Ford LGT Crawler Conversion

[Chopperhed]

I started this a while back, and have been puttering around with it as time and finances allow.

Its a 76 Ford LGT 165 that's been repowered with a 13hp Clone.
There wasn't a whole lot left of the original tractor except a frame and sheetmetal. When I got it the engine was missing, the rubber was shot, grill and battery cover were missing, and someone had torched out the centers of some truck rims to mount 15" tires on it.
The repower was pretty simple all things considered. The crawler conversion is taking a bit more work.

Check out my youtube channel for more info on the build

https://www.youtube.com/user/chopperhedduck/videos

The tractor as purchased.



Up on the table for the repower.



Repowered with the clone engine



Tracks are built, and working on the under carriage



Steering brakes are a combination of Lincoln calipers with Dodge avenger rotors and pads.



Building the push frame.

 

[davesl708]

great project

 

[farm boy00]

How did you figure on making the correct spacing on the drive sprocket so your chain would line up and how deep. I also subscribed to you. Good luck on your awesome build

 

[Chopperhed]

Initially I used 3ds max to figure the pitch radius, then I had a guy at work confirm it in autocad. Any decent machinist should know the math do do it, but not me.

 

[pappy60]

Nice project... like how you made the treads... subscribed also...

 

[Xfaxman]

Very interesting. :thumbsup:

I couldn't tell from watching the video, are there any track rollers on it?

 

[Chopperhed]

Very interesting. :thumbsup:

I couldn't tell from watching the video, are there any track rollers on it?[/QUOTE}

No this design doesn't allow for rollers due to the costs and fab time. Proper rollers would have added several hundred dollars in cost, just for the bearings alone., not to mention machine time..

The rollers are built into the track. The rails are a piece of 4" c channel with piece of 3/4" square bar bolted to the underside. The square bar is a replaceable wear part, as are the track rollers(probably a bad term). The "Track rollers" are 1" pieces of 3/5 x 5/8 DOM tubing. Simple and easy to reproduce. They are used as the spacers between the side plates on the track( consider the side plates on a bicycle chain. Same thing)The track pins are 3/8" grade 8 bolts with the full shank in contact with the side plates
There is a an auto lube system in the works for the rails. it will operate off of a lever beside the hydraulics controls(Yet to purchase) a few strokes every once in a while will serve to lube the rails.

 

[grayw0lf]

That's pretty awesome! You have a nice shop of tools & clearly know how to use them!

 

[Chopperhed]

I've been building my shop ever since I started out in life. I've always had a place with a garage, and the will to work in it.
I don't have a lot of extra cash so I have to make do. I scrounge what I can. grab scrap when possible, and try to keep the expenses down.
Now that I've owned my place for over a decade stuff is starting to pile up. I've got parts and stuff I'll probably never use, but can't get rid of it on principal. Somehow, when I clean up the extraneous junk, I always find a use for something after it's gone.

But I keep at it.


Should have some pics up of the ripper bar in the next few days. need a bit more steel and some welding rod to finish it up.

 

[mikefromnh]

Nice!

When I saw that drive sprocket I figured cnc. Never would have guessed an angle grinder.

 

[670x]

WOW you have some serious Redneck engineering skills. I mean that in a good way.
That turntable was genius.

 

[Chopperhed]

Been working on things. The rear ripper bar is complete, painted and installed.





I picked up a power steering pump from Dodge Caravan today, I'm going to experiment with it to see what it can do.

 

[farm boy00]

Been working on things. The rear ripper bar is complete, painted and installed.

View attachment 414336

View attachment 414337

I picked up a power steering pump from Dodge Caravan today, I'm going to experiment with it to see what it can do.

Love the build!!!! There is almost no limit you could build for your 3pt hitch on the back (prezome that's what it is right???)

 

[Chopperhed]

Love the build!!!! There is almost no limit you could build for your 3pt hitch on the back (prezome that's what it is right???)

Almost.

It almost meets Cat 0 spec, except for the spacing on the lower arms. Cat 0 requires 20". Mine is at 14".
Nothing that can't be changed out with some flat bar bent to the right dimensions.

I can build an adapter in about an afternoon, so I don't consider that an issue.

 

[farm boy00]

Anything new???

 

[blacktruck]

Hey Chopperhead
Not sure if your name implies something near and dear to my heart or not. (Retired Army aircraft maint. guy.) Anyway, Been watching this thread with more than a fair amount of interest. I have a weakness for the older Fords. I am curious (and if I missed it here, my apologies) how the steering will work. I would not ask you to give up any trade secrets but I would love to do something similar and that has been my sticking point. Life long maintenance and operator type so I know my way around a shop but that was not coming to me. Please let me know what you can.
Thanks and have a great day.
Keep up the good work.
Ken

 

[Chopperhed]

Anything new???

I've added a power steering pump to power the front hydraulics. I'm working on the bracket for that. Also waiting on some cash flow to buy hoses and fittings

 

[Chopperhed]

Hey Chopperhead
Not sure if your name implies something near and dear to my heart or not. (Retired Army aircraft maint. guy.) Anyway, Been watching this thread with more than a fair amount of interest. I have a weakness for the older Fords. I am curious (and if I missed it here, my apologies) how the steering will work. I would not ask you to give up any trade secrets but I would love to do something similar and that has been my sticking point. Life long maintenance and operator type so I know my way around a shop but that was not coming to me. Please let me know what you can.
Thanks and have a great day.
Keep up the good work.
Ken

The chopperhed comes from two things, It started when I was playing Battlefield Vietnam online, and I love to fly the choppers, and also in part from my custom CB750 chopper.

The steering is provided by 12" disc brakes on each track, mechanically operated by levers to the emergency brake arms. Rotors and pads are 2008 Dodge Avenger, Calipers are 1988 Lincoln. The dodge rotors are a direct bolt on to the ford hubs. The Lincoln rotors would have fit if I cut out the center hole a bit. If the mechanical steering isn't up to the task, i can rebuild the calipers and use hydraulic brakes. Testing will tell.
I'm a first year Airframe and Power plant tech myself, I was unable to finish due to conflicting circumstances ( I went to work in the oilfield). Now I'm getting close to retirement age, and am too far out of the loop to take it up again.

 

[blacktruck]

The chopperhed comes from two things, It started when I was playing Battlefield Vietnam online, and I love to fly the choppers, and also in part from my custom CB750 chopper.

The steering is provided by 12" disc brakes on each track, mechanically operated by levers to the emergency brake arms. Rotors and pads are 2008 Dodge Avenger, Calipers are 1988 Lincoln. The dodge rotors are a direct bolt on to the ford hubs. The Lincoln rotors would have fit if I cut out the center hole a bit. If the mechanical steering isn't up to the task, i can rebuild the calipers and use hydraulic brakes. Testing will tell.
I'm a first year Airframe and Power plant tech myself, I was unable to finish due to conflicting circumstances ( I went to work in the oilfield). Now I'm getting close to retirement age, and am too far out of the loop to take it up again.

Thanks for the explanations. I missed VN but participated after that and got out in 07 then went back over for over four years to do civilian work for the military. Also way into scooters too and particularly the Italian bikes.
If that works as I think it should, it should be a pretty good system for the steering. A lot like the dozers before differential steering came into being. I am interested in hearing of the actual use. Like I said, it does make sense. Thanks for the reply and keep building...
Stay safe there man..

 

[plumbstraight]

View attachment 416130I put these on all fours. works well in soft ground and protects the tires from spiney things that like to let the air out.

Just put it on for show. I bolt the ends together after letting a bit of air out and then reinflate. Also widen the wheels out a bit both front and rear. Put this in a while back. I like the idea of a full tracked tractor. Was thinking of making a full under carriage that you just drive on, pull the front axle, and change out the rears for a sprocket. By using the hydraulic steering to the calipers for braking, it would be easy to use for both systems.

Using the independent braking as an assist and differential lock when needed it would make a great soft ground machine.