1956 222 Kitten Restoration

[Dacx]

So I am a little behind the eight ball. I should have started to posting from the beginning, but to give you a little back story here it is.

The kitten we are working on is 1956 Model 222, manufactured in 1955, SN: 155405, originally sold to the Dept. of Agriculture, Boise Idaho. This is kind of family affair, so my father (Dan) and my son Boone are huge part of this, in fact my Dad is kind of kicking my ass as far as progress goes as he was in charge of the engine overall and it is ready to go.

When i was about 15 years old, (22 Years ago! ha) I tired to purchase this cat from the second owner who bought it from the forest service. Unfortunately, he did not want to part with it at that time. Fast forward a few years he sold it a man, who again sold it couple years later. We finally got it bought earlier this year. We are the forth owner. Thankfully it was it in running condition, very little rust and rollers are in great shape.

Like i said we have already overhauled the engine, stripped the paint. I am now starting on the body work. I still need to recondition the clutches/Brakes inside the pontoons. I plan to remove the pontoons tomorrow, so stay tuned!

 

[Dacx]

Welding holes in hood….

 

[redsqwrl]

I recently did a 55-56 it was sold new to army corp (chicago)

I have lots of notes from cooling to coils.

Our external water pump 10hp anglias are unique.

 

[Dacx]

I recently did a 55-56 it was sold new to army corp (chicago)

I have lots of notes from cooling to coils.

Our external water pump 10hp anglias are unique.

I appreciate that! Ill keep that in mind!

 

[Dacx]

We successfully got the pontoons off today, I’m glad we did because they need a little love! Not a lot but just a little.

here was the order (maybe not exactly but pretty close)



Remove brake handles
1- removed the top covers, add lots of pb blaster and wait 24 hrs ha
2 jacked up pontoons and removed suspension springs
3 pulled of the outer bearings (4 bolts) and large axle nut
4- tapped the pontoons lightly from center of cat to get about 2” clearance inside
5- removed rachet and clutch parts
6- carefully tapped drum off the axle shaft
7 - slide off pontoon

 

[Track Addict]

Great to see some projects coming alive!

Boone must be on a heavy dose of Orange Kool Aide since SV getting bigger!

The kitten is the best worst ride in the Tucker line up and a must the collection. Figure out what those springs are out of for the suspension.

Some have swapped those for wood dowel or my go to of UHMW rod.

As for your Omaha Orange check this out for the Tucker like paint. Prob more gloss than OE but experts believe the color varied over the years by the same name. Possibly mostly maybe accurate. Have Boone fact check TikTok

Acrylic or Urethane options. Look at the Restoration Shop line for Tucker Tolerance:https://tcpglobal.com/

 

[Dacx]

So today we did a little body work! Pounding out dents, a little body filler (sharkbite). And we starting drawing out new panels, such as the engine side panels! I’m trying to teach Boone how to use AutoCAD, he’s getting there. Come Monday we will cut them out on the laser.

 

[Bennyboy1337]

Man Dacx, I haven't checked the forums in a couple of months and I come back to find out you've acquired a kitten. If my math is right then I think this means you're averaging 1 steel tucker refurb a year, this has to be some sort of new record if you keep it up!

 

[Bennyboy1337]

Also would just like to say I really love that this kitten has heritage locally here in Boise with the USFS. It looks like they painted it FS Green with white pontoons to match the green/white scheme of the power wagons that were pretty common in the 60s/70s.

For what it's worth, I think it would be amazing if you could keep this paint scheme and maybe throw a USFS decal or two on it. Someone has a an old FS tucker in Oregon with the original FS green (nicknamed "Gobbler") and I just think it's the coolest looking tucker ever! Picture I think is from Alpine Jamboree a three years back, looks like Gmoose in the shot

 

[Dacx]

Man Dacx, I haven't checked the forums in a couple of months and I come back to find out you've acquired a kitten. If my math is right then I think this means you're averaging 1 steel tucker refurb a year, this has to be some sort of new record if you keep it up!

Thanks Ben! We’re excited to get after it!

 

[Dacx]

Removing some sheet metal that’s just a little too rough to repair

 

[Dacx]

So, I've been lacking a little ambition......
But i know i have to keep after it! Every weekday my son calls me after school and asks if we are going to work on the kitten! Today I decided I need to work on getting the rest of the aluminum sheet metal pieces drawn up so we can get them cut out. I was gettomg extremely frustrated while to trying to measure them..... Nothing is square, dimensions vary as much as 3/4" from one side to the other. I've decided i will just recreate them as they were.

While trying to measure everything, I realized I have no proper way to measure the radius's.... such as in the widows, fuel ports, doors etc. This might be a little overkill, but today I decided I would make a make a set of large radius gauges. So that's what I did!

Hopefully tomorrow we can actually draw and cut out some tucker parts!

 

[Track Addict]

East Coast Preserve could have hooked you up with the PDF version.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/boatoutfitters/documents/Radius-Template.pdf

 

[Dacx]

East Coast Preserve could have hooked you up with the PDF version.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/boatoutfitters/documents/Radius-Template.pdf

Again… I’m too slow to think about something as simple as paper!

 

[Dacx]

Well at first we we were just going to replace the back panel but after, But as easy as it was to get them off, we’ve decided we do all the sheet metal except the roof and and the sheet metal just behind the firewall.

Today we got both side pieces pulled off. We had some screws that were tough and we ended up having to grind them off. The next few days we will be spending time measuring and drafting the sides, doors etc.


Boone is 12. And I’m really trying to get him proficient in reading a tape measure, use a micrometer, angle finer decimals, fractions, calculating radius is and most of all, how to use AutoCAD

 

[Track Addict]

Love the shop!

When I was his age if I recall correctly, my education involved lots of time preparing for a US conversion to metric that never happened.

Then we got these Texas Instrument graphing calculators that we just made spell hello or inappropriate organs.

Still cockeyed today which is why I love the Tucker tolerance . I can read a mic but struggle with a tape. Looks like he’s got the proper instructor to succeed!

Keep it coming.

 

[Dacx]

Still measuring parts…. We are almost done.

 

[DAVENET]

You're going to cut everything so correctly that it will no longer fit according to Tucker Tolerances.

 

[Dacx]

I’m starting to think that you are right! Trying to accurately measure Tucker parts will make you crazy! I’m about to just make an outline with a sharpie and pull out the die grinder.
I always prefer to use the laser, but I’m pulling my hair out here!

 

[Track Addict]

What that guy said.

 

[vintagebike]

back when Tucker was a cottage industry.

 

[Dacx]

Thanks to guys in the shop we made some progress today. We have both the doors and window inserts complete. Now we are going to have to cut them into pieces, and break each piece individually like Tucker did, then weld them back together. I wish I have some finger dies for my press brake….

I also started laser, cleaning the rust and corrosion off the chassis so I can get ready to paint it. We had it blasted, but it had sheet metal, so everything underneath needs cleaned. Need to get rid of a little bit of paint. Some spots and some bed liner that wouldn’t come off.

 

[Track Addict]

Let me know how you get the bedliner off. Got the same issue to tackle.

Prob trunk paint actually.

 

[Dacx]

Thanks again to some help we got the doors cut, broke and welded back together! We still have clean up the welds a bit.
Today I also spent about 2 hours laser cleaning the chassis, Next week I hope to weld a few holes and such in the remaining skin, and get everything ready for primer

 

[Dacx]

Hey Guys,
Its been a few days....

We finally got the all the sheet metal pieces made. we got the frame nice and clean. Today, Boone worked on stripping the last little bit of paint. I applied a little bit of filler to some small area that i could not get beat out, mainly on the front of the roof section. I post sanding with 80 grit.

 

[Travler]

Dacx
thats a great family project thank's for the up date

 

[DavisTranslite]

Stoked to see the finished product - your panels (and rest of cat) look incredible. There is definitely something satisfying about replacing beat up panels with new and seeing them back on the cat. Killer job!

 

[Dacx]

Got the body primed today.
I ended up using a zinc chromate primer that I found at “aircraft spruce”.
It shot impressively well, But even with a respirator it was a little harsh….

 

[Dacx]

Unfortunately, we running about a month behind!!!
This weekdnd we finally started installing the primed sheet metal back on the kitten.
Definitely a lot of #8 screws!

 

[Dacx]

So this week, Boone is out school for thanksgiving break and wanted to make a little money!
Who could blame him!

I decided I would have him tear the track down on the kitten and start straightening the Links and grousers. We have electric hydraulic presses, but being that he is 12 years old, and might need all 10 fingers to stay popular with the girls I decided that the harbor freight special. “ hand operated! Was the way to go.

He had hell of time getting some the links out. Thankfully the shop Forman “ thanks Tony”
Helped him out as needed. Lots of PB blaster, torch, hammer and a whole lot of want!

On another note…

Also many many of you know, we attempted to build our own rollers for the 442 last year and failed miserably, do to stud shearing. We made 260 rollers and sheared studs on about 20 rollers over course of about 70 miles. part of it could have been misalignment, do to the links and what not. Either way, we machined up various materials to test shear strength today and can’t wait to test,
Half with remain non heat treated, the other half with be sent off for heat treating. Ultimately we’re not trying to get in the business of machining roller, but have to remedy our mistake.