1953 Tucker Sno Cat 443 Mt Washington WMTW Channel 8 Restoration

[Track Addict]

It’s starting to speak to me. Few different ideas and locations to blend the roof seam. The donor has more material and is nicer but want keep as much of the OE roof and lettering as possible. How nice we can get the front will dictate the direction.

Orig and donor parts playing nicely so far….

 

[Track Addict]

More body fitting.

Jr was on the team this afternoon. Todays lesson was the difference between cleco body pins and cleco vision for you 80’s fans.

 

[Pontoon Princess]

feeling the cleco pins

 

[Track Addict]

Marty has started to reveal the external finish. With the body mocked up I was curious as to how the finish the exterior.

Wanted to get the graffiti off the bare aluminum or what appeared to be bare…..

Before:

 

[Track Addict]

After:

 

[Track Addict]

Love , orange microfiber towels, goof off overspray remover, acetone, and pure carbuna wax was the trick for first pass.

From what I can tell it left MT Washington orange. At some point the side panel Tucker Sno Cat logo was masked off and it was painted silver or maybe primer? There is clearly red which has more on the other side yet to reveal itself. Seems like the silver was on for a bit before it became red because it appears the red on bare metal stuck but the rest baked off in the sun. I think the passenger side was the shade side so stay tuned…

Now that I can see the finish, I tested striping the donor body which went smooth.

The vision is coming together and the finishes will be a living storyboard of it’s rich history from Oregon, to Sno Cat Corp of NH, to MT Washington, to WMTW, to Wildcat Mountain?, to logging operation in Bethel, Maine ??, to Ayotte’s Junkyard Oxford, ME, to East Coast Preserve Haverhill, MA, to be shared for the future!

Marty on the Mountain and beyond! Great tribute finish for his legacy as the Summit of the project 202?

Very cool.

 

[Track Addict]

As expected, the passenger side did not get the long term sun exposure so more of the red paint remains.

The hood needed a good wet sanding and is much improved.

 

[Track Addict]

Welded all the frame holes and redrilled 1/8” on these panels. Going to need to get creative with the body to body holes for aesthetics but all workable.

It’s looking like something.

 

[Track Addict]

They look to all be born orange before they become something else.

Removed the shovel holder, axe holder, storage box, interior oil holder and fire extinguisher. Marty wouldn’t have the axe or shovel holder or the storage box. Fire extinguisher is in seating space so TBD.

We will use these items on another project or display possibly.

Side panels scribed and ready to be sheared to size.

Worked on some frame blending.

 

[Pontoon Princess]

tuckering right along

 

[Track Addict]

Passenger side of frame all blended.

Filled in the known extra holes on this side. Few more will appear during final panel fitment.

 

[PJL]

Nice work, the Clecos bring back memories of doing airframe work when I worked for my uncle.

 

[Track Addict]

Side panels off to the local tech school for a trim.

Rocker panels cleaned up nicely. On to the rear panels.

 

[Track Addict]

Some nights I wish I had another 53 443 as an example specimen to unlock some of the mystery history contained within Marty.

East Coast Preserve

 

[redsqwrl]

Some nights I wish I had another 53 443 as an example specimen to unlock some of the mystery history contained within Marty.

East Coast Preserve

I rehomed a perfect specimen to the east coast, straight south of you I am sure you would be welcome to fondle it. likely less than a 4 hr drive.

 

[Track Addict]

Thanks to the local tech school for use of the instructor to shear the side panels to fit. Purrfect fit!

Need to find a patina paint expert in the area. I see the donor body fishing now.

 

[Track Addict]

Rear panels fit up to the frame and side panels. Was able to straighten and pound the rear corners nicely which are panel to panel with no steel frame connection.

Passenger side cleaned up.

 

[redsqwrl]

Just a side line bench warmer comment. If you fit this up in an avg spring time temp's. Consider riveting it in same temps.

I fit up all the skins on *the thing* cat in spring. Then riveted in summer and yes i was chasing incrementally small amounts of slack here and there. I chatted with some vintage plane restorers and its a thing in their world.
Maybe your shop is AC'd
$.02

 

[Track Addict]

Got a bunch done this evening.

Passenger rocker panel fitted up along with the side panel. Used the piece we trimmed as a template. All the existing holes blended in nicely with the new ones.

 

[Track Addict]

Got the original roof tied in. Little hassle but pleased with the outcome.

Tucker used little filler trim pieces of aluminum above the door and under the roof. Getting lined up was a challenge but it worked out.

Got the hoop set in place and took more of the roof dents out. Donor panel will tie in rear of here somehow. The hoop helped straighten it all out.

 

[Track Addict]

Marty is officially back to a proper 443!

Some final fitting needed but very pleased. Was able to maximize the oe roof. Used a 1/2” flange tool to step the oe up and donor down.

Hoop will hide the seam on the interior and allow the lap joint to be sealed and riveted.

Not bad for getting roofied on Cinco de Brio’!

 

[230 Pilot]

Project taking shape!
Looking good.
Nice job.

 

[noahjames3452]

This post is the most-awaited and informative. I am reading your article very enjoying it. Your good choice for the topic. You more articles are written on other topics. I already some articles read but your article is very helpful to me

 

[Track Addict]

Cat back on the rack in preparation to finish the frame work.

Need to put the motor back in check the fit and then align and weld the transfer case back into place. After that pull it back out.

 

[Track Addict]

Engine fit back in nicely after the new lower frame.

Transfer case mocked up lined up. Drivetrain spins very smooth by hand.

Triple check and weld it in next.

 

[Track Addict]

Home Sweet Home!

 

[Pontoon Princess]

thinking Marty would love to be on Mt Washington

 

[Track Addict]

Transfer case tacked in. Pivot mounted and rear tables all bolted up with new fine thread hardware grade 5.

Tucker used many custom cut to length bolts to get the correct shoulder length. New engine bolts on the way.

 

[Track Addict]

The side of the table with the spring hangers uses a 5/8-18 x 4 1/2 grade 5 bolt to get the shank right. They then get cut down.

What’s interesting is depending on manufacturer, the thread length of bolts can vary by up to 1/2”. These bolts I sourced vary in my favor.

The other side needs 3 1/8 of shank. So these 4 1/2 aren’t enough. Will have to try a few 4 3/4 and 5” see if I can get closer….

Checking spring inventory. My 53 has one extra leaf compared to the later donor and it’s a duplicate size. One corner on Marty was missing a leaf and has some different u bolts and a strap hold the cross brackets….

Remarkable nothing needs machining here just new hardware

 

[Track Addict]

New engine hardware temped in. Everything is coming apart again for finishing. Front mounts bolts are a tight fit. These 9/16 nuts are 13/16 wrench don’t clear under the frame mount. The 9/16 bolt is 13/16 which just fits but no socket. Bolt down would have been better. SAE washers just clear one side needed a little flat spot.

Rear mounts is another place that shank length is important. Tucker got close here but we were able to improve with the new hardware. Finish will have lock washers on final install.