A new project and not a SIMCA. Ransomes mini crawler tractor

[scmick]

Spent today searching through my massive stock of parts from 'dead' SIMCAs for starter, alternator & distributor to suit this engine. Now fitted... I needed to do this before finally mounting the engine to ensure enough clearance everywhere. Still have to decide whether to mount this engine on quite an angle as in the FWD SIMCAs and Talbots or virtually upright as on the rear engined cars. As mentioned before radiator will have to go down side of engine as otherwise everything would hang out too far at the back.

[scmick]

Bumper mountings extended forwards (or should be rearwards now..) Engine in place but has to come out again for work on mountings and clutch release mechanism.

[scmick]

A bit more done today. Engine out again to start on clutch release mechanism and measured up & cut extra crossmember to replace rigidity lost when floor cut out for engine. Next job is to look through my stock of clutch cables and cylinders to see what fits before deciding on method of operation.

[scmick]

Engine bay now extended and extra crossmember fitted. Have decided I can combine an extra engine mounting with pivot for clutch release arm. That's a job for later this week.

[scmick]

Making engine mountings. A bonus is the SIMCA/Talbot blocks have various lugs cast in for the different mountings in various transverse engined models and the in line rear engined cars. This engine is from an '84 1100 pickup but still has the fixing points drilled & tapped for the rear engined '1000' that went out of production in '78. This gives me a wide choice to find the best mounting point in this. the green paint was intended for my 1200S Bertone coupe butI've had a change of mind so has been donated to this project.

[scmick]

Engine mountings have got me thinking. The original Ransomes engine was solidly mounted. Am trying the same with this SIMCA engine, can always convert it to rubber mountings if problems arise. The long bolts are just a temporary measure while I recover the correct ones from a scrap SIMCA engine.

[scmick]

Have tried various radiators I'd got but most were too big for the available space. My brother Kev came to the rescue. He had a really compact rad from a Civic complete with its electric fan. Will fit down side of engine, photo shows it temporarily in place. Have spent rest of day dismantling a couple of scrap SIMCA engines for parts missing from the one I'm using. Mountings well on way but getting everything properly centralised isn't proving easy.

[scmick]

Been replacing all the 'fiddly bits' on this engine. It's been kicking about in my garage so long I'd forgotten just how many bits, nuts & bolts etc I'd 'borrowed' off it.

[scmick]

Gradually finding all the bits I need to complete the 'plumbing' on the engine. Currently trying various bits of scrap steel as the basis of a frame for a cover for the engine Clutch release mechanism needs some thought as space is very restricted down there..!!

[scmick]

Found the ideal exhaust for this. Simple silencer for a base model SIMCA 1000. All our cars use a 4 branch and conventional silencers.

[scmick]

Engine has to come out again for two reasons... Have found another late flywheel that uses a more compact clutch assembly also I need access to weld in an extra crossmember under the engine I forgot to add previously. After that I plan to add a frame above the original bumper to link to the SIMCA mounting point above the timing chain cover. Also having a clearout in the garage to make space to complete this and then prepare my 1200S coupe for its long awaited paint job. Also got to get the SIMCA racecar ready for a couple of trackdays the first week in March. Somebody once asked 'What will you find to do in your retirement??'.... never find any problem there,except for finding the time to work on all my projects..!!

[scmick]

Garage clear out today to move this and get one of my SIMCAs in there alongside it. A lot more space now. I don't throw stuff out readily but you can almost guarantee in a week or two's time I'll be looking for something that's gone in the bin/on the scrap pile today. Once I've done a few jobs on the SIMCA cars will get back to my Ransomes/SIMCA creation.

[scmick]

Now has a neighbour in the garage, at the other end of the SIMCA powered speed scale. No more trackdays for me till mid may so should get a bit more done on the Ransomes.

[75swb]

Had a visit to the ferrymead historical park in christchurch today and saw this beauty. Took too many photos in case any of the more detailed ones were of any use.

[scmick]

75swb Thanks for the photos. Show what my '49 MG5 would have looked like when new. Would have liked to keep mine original but many parts from the original engine were missing and the Lombardini diesel engine that came with it ( originally from the pump on a chemical tanker) had been left outside just too long and also would have been difficult to link up to the ransomes gearbox, so I decided to fit the 4 cylinder engine. I'd read about the BMC A series transplants, so I went for a SIMCA engine, similar size and I had a few of them. Hoping to get back to this project soon but my SIMCA 'fleet' have been throwing up a few problems recently..!!

[generallee]

I have no need for one of these, yet somehow the ebay algorithm keeps throwing them my way.
I blame this thread, and when I hit 'buy it now' I hold you responsible.

[igor]

Every man needs a tractor. It is in the natural order of things. Even if you only use to pop down't shop/pub.

[scmick]

generallee If you do get one, I've got some useable parts from the original air cooled engine that I won't be using and bits from the centrifugal clutch assembly.

[generallee]

You see? Now it would be daft not to get one... I have all the spare parts lined up ready...