1953 Tucker Sno Cat 443 Mt Washington WMTW Channel 8 Restoration

[Track Addict]

The original roof frame hoop was welded in before the roof skin was installed.

The donor and OE roof will be installed on top of a painted frame. Added some tabs that will be riveted in upon install but they also keep the hoop from expanding pushing the roof line out instead of up.

Welded up the crack in the steering booster linkage. Repair is to weld the crack but also adde material on each side then blend. This is a weak spot in the early steering geometry.

 

[Track Addict]

The donor and OE roof needed a little more fitment. The frame dimensions are a bit off between the two plus some tweaking over the years. The rain gutter needs to come down a bit and/or the upper frame needs to go up.

Cut a relief in the vertical frame close to the upper frame and refit all the panels. Used some straps to suck it all in and install the body pins.

Very pleased with the blend. Final install will rivet the two pieces together to the hoop tightening up the roof seam.

Just need to weld back in the vertical frame pieces and body blend is complete.

 

[Track Addict]

Started to straighten out the rain gutter and other areas before body removal for the last time!

 

[Track Addict]

Build no two the same. Passenger side rivet guy was off that day.

 

[Dacx]

Started to straighten out the rain gutter and other areas before body removal for the last time!
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Nice work!

 

[Track Addict]

The donor body was orange originally before being yellow. You can see some remnants behind the tool box, shovel, and axe holder. Most of the paint flaked but these orange and yellow patches are adhered well for whatever reason.

I have been trying to figure out how to blend the donor body into the project for it is some of the history and story. Yellow doesn’t do it.

Options at hand are to strip or paint like new absent finding a skilled patina artist. Test stripped a spot and was underwhelmed. Painting shiny new isn’t the right finish either.

Tested my skills at a solution and think we have a winner!

P

 

[Dacx]

Good luck! This sounds tough

 

[Track Addict]

Cleaned up the OE paint using pure carnuba wax.

Patina matched the passenger side panel and very happy with the solution.

 

[Track Addict]

Passenger side paint blend complete. 5-6 hours into it.

 

[Dacx]

I envy you…… trying to decide what to do with this situation. It’s gonna be tough as hell.
It looks good though.

 

[Track Addict]

Back

 

[Track Addict]

Driver side

 

[Track Addict]

Shifting the focus on Marty for winter. Now that the body is fit properly I can worry about the finish later so stripped it down and stowed the skin.

The passenger side of the upper OE frame still needs to be the bottom tube replaced.

Last task before disassembly was to confirm the steering box mount location. I tacked the bracket up based on measurements but did not factor in Tucker tolerance.

My tacks broke off moving it around the shop so i added the front dash clip and steering mount to figure out proper aligment. Here the OE bracket has a custom alignment bend and orientation to clear the battery box and make the wheel fit with the door closed.

Crude engineering awesomeness! Early tilt steering…..

 

[Track Addict]

The firewall has excessive holes and was going to replace but convinced the new aluminum and paint won’t flow which is accurate. Will clean up and reinstall. Many heaters and shogun slug is party of Marty’s life story.

What’s interesting is the engine side has no traces of paint but the passenger side is painted.

 

[Track Addict]

At this point multiple part finishing will occur as I finish the frame work.

Removed the steering piston, pivot, tie rods, transfer case.

Prepping to remove the transmission while it’s in the frame. Looks to have enough clearance. Looking forward to getting the engine and trans on a stand to work on.

 

[Track Addict]

Different type of riding shotgun than Marty experienced. My ASSumption is this bullet hole is from its junkyard servitude. Leaving this lifemark as party of the hiStory line.

Glad the experts gave me little nudge on the finish direction. Pleased with the outcome and we will make the rear body match upon final installation.

Primer is rare on Tucker Sno Cats overall but some model years had it. This 53 and the donor body 57 have some but not everywhere. Whatever color finish was over it is long gone if it was finished at all.

Was able to reuse the OE hardware for the most part. In true build no two the same Tucker Tolerance fashion, we have 21 matching flat head #8 screws, a fraction of them with lock washers, and a mix of #8 nuts with two different socket sizes.