What to do with part of an E?

Started by Farmallregular, April 22, 2009, 03:41:59 AM

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Farmallregular

Hi, new to the forum and looking for some information and opinions.

I have an old Cletrac E or EN that has been repowered at some time in its life with an old flathead 6-banger Dodge truck engine, along with the associated 3-speed dodge transmission.  The tractor's serial number tag is missing, along with the bulk of the sheet metal - about all that's left of the original sheet metal is the fenders.

Debating what to do with it, and would like some inputs.  I've had it running some years ago, and everything Cletrac seems to work OK.  The steering brakes work fine, and I don't hear any odd noises from the transmission.   I think it may have originally been unstyled, since it has the locking knobs on top of the steering levers, and the only photo I can find with that style of steering level is unstyled.  

Whoever did the conversion sort of cobbled everything together.  Since the dodge engine/transmission is quite a bit longer than the original four cylinder engine, there's about six inches of iron welded to the front of the original frame.  The radiator is from some unknown old vehicle.  The old dodge engine is pretty tired and badly in need of an overhaul, but will run.  Kind of awkward to drive without a governor on the engine, though.  

It also has a right angle drive on the PTO for a belt pulley, but no pulley.  The tracks are worn, and somewhere along the line someone put one on backwards.

Anyway, I'm thinking of several options:

1.  Try to sell it as is if someone really wanted it this way

2.  Take the engine/transmission out, sell the Cletrac part & the dodge part separately (suspect I'd get the most money that way).

3.  Get it running again as is, and try to come up with some sort of engine cover and gas tank, plus I'd have to put a governor on the engine to make it useful, then keep it to play with.

4.  Put a tractor engine & sheet metal on it, most likely from a farmall (which is what I mostly collect), and try to make a show tractor out of it.

5.  Look for the parts to put it back the way it was originally.  Since I don't have the serial number, it might be a bit difficult to figure out what style of sheet metal was originally on it, and I don't see a lot of Cletrac E parts for sale.

One other consideration is my current load of projects.  If I keep it, I definitely won't get to it until some time after I retire in five or so years.  I hate to see it just sit, and thought maybe someone might get some good use out of it, or at least out of the Cletrac part of it.

Thoughts?  I'd also consider a trade for something interesting.  I like most old mechanical stuff.

Keith

Bob

#1
I have a friend in Colorado that might be interested in looking at it.

Bob
Certified Cletrac-tard

Farmallregular

#2
Bob, thanks.  I sent you a PM with my contact info, would appreciate you passing it along to your friend.

Keith