My Passe ParTout project

[soutthpaw]

Picked this up a couple of months ago and now have it running and driving and steering
Its a 1974 model 500 according to Bob Cantin (former owner of the company that made them). I got it at a local equipment auction, non running. Anyway the Rubber wheels and tracks looked pretty good and minimal rust.. the paint is original.

Plans are to make it Hydrostatic and put a different engine in and probably make a custom built hood. also just got a couple of 1986 model Cushman Haulsters/Trucksters. They may become the engine donors... They have horizontally opposed 2 cyl OMC air cooled engines rated at 22hp which beat the 14HP Kohler 321s that's in there now...

Might even get more radical and try and use the 3 speed tranny and 2 speed rear end in the PPT. I used to be on a Search and Rescue team that had 2 Tracksters and a Thikol snowcat. I know that the snow cat used a Ford Industrial 6 engine with a manual trans, that's what got me thinking about using the Cushman parts on the PPT . Being that Tracksters are Hydrostatic that is the other way I am thinking about going...
Would love to hear from anyone else who has experience with these or similar conversions
DJ

 

[Snowtrac Nome]

there are several cushman trackster conversions that would ikely be easy to graft into your rig one involves a 4 cycle honda kohler engine in the 30+ horse power range you also need to get an after market ring and pinion gear because the cushman hydraulic system is set up to turn at 6 to 8k rpm the other option i have seen was to use a geo metro 3 cylinder to power the trackster supposed to be a hotrod still needs the ring and pinion swap the cushman hydraulic system is cool because the it has 2 hydraulic pumps running off the ring gear that power each hydrostatic motor and you vary the track speed with the steering control its expensive but if you could look into a varriable swash plate system like the honde rubicon uses for a transmission that would be the same as a snow trac except it would be hydraulic. hope this gives you some thing to dream about also if you could pick up a subaru motor and hydraulic system off a rattrac that may be more cost effective if you could find one being parted out

 

[Lia]

Picked this up a couple of months ago and now have it running and driving and steering
Its a 1974 model 500 according to Bob Cantin (former owner of the company that made them). I got it at a local equipment auction, non running. Anyway the Rubber wheels and tracks looked pretty good and minimal rust.. the paint is original.

Plans are to make it Hydrostatic and put a different engine in and probably make a custom built hood. also just got a couple of 1986 model Cushman Haulsters/Trucksters. They may become the engine donors... They have horizontally opposed 2 cyl OMC air cooled engines rated at 22hp which beat the 14HP Kohler 321s that's in there now...

Might even get more radical and try and use the 3 speed tranny and 2 speed rear end in the PPT. I used to be on a Search and Rescue team that had 2 Tracksters and a Thikol snowcat. I know that the snow cat used a Ford Industrial 6 engine with a manual trans, that's what got me thinking about using the Cushman parts on the PPT . Being that Tracksters are Hydrostatic that is the other way I am thinking about going...
Would love to hear from anyone else who has experience with these or similar conversions
DJ

An impressive piece of machinery. It looks rather like a boat in some ways. But it's gorgeous...

I love the Cushman, not at all the same thing I know, but its feels kinda nostalgic. But to my mind one would have to have five foot arms length to drive it. lol. At least that's how it looks from this angle.

 

[Melensdad]

It will be nice to see your progress on this. Please document the conversion here on the Forums. Several of us have done that and gotten lots of advice from others as we progressed, even if they owned different brands of machines.

BTW: Are you going to leave it a single seat or swap in a Cushman bench seat so you can take along a passenger?

 

[soutthpaw]

It will be nice to see your progress on this. Please document the conversion here on the Forums. Several of us have done that and gotten lots of advice from others as we progressed, even if they owned different brands of machines.

BTW: Are you going to leave it a single seat or swap in a Cushman bench seat so you can take along a passenger?

well 2 people can ride comfortably behind the driver seat on th PPT already. I would like to do a different driver seat and make it a bit further forward or more upright then I could probably squeeze enough room behind the seat for 4 adults to fit or at least 2 adults and 2 kids.. the later versions of the PPT actually had rear engines and the driver was right up against the front of the machine. the PPT's are rated for 1000lb carrying capacity behind the driver seat and towing of 1500lbs. the main difference from Cushman Tracksters and the PasseParTout are hydraulic vs clutch/brake steering and all steel body construction vs the Fiberglass on Tracksters
Reversing the setup to make the front become the rear would be easy as both ends are identical in design. It will be a month or two before I get into any major work on this project but it mostly comes down to if I find a good deal on something with Hydraulic drive motors and controls. I have 2 brand new PTO Hyd pumps I bought from Uncle sam surplus...
here is a pic of the later model PPT

 

[Snowcat Operations]

Those are pretty cool rigs! Do you have any flotation specs on them?

 

[soutthpaw]

if you mean in water, they don't float. If you are referring to PSI ground pressure, then yes, I can't find it now but remember it was something like .55psi dry, .72psi with fuel and operator and like .97 fully loaded

 

[timandkim]

nice to see your machine there is a fellow in the bush up here that has a couple of them believe hes had them from new . they were amazing machine in there day . i was going to buy one from him years ago but now have other machines to soak up money ,have fun with it .

 

[Paul Langtry]

where can I find info. about these conversions you mentioned?

 

[Track Addict]

There is one of these that pops up on New Hampshire Craigs list often. Think it is partially restored.