to put a new deck on my 4 place trailer this fall and I'm running out of time, should have started earlier

Bradzooooooo

 

[jr37]

Bradzoo, I see you are a member on Vintagesleds now too. Man, that site is addicting too.

You and Kelly are just making me jealous. I have had a pretty busy summer, just no time for the old Sidewinder.

What about having a John Dee Vintage rdie this winter, not that I will be ready to go by then. Would be great to see though.

You guys keep up the great work, and posting pics.

I was able to get the old Kitty Kat of the shelf yesterday, so at least the boys will have a vintage sled to ride this winter.

 

[Bradzoo]

Bradzoo, I see you are a member on Vintagesleds now too. Man, that site is addicting too.

You and Kelly are just making me jealous. I have had a pretty busy summer, just no time for the old Sidewinder.

What about having a John Dee Vintage rdie this winter, not that I will be ready to go by then. Would be great to see though.

You guys keep up the great work, and posting pics.

I was able to get the old Kitty Kat of the shelf yesterday, so at least the boys will have a vintage sled to ride this winter.

Ya at the urging of a couple a guy's on Vintagesleds, I started a rebuild thread on the TX, I learn an awful lot on that site your right about it being addicting. Some of those guy's do spectacular work, I'm really humbled on some of the parts they bring back to life for these sleds.

As far as a Vintage Ride this winter Mrs. Runningbear has already made that sugestion and hopefully I'll get to talk to both Mike and Linda about it more on Friday, I have to be in Greenland to pickup a sled from Kip so we are gonna be spending the nite at the Running Bear. I really wish I would have started earlier on this project because it has become alot more involved than what I 1st invisioned, I'm 6 weeks in and not even close no matter what Kelly say's I have along way to go. I may not even be done for this winter we'll just have to wait and see I'll just keep pluggin along on it.

Bradzoo

 

[renten]

Wow you are a freight train! How in the heck do you find the time? I started before both you and Kelly, but you guys blowing by me. Nice work! I have my belly pan riveted, steering in,skid frame restored(with new modified shocks), bronze spindle bushings, dash restored,and I am just now starting on the ski/spring assemblies. I just bought the little brother to my TXL, a '78 TX that is a great shape sled that does not need a full blown resto. I saw Kelly's TX when my friend and I drove up to buy his '75 TNT and my new purchase will be very similar to that condition. Great job! to you both. Jeff

 

[Bradzoo]

Jeff its tough, I try to get in a couple hours every day some days more if I can most days less, I'm sure mine won't be anywhere as nice as that TXL your restoring you need to post some more pic's I'm sure everybody is tired of looking at my stuff, I'm just trying to make a good solid rider. I couldn't find a decent bumper within driving distance and I'm not gonna pay freight to get one here, so I straightened mine, I got it on my new replacement belly pan to see how it fits and it doesn't look to bad. I haven't done any cleaning on either yet but the fit looks pretty good, it will do until I can find a better one.


Bradzoo

 

[renten]

I will definitely post more pics when I get back home to WI. I just drove my oldest out to Spokane WA. to get set up in a new apartment and job. My goal is to ride the TXL and the TX this winter! Jeff