ST4 restoration of Frankie the Frankentrac

[Cidertom]

That's what I went with. RF, hooked to running lights. That way I can take the receiver/monitor to the truck and see what's behind the trailer as I back up. Kinda a two for one deal.

 

[redsqwrl]

That's what I went with. RF, hooked to running lights. That way I can take the receiver/monitor to the truck and see what's behind the trailer as I back up. Kinda a two for one deal.

Thats brilliant!

 

[Jphoenix]

Loaded Frankie up and Heading to Arlee, MT to my sister’s place so my nephew can help me replace the track bands. Got about a thousand grade 8 bolts, nuts and a couple hundred washers, going to be fun!


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[Downeaster]

Jim, Where did you get the Snow Trac decals or did you just reproduce them yourself?

 

[nikos]

Loaded Frankie up and Heading to Arlee, MT to my sister’s place so my nephew can help me replace the track bands. Got about a thousand grade 8 bolts, nuts and a couple hundred washers, going to be fun!

 

[Jphoenix]

Jim, Where did you get the Snow Trac decals or did you just reproduce them yourself?

Ken, I downloaded the files from the sticky here and sent them to a vinyl printer I use all the time in Florida. He's far away, but does great work and fast!

 

[Jphoenix]

Made it to my sister’s shop in St. Ignatius, MT. The old bus is a 2 strokin‘ cruising machine, 8 hours at 65 mph, doesn’t even feel that cat on its back. Belt replacement activities begin tomorrow.

View attachment IMG_8920.jpeg

 

[nikos]

Made it to my sister’s shop in St. Ignatius, MT. The old bus is a 2 strokin‘ cruising machine, 8 hours at 65 mph, doesn’t even feel that cat on its back. Belt replacement activities begin tomorrow.

 

[Jphoenix]

Got the crew working away on the new track belting.

 

[redsqwrl]

Made it to my sister’s shop in St. Ignatius, MT. The old bus is a 2 strokin‘ cruising machine, 8 hours at 65 mph, doesn’t even feel that cat on its back. Belt replacement activities begin tomorrow.

View attachment 183151

Need that whistle whistle point. Here it comes soundtrack.

ITS A BUS!

 

[Jphoenix]

Need that whistle whistle point. Here it comes soundtrack.

ITS A BUS!

It does have a real train bell mounted to the frame underneath, it’s loud!

 

[Jphoenix]

Got the tracks done and installed, much nicer, plenty of adjustment available. The old tracks were, well… really old!

 

[redsqwrl]

Wow speedy

 

[Jphoenix]

Wow speedy

Four of us working it, in a well-equipped body shop, so for instance pulling the track out or in, we use the winch on the tow truck . But removing and replacing 980 bolts and nuts was a lot of work!

 

[redsqwrl]

Thats a lot of wrist action

 

[Travler]

Thats A nice looking old BIRD pulling the nice look snow cat down the road , Ihave a 1999 43 LXI with bunk beds if you know any one intrested

 

[redsqwrl]

Thats A nice looking old BIRD pulling the nice look snow cat down the road , Ihave a 1999 43 LXI with bunk beds if you know any one intrested

Motor in the back or front?

 

[Jphoenix]

Thats A nice looking old BIRD pulling the nice look snow cat down the road , Ihave a 1999 43 LXI with bunk beds if you know any one intrested

Damn, a 43 LXi? That’s pretty fancy!! Redsqrl, it’s a pusher with a big motor, maybe has slides?

 

[Jphoenix]

Made it home after a nice 8 hour drive, the old bus is a cruiser, 2 stroke Detroit 6V92, not the biggest engine, but at 37,000 lbs. and a tag axle it rides like a Cadillac. Has a 300 gallon diesel tank, so I can fill up where fuel is cheap, 2000 mile range, 200 gallon fresh water tank means Hollywood showers if desired .

my sister insisted I come over and use her “manpower” to replace the track belts and she was always smarter than me, so it worked out great, great time with the niece and nephew, a thousand bolts removed and replaced, and a river runs though her back yard.

 

[redsqwrl]

Damn, a 43 LXi? That’s pretty fancy!! Redsqrl, it’s a pusher with a big motor, maybe has slides?

Pushers would be a challenge for me, there are 5 snowtracs in this photo.

 

[Jphoenix]

Pushers would be a challenge for me, there are 5 snowtracs in this photo.

5th one inside the bus, right?

 

[redsqwrl]

Yes sir.

When i came back from ak. There was two inside.

 

[nikos]

Four of us working it, in a well-equipped body shop, so for instance pulling the track out or in, we use the winch on the tow truck . But removing and replacing 980 bolts and nuts was a lot of work!

View attachment 183219

 

[nikos]

Made it home after a nice 8 hour drive, the old bus is a cruiser, 2 stroke Detroit 6V92, not the biggest engine, but at 37,000 lbs. and a tag axle it rides like a Cadillac. Has a 300 gallon diesel tank, so I can fill up where fuel is cheap, 2000 mile range, 200 gallon fresh water tank means Hollywood showers if desired .

my sister insisted I come over and use her “manpower” to replace the track belts and she was always smarter than me, so it worked out great, great time with the niece and nephew, a thousand bolts removed and replaced, and a river runs though her back yard.

 

[nikos]

The old Bus with 2 stroke Detroit 6V92

 

[DAVENET]

That was crazy fast work. It's also crazy to go back to the first post of this thread!

 

[Jphoenix]

That was crazy fast work. It's also crazy to go back to the first post of this thread!

Yeah, I wasn't looking forward to replacing the belts, but four of us on the job made easy work of it, plus I get to visit the siblings, niece and nephew, so a good time by all in a lovely part of the country.