MTD TopFlites

Hi everyone, Found these old Topfites. There both 8hp briggs but not sure if they will be any good for speed. They are both Chain drive, Belt from motor to FNR box then Chain from box to axel. really dig the look of them, would like to snuff an 18hp briggs or run a horizontal shaft 420cc to a jackshaft using a comet type clutch. Any suggestion's  would be great. Thank you and happy building.
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That looks like a bigger version of Doc's Diesel Weasel. Sounds like a fun build.

Cool looking tractors! You could keep the vertical shaft engine and then just run a Peerless 700 to a live axle. Also I think it would look pretty wicked with an 18hp Briggs opposed stuffed in there!

Cool little machines! Looks like they could make some awesome rat rod type things.

I would definitely go with what Alliskid said. A peerless 700 to a live axle if you're running the big 18hp

I think the trans you have in these may be a Foote 35. Redlinemotorsportts on here used one to build a mechanical winch. His had a stripped gear, but he didn't need it anyways. Supposedly MTD single speed trans parts interchange with it.

Thanks guys, Yes I found a oppose twin 16hp and kind of snuffed it in, the axel is a peerless 141 I think. Just been plugging away on it with my son. Good family time.

Wow, looks real nice! How did you drop the front end?

Now that looks cool down in the grass like that. And the oppey's heads sticking out the sides is just icing on the cake. So how do you plan to do the exhaust?

Thanks, the front is a spindle flip for now with collars, but want the use a tap and tap the ends of the steering spindels and use nyloc bolts instead of collars. As far as exhaust goes ill just wrap down and back just under the foot rails, so she be nice and loud lol.

Sounds like a cool plan for exhaust. Does it still steer ok with the spindle flip?

yeah it turns but it just grazes' the heads, the motor is just sitting in so I plan to do a little cutting near the top where the box sits. originally I wanted the have the engine sit verticle an have the carb stick out one side and two exhaust pipes run down one side but that is too much finagleing lol

Looking good!  Love the stance. I've not done a spindle flip, but I have heard it wears on them pretty hard. Something you may want to keep an eye on.

Yeah its heavy up front

Nice thing with the front axel is they use 3/8 thick flat bar by 4" wide. its heavy lol

That does look good!

Little update, not much just engine placement and a little paint.

If you're planning on speeding this up, why not weld the axle solid on top of the frame? You can tilt the axle back (add caster I think) and it'll help auto-center and steer better at speed. Plus you wont have a pivot to try and roll you. Looks good tho!

Oh I think I want one!

Thats a great idea Richie. think I'm gonna do that.

Wow this projects moving along pretty quick! Looks great! I agree with Rich about the steering though. A bit of positive caster would help steering a lot. I had a flipped axle on my rat rod at first but I recently built a custom front axle for it with postive caster and a wee bit of negative camber and it made a world of difference.

I totally agree with you both, I'm going to weld the axle solid and make a couple C style spindles for it.

Sounds like a plan man!

Just curios but what do the pedals do?

Right pedal is brake, left is for the old veridrive but trying to locate a snowblower with the peerless 700 and dump the veridrive

Any new updates on this very cool tractor?