Souped-Up Antique Tractor Fitted With Rear-Mount Loader

Souped-Up Antique Tractor Fitted With Rear-Mount Loader TRACTORS Antiques 18-4-8 In 1958, New York farmer Steve Vaadi "souped up" an old McCormick-Deering tractor by fitting it with a new engine and later mounted a loader bucket on the back end. Both modifications worked good when he first made them and they're still working good today. "I took out the original engine and put in a 6-cyl. Dodge truck engine. It had much more power, used less fuel and, of course, I no longer had to crank by hand to start. Installation was relatively easy because the tractor had an independent frame. The Dodge engine and transmis¡sion fit right in although I had to move the radiator forward a bit. "I mounted the loader on back of the tractor because I was using it to handle 16-ft. logs and needed the weight over the rear drive wheels. I equipped the tractor with power steering, and powered clutch and brakes so I could run backwards. "I've loaded thousands of logs with it and done a lot of other work. I have a large snow bucket that slips over the log forks and is held in place by two pins. I also have a smaller dirt bucket for it. "I've never had a major breakdown. It starts good in cold weather - 20? to 30? below zero - with no problems. I would be lost without this tractor. "I've converted a number of other tractors with car or truck engines." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Steve Vaadi, Rt. 2, Box 659, La Fargev¡ille, N.Y. 13656 (ph 315 658-9915).

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