So here is a mock up of what the body could look like. The grill obviously could look a lot better, but it's tough to make it look good with card board. Front fenders would be separate. The grill would be slightly lower than the engine shorud and tapered up to the edge of it.
Rear wouldn't be too hard to make. Couple of trailer marker tail lights, black plastic screen over the center opening, and some semi clear plastic mud flaps.
You could fill in these sides or leave them open like they are here. But if you had flat sides back here and not on the front fenders, it might look weird.
I wanted the headlights behind the grill, but I just put them on the outside near the top for the mock up to see how it would look in a conventional layout. You could put them on top of the front fenders too, but that sort of gives it the look of a lotus 7.
By making a couple of removable panels around the top of the engine, you still have the look of a hood without covering the starter pulley. Over all I don't really like the body all that much and I think I'll just end up making four black plastic fenders and some type of grill and hood like the mock up. The front fenders could be mounted to the a-arms so they move with the suspension. It's tough to come up with a grill that will look good. Needs to be somewhat sporty looking to keep the fast and small look of the machine. If the fuel tank is going up front, it's going to be tight with the headlights there also. Fuel tank may still end up behind the seat. Even if you didn't make the rear section, you could still have some type of wing in back, maybe made from aluminum.
MasonMcK Member
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Looks pretty cool. Since you're up in the air about the front end, maybe try making a few different cardboard front ends and choose the one you like the best to make the final of. Maybe try making a normal car front end where the fenders are part of the hood and have a full width front grille with fender wells. It might be easier to get the look that you're looking for. Otherwise it looks great!
mr.modified Veteran Member
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Thanks. I thought about making the front end like what your saying with a grill out in front of the wheels full width. The only problem is it makes the whole machine look a lot bigger and sort of takes away from how big the engine is compared to the frame. Also I wanted to try to keep the tractor look. A bit tougher than I thought it would be. I mocked up a rounded grill the same profile as the dash and a hood that went over the engine, but that made it look too long. Of course you'd have to take the hood off every time to rope start it that way too. Maybe I'll make some flip up headlights somehow, that might be neat.
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Yeah I get what you're saying. Though tbh, I kinda like it with no body on it at all. Maybe just make a small front grille but no hood or other body parts. Other than some small fenders maybe? Just my $.02
mr.modified Veteran Member
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Pretty much decided on just fenders and a grill. Then of course mount the lights somewhere. Anyway just about got all the way done with this thing. Only a few things left to finish up. As far as this years build-off is concerned: THIS BUILD IS COMPLETE! Figured I would post a few pics of the finished product. Of course i've got the test run video a page or so back in case you missed it before. Also I finally weighed the thing. So here's all the important junk.
GTR Four Zero Specifications: Weight (wet) - 192lbs Wheel base - 39" Width - 30.5" Height (Top of steering wheel)- 26.25" Ground clearance - 5" Power - 18hp @ 3600rpm Max speed (estimated) - 40mph Transmission - 5 speeds forward
Switches installed.
Front
Rear
From above
The twin tecumseh carbs.
Thanks for anyone who helped out or made suggestions.
MasonMcK Member
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I told you that you wouldn't get a ride if you kept bad mouthing my choke setup....and now look. lol, nah you can try it out, if you can get it started.
Just relocating the test ride video to the end of the thread for easy finding in case you guys are gonna move it somewhere like you did with last years stuff.
-THIS BUILD IS COMPLETE-
Doug Site Owner
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Here's a few pics of the bump stop setup and also the front grill. This bar bolts onto the shock tower. Rubber spacer threads onto a bolt welded to the bar.
Closer view of things. The tab with the hole is where the grill bolts on.
Grill was a belt guard on a walk behind mower. Has a little more weight to it than plastic or fiberglass, but it helps brace the bump stops when everything is bolted in place. Also added a front bumper/grab bar.
View of behind the grill.
MatthewD Veteran Member
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Center of gravity is a little higher than it could be, but it's usable. Right now I'm mounting the gas tank and putting on a permanent drive chain tensioner to replace the wooden block I had. Probably in a few months I'll have it 100% done and be able to get a better video of it running.
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