1956 Tucker “Container Kitten”

[Track Addict]

Rescued my third Kitten yesterday. Great story and people that brought this all together.

The snowcat community that is into the history, stories, and sharing is what made this all come together.

Big thanks to Bruce aka Olympic Orange for a few morsels of info during like minded conversations and paying it forward and that allowed me to track this down.

Kitten will be grazing here on the East Coast Preserve until it moves to a new home better suited for its heritage.

More info coming soon!

 

[Track Addict]

So the story goes….

Had my kitten at the NH Antique Tracked Vehicle show. Friend mentioned guy mentioned he has a kitten somewhere in Maine. I forgot all about it until a discussion about recent internet kitten sale valuations.

Asked the friend for some details and permission to peruse. After blessings google search of info provided felt right. Dialed the number got a nice gentleman and asked the question “do you happen to have a tucker Sno kitten for sale?”

Stated he has one in a container came from California and it’s been in a container for 16 years. Asked some basic identifiers and he said I was welcome to come up and take a look.

Was hauling my 1443 north few days later coincidentally he was about 10 miles near. Showed up to take a look and it was down back on a container. Security massive plow blocked the door which only opened a few inches enough to snap a pic. I tried every contortion move to fit and my geometry was a bust in many ways to this day.

Said I am very interested and would be back Saturday am with my kids. Plan was to send them spelunking with phones tools and flashlights. Didn’t want to ask him to move the plow. Didn’t event know if he would sell it .

So as the days progressed I wanted to save it and second look turned into pickup. Headed up Sat am with the boys and just before we entered maine an omen. Container house!

When we arrived kitten was surprisingly ready to load. Recent market values didn’t help but it all worked out and after 16 years in container captivity it’s returned to the daylight and already enjoyed tours of Maine, New Hampshire, and foster home in Massachusetts East Coast Preserve.

Best way to find a Tucker is to haul one. Think the icing on the cake is on the way home today backroads of rural Maine I had a Massachusetts plate Chevy following. Friend of my wife snapped a pic and said isn’t your husband into these?

Her response was that is my husband and replied with pics I send her she tried to ignore but really likes.

Big thanks to my wife and kids for tolerance and support. These guys been all over the country and are professionals at living off the internet and tolerant up to 3 days living out of gas stations.

 

[Track Addict]

Experts state originally sold to Montana Power Company Butte, Montana.

From there Bill Guthrie at Snotrans sold and it eventually ended up in Tahoe City CA. It was registered and titled as CA off highway vehicle from January 19,1999 until 2002 season. Somewhere along the way it had a restoration but had to have had minimal wear prior based on current state. Few notables to share as we marinated and compare.

Window sticker captures its Montana and California culture. More to follow…

On January 27, 2003, title was signed over to new owner in the Maine presumably because the California owner rode in a 4 Track Tucker and had an epiphany.

The kitten then lived on 25 private acres enjoyed by family and children where it roamed the area among Sno scoots and Sno sports documented by the personal Polaroids. Over the years the kitten was whispered about and sought for purchase but the right time and person hadn’t matched.

Approximately 16 years ago it moved into “the container” where it sat until it’s glorious return!

Common bonds of history, sharing, and making sure stuff survives for future generations will always win!

 

[Track Addict]

Show me yours papers:

 

[Track Addict]

Ironically the kitten frolicked in the Sno amongst a fleet of Oshkosh Snow Fighters which at any moment could end the ability to grouse.

Oshkosh B’gosh

 

[Track Addict]

Kitten rolled by hand nicely on deck off the forks for its journey north then back haul south to westernations unknown eventually.

Kids gave me a push off the deck over and I brake steered right into the Preserve powered by gravity assisted by my own.

 

[Pontoon Princess]

"kissin' kittens" great find mr addict, the Round door looks to be in vey nice condition, I have a correct pair of door handles I will donate to the cause

 

[it's all about downhill]

Terrific machine Mr. Addict. In your text there seems to be a subtext of westward migration. Just wondering if the pontoon royalty will be installing said handles in a left coast shop?

 

[Track Addict]

Kitten already toured left and right coasts and wasn’t home.

Needs more starch in its diet…..

 

[Track Addict]

The single tracks helping the Kitten assimilate back into society.

Took a closer look at the kitten and removed the junk battery. Motor is full of oil and radiator is full holding antifreeze.

Pulled the plugs and put some mystery oil in to soak. Cranked it over by hand feels good valves open and close.

Cranked the starter and we have oil pressure. Lights work, gauges work, wipers work.

Should be an easy runner!

 

[Track Addict]

Noteworthy on this Kitten is what appears to be a factory installed hydraulic Ford Anglia 100E clutch.

Most Kittens had a manual foot clutch on the drivers side. This model has a slave cylinder on the passenger side and firewall mounted hydraulic master all original Anglia.

Tucker must have already mass produced the floor pan so a patch was used to save money.

 

[sledhead Ed]

my 57 has the ford Anglia hydraulic setup also

 

[sledhead Ed]

my heater is on the left side with duck work for defrost also

 

[Track Addict]

Validation feels right!

 

[YamaDooPolCat]

That looks like an exciting find. And in such exceptional condition.

 

[Track Addict]

Compare and contrast 56 and 58 kittens. Square doors were added for ease of egress.

Cab is about 2” wider 58. The 56 has stiffer springs and wider spring pockets.

Intake manifold is different and the engine mounts are different. Carb is same. Throttle
Spring is hooked to a tab on the manifold. Not sure if this is OE but makes sense. My 58 does not have this.

I know why the electric fuel pump is there. Motor mount needs removal to replace pump. Thought I would find a block off plate but OE pump is there.

Someone just sent the electric in line prior probably because the pump failed. This setup would surely have over powered the float needle once it was installed with no pressure reg or check. That’s what occurred when I primed the pump here.

Maybe this is why it left prime time museum and use then moved to the container. Will ask the prior owner.

No spark. Points I had sent for mine turns out to be wrong. New cap rotor plugs wires in process.

Swapped in a fresh carb and will use the IV for the test firing.

Runner in process….

 

[Track Addict]

Fresh parts from across the pond.

Interesting labelling hope the opening goes as smooth as the container!

 

[Logger1965]

Is it ticking?

 

[1boringguy]

Just don't stand anywhere near the coyote, and you'll be fine.

 

[Track Addict]

Great news, package was non threatening and this Kitten is now a runner!

New points, condenser, cap, rotor, wires, plugs, coil. Swapped in a spare carb, temp fuel supply, good energy from the 58, topped off with a positive attitude was the trick.

Feels good to get another on going.

 

[Track Addict]

Other Tuckers moving in for servicing so this one is on the rollers for mobility.

Hooked the electric fuel pump back up on a temp tank. The motor runs amazingly well and this kitten gets nicer by the day was we figure it out.

The theory of the fuel pump has been debunked works well and doesn’t overpower the float.

Gauges all work charging system works. PThermostat isn’t opening so need to change that. Heater cranks in the cab. Electric fan is hooked to a manual switch. My guess is once warm it just turns on and runs to maintain temp like a mechanical.

 

[Track Addict]

Gave the 1443 and two kittens a seafoam intake treatment in preparation for summer's storage. Will be working on the fluids next.

Radiator core has a little weeping when hot which will need to be addressed oneday.

Solex carb rebuild in process. Wasn’t super dirty inside compared to how the outside looks. New gaskets and throttle shaft seals will be installed.

Soaking in the hot PineSol ultrasonic spa treatment.

 

[Track Addict]

 

[Track Addict]

Fresh and clean.

 

[Track Addict]

Carb all back on and tuned along within fresh oil and filter. Choke hooked up and functioning perfect. Oil looked great that came out. Continues to be quite the runner.

If your detent ball is missing on a Solex cab Daisy BB is a perfect replacement fit.

Comparing and contrasting the carb on the left is a newer rebuild. Different mounting hole setup.

Filter numbers for here and abroad for reference.

 

[Track Addict]

Transitioning into getting this runner a mover. I can see some sediment in the bottom of the reservoir so we will clean and rebuild the master then flush the line.

After that see what the slave story is. No leaks but has no fluid.

 

[Track Addict]

Pulled apart and cleaned the master. This turns out to be a USA replacement. Was in good shape so cleaned and reassembled.

Flushed the hoses then re bled the system. Build great pressure but would not more the slave.

Pulled the slave out and here is the issue. Corroded and scored. New one on the way from small ford spares along with a thermostat and gasket to wrap up this project.

 

[Track Addict]

New thermostat and gasket. Initially I thought we had a stuck thermostat but after the install it still reads high. My guess is this sender is a different OHM than OE.

Temps check, we have circulation, and the cab heater provides a cozy atmosphere!

 

[Track Addict]

Hydraulic clutch fully functioning after the new slave cylinder installation and bleed.

Now does it drive?

 

[Track Addict]

Fresh rear end and transmission fluid.