[Finalist][2020 Build-Off Entry] Hillbilly Offroading's Mud Stompin Wards

Restoration Complete! New electric ignition coil, new carb, & a fresh coat of paint.

Looks nice. Does she run yet?

@AllisKidD21 dont know yet. It better. I want to throw it in and rewire it but I dont want to have to pull the engine again and RIP out all the fresh wiring to tear down the tractor to paint the frame.

Don't forget to update! 

@MightyRaze you mean dont forget to actually work on the tractor. I'm kinda at a stand still. Been working on little projects here and there but at this time Im not capable of carrying the cast iron engine out of the back of the garage to throw in the wards for wiring until I get a little better. I've herniated 2 disc. I'll try to get a update out before next month.

@Hillbilly Offroading Hey man!  Take care of yourself!  If you have to next month say I still haven't got to it.  Thats an update and is fine!  I know about the back issues.  I bought a chain hoist to lift an Onan off a sears to put on a briggs a while back.  My lower back, not my sciatic thankfully, is not the greatest.

I got some great news. Had some help throwing the '72 15hp Cast Iron Briggs engine in and no torn base gaskets this time. Starting the wiring process last night. Hope all goes well. Stay tune for more updates and dont miss the video.

Godzilla runs. Never heard one of these engines in person before. Completely different. It's a great feeling to here it running.

Took her out for a spin. Ouch on lack of suspension. Lol! Not sure on how to hook a gas pedal to this updraft carburetor. Time to bust out the welder and spray can. Funs over with.

Wasn't to pleased about the old seat. Felt like I was reclined the whole time. The back of it is bent back so makes sense. Drilled some holes and threw a '00 Murray Widebody LT high back seat on it. Looks and feels so much better and of course safer feeling.

Oh that's got to be comfortable! That's the same seat I have on Blue. Definitely the most comfortable lawn tractor seat I've ever sat on!

@Murraymountain you got that right. I didn't want to take it off man Jacobsen but this tractors running and driving so who care I guess. If only I had this seat on some springs. Solid mounted at the moment. Trying to come up with something.

Those rubber seat covers are the only good thing off a Murray. I snag them every chance i get.

I ran my updraft 6hp ungoverned. The throttle lever on the carb was handmade from sheet metal, as the original cast one broke, but i just hooked the cable clevis to it so it pulled down to throttle up, against a spring pulling it back. The cable anchored where it originally did, pointing up towards the carb.

@RichieRichOverdrive nice!

Where are your plans taking you from here with the wards?

@MightyRaze Well i just did a 12" Garden Tractor rim upgrade to the front of the wards this evening. Running the 5 lug hubs on the spindles. Im wanting to kick it out wider to match the rear stance so im gonna need to change the offset on them rims. Im going to be doing a full tear down of the tractor for paint. Winch bumper needs fabricated along with footboards, and exhaust. Maybe a light bar in the upper grill but really want to go back to the original money wards looken head lights. Gotta do something about a foot throttle or hand throttle but theres no way to hook it up to the updraft carb. Seat needs springs and needs lifted a couple inches for comfort. Im now kinda not wanting a rear rack so maybe a rear bumper. Needs something. Im shooting for as locked rear end, pulley swap and double clutch pulley set up but that could be difficult. This tractor is a little weird. Its about to get a little crazy these next few weeks. Gotta get it done before i head in for surgery. Dont know what the recovery period will be.

It gives it a whole new look.

The disassemble and paint process has begun.



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Looking interesting. Good update!

@MightyRaze thanks! Still trying to draw a winch bumper design that's appealing to me. No luck. Might be the hardest part of this build.

Little behind getting this one out.

Finally the 4 day paint process is Complete on the Mud Stompin Wards hood. What y'all thoughts? I tied something different and actually dig it. Copied a new buddy of mine paint scheme but changed it up a tiny bit so it was a little different.

Looks pretty good. Should have some real character with the white and blue on the engine!

@Murraymountain Thank you! Problem with the white on the engine is everything that touches it it get funky. The white has to go even though looks good.

looks good

@Creepycrawler HEY you do still get on this site. Thanks!