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Snow Master Restoration ~ by Snowcat Operations

Mike, if I recall some of the import history that Lyndon wrote up, didn't the Canadian utility companies bring over a bunch of Snow Tracs to work on their telephone lines? I don't know the name of the Canadian telephone company, but I suspect that may be where your Snow Master originated?

Is it possible the first letters before the word TELEPHONE are "R C" which could be short of Royal Canadian??? Just a guess!

Maybe some of our Canadian members can shed some light on the issue for you.
 
Bob,
It could be RC but to me it looks like BC. Lyndon suspected mine was a Ex Tele cat. Which I do recall the previous owner said he got all of his from them. Lyndon suspected because of all the mods done to the engine. These were standard mods for the phone company. I also picked My Snow Master up from BC so it makes sense. I will try and remove the rest of the paint a little more gently till I find out what is says. OH well its kinda fun. Then back to stripping.
 
Since I will be running a Subaru engine I wonder what I should do with the vents on the hood itself. The back vents will be replaced with flat sheet aluminum. Maybe some hood scoops for the hood?
 
Thanks for the pics SNOWMASTER, keep 'em comin'. You're making some good progress. Can't wait to see the subuaru engine installed!
 
Thanks Mntnmogs. I didnt think anyone was even looking at this thread. I felt well at least I will have the pictures to show my progress and return to later to see how I did something. Thanks.
 
SO,

I'm watching this thread, too!! Very closely actually as someday... I will own a Snow Master!!

Keep up the good work and let me know if you get sick of it and want to sell...

Vance
 
lol. Thanks Vance. Maybe when I complete this first one? This is my baby. I may just keep her until I die. As you know I have aquiered two more Snow Masters. I will be selling one of those when I finish them.
 
I am also watching! I just don't say much! The stripper seems to be working well. Are you worried about residual stripper in the body seams? I read about a guy that had problems with his paint later because he didn't get things cleaned up well enough. What's your plans for cleanup? Post lots of pictures and keep up the good work!
 
scooterd,
My plans are to pressure wash in stages. After I strip the sides and rear I will push the cat out and pressure wash the hell out of it. I will then strip again and then repressure wash. Each seam will get a heavy dosage of pressure. I will then take the cat and have it Soda blasted. She will be further taken down and repressure washed for the last time I suspect unless I find a need to. I will the reinstall the new panels and fenders ect and wash everything with either a water borne wax and grease remover or a chemical born wax and grease remover before I lay down my SPI Epoxy Primer. I will then do any body work which so far I see where the factory had added about a nickle size dab of bondoe. I will the respray with either an epoxy primer or a filler primer. I need to consult with the SPI at that point. Either way I should be painting (weather permitting) in about a month. The temps again dropped to low 60s today. Another month will get me perfect weather for painting. Thanks for the support.

On the painting I have picked out my color which is known as SPI Red. (SPI is Southern Polyurethane Industires) They have paint that is equal to the best out there at 1/4th the price. They are a small company but will help you anyway they can. How many companies can you call and get real knowledgable advice from the CEO? They are also setting me up with a professional gun and all that I need to paint the cat myself. Going through them I am able to get this way cheaper than the cheapist place I have found on the internet just for the gun. Anyway great company to work with.
 
ENGINE UPDATE

I have picked out the Subaru EA82 Carburated engine. This engine produces 97 H.P. and 103 ft lbs.. My next project will include a Turbo charged fuel injected Subaru engine swap. This is what I was planning on for this project but decided to bow out to the cheaper engine which will also be alot easier to install. My next project wi9ll tackle the added hurdles of installing that type of engine. Learning how to paint is a huge hurdle I need to accomplish on this unit before I move on to my next.
 
The nice thing on the Subaru engines is that they work so much easier than an equivelant VW aircooled and consequently more reliable. Plus for a 100 to 120 HP built VW engine you will spend $5,000. I am not talking some guy in his garage but the best VW engine builders out there. SCATT, Aircooled.net ect ect The Subarus will be about $4000 grand including adaptors ect.
 
one thing you may want to consider adding to the oil pan is a deep sump so that you will not run out on side hills and steep grades
 
Thats a valid point. I once had a friend build a move able oil pickup for a cj I owned. Not sure how he did it but the oil pick up would rotate to the lowest position.
 
On the painting I have picked out my color which is known as SPI Red. (SPI is Southern Polyurethane Industires) They have paint that is equal to the best out there at 1/4th the price.
SPI is very good paint though it is not available in my part of the country I,ve heard good things about it. I,ve been watching your progress you are doing one fine job I would help a lot more if I could but I don,t know any thing about Trac Masters but I,am learning from watching yours:thumb:
 
Thanks WEATHERBY! Today I removed the front bumper. What a pain in the ass that was! Had to get out the brand new Fathers day present (Dremel) and go to town on two stripped and rusted solid bolts. The Dremel made quick work of them. Then I removed the front fenders and supports. Then it was onto the emergency brake cables and handle. Had to get the old Dremel out once again to cut both ends off a cotter pin. Everything is of course tagged, bagged and boxed away. The bumper is in my truck to take to my metal fab guy. They used 1/8" steel when they should have used 3/16" or 1/4". The weak spots I have seen on every single Snow Trac / Master is where the supports bolt up to the bumper. The holes weaken the bumper and the constant up and down motion of snowcatting along with the weight of the fenders and any gear eventually bend the bumpers. NOT on my new one. I Will of course beef it up plus do a little bit diffrent design since I will now have a radiator to think of. Extra airflow!
 

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Here are some more.
 

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These pictures will help me when I go back and reinstall everything. The last picture above is the emegency brake assembly. That cotter pin you can just see the spread pin is the one I had to dremel. Little bastard!
 
I have a pretty big to do list for Friday. Time flies when your having fun. I love these LONG days of sunshine! Sunday I need to do a deatil cleaning of my shops. Dont know how much work I will get done then. See you all in the morning.
 
WOW. Thanks GroomerguyNWO. We will see how Great I do once I start painting! This will be my first paint job ever. I am buying all the best equipment and products. The owner of the companyI am buying my products from says this is the easiest way to paint. I am doing base coat clear coat. I am also spraying my own bed liner as well. Either way I will have fun. BigAl was kind enough to offer his place and skills and paint my Snow Master. The man trully has a big heart. BUT he has alot on his plate and I figured I would try and lesson that burden and "JUST DO IT" myself. Hell right now he is building an entire barn for the Forums first Snowcat get together sometime in 2008 (Jan?) Anyway I need to learn how to do this part. One thing about paint. It doesnt matter how great a rebuild is or how reliable it is ect ect. If the paint looks like crap thats what everyone will think of the project. So I better learn pretty damn fast! Thanks for the pep talk.
 
Removed the panels today and the door skin. Took them to my local fab shop. Took the bumper too but they cant bend the thickness I want. Need to go to a bigger City for that I guess. When I get those back I will install them and remove a couple more and have them done. The upper and lower cab are loosey goosy with out the supports in. Time to clean shop. Be back later.
 

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If you need some help with the paint, I'm sure my 3 year old would love to help you out! Just give him a brush and a can of paint..........
 
Snowcat Operations said:
Team him up with my 3 year old and this thing just might get painted!
Click to expand...

With the leadership of my 5 year old they could pinstripe most of your carpeting, walls, furniture, and spacecraft hellbent on the moon thru the living room ceilings. Let me know! My 5 year old has plenty of markers ready to work!!:thewave:

79Bombi
 
Thanks for all the posts. I recieved all the paint supplies and bed liner stuff today. I am still waiting for my bad ass paint gun. Dont know how to use it but its supposed to be one of the best. At least I have the help of the owner of SPI Southern Polyurethane Industries. He gave me his cell phone number and said he would help at every stage! Pretty damn good customer service! (he does this for anyone who needs help) I will get everything unboxed here in the next day or so and take pictures.
 
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