[jameszmcnelley]

Here is an idea I came up with. I wanted a simple, functional, inexpensive, durable, way to make a louvered hood vent for my 400 Project X.
This will work on ANY garden tractor. cost is around $6 per vent. the possibilities are endless with this design. they can also be closed off, or made rain proof and yet functional. ''that part is not shown here''. Here is some pics of the end result.
if any one is interested, I will do a how-to write-up with pics. later, JZM

 

[denniscary]

Would like to see more pictures of project x

 

[mikeduwe]

No. And I woudlnt want to have to fill 6 holes in the hood if I bought a tractor that someone did it to.

 

[73140h3232]

James
If this is what you want for your tractor, then by all means do what you like to it.
You will however really ruffle the feathers of all the purists out there as their motto is ; if John Deere wanted it that way they would have done it.....

I like the look, and I encourage you to do to your stuff whatever you want.

Regards
Scott

 

[jameszmcnelley]

Here is what I had to work with when I got this tractor. notice 2'' of bondo, backed up with news paper! from some PO.
MIKE, do you have the skill to fill this ONE hole? well I DO!
SCOTT, As far as the purist go. They can THANK me. There is now one more good used hood STILL on the market...the one I did NOT buy to replace this one!

I constructed these louvres from 93 Ford Ranger exterior door handles, just in case someone is curios, because this may very well be my last post.
If it turns out to be the case; I'll just say here and now THANK YOU so much, Harold Goff & Chuck Van Duessen for all your help and wisdom!!
Terry, please do not remove or edit this post. sincerely, James Z. McNelley

 

[Grant Baker]

Great job on the hood rebuild James,I wondered what you made the louvres from,now I know(I was thinking something like that).Although nice,they are just not my cup of tea,sorry

Grant

 

[73140h3232]

Not only are you a master of fiberglass, you have great taste in TV. I love DRAGNET
Don't stop posting because of the ney Sayers, your repair and restoration work speaks volumes and I for one wish I could do glass work, just don't have the knack

 

[john110]

James.

Looks to be you have the knack for fiberglass and good at it!!! Wish you were closer to PA, I have a nice set of Fiberglass fenders that could use a touch like yours... Stick around, I would love to see a another perfectionist at work here. Just remember you got to deal with all the other so be want to be top of the charts... And by the way I like the louvered look. Think the look of the older louvered, hood scoops, and scallops are are a dying trend...

Jerry

 

[chuckv]

JZM,

Nice save on the pretty busted up hood!

Don't get too ruffled by the strong opinions that this hobby tends to elicit. It is your tractor and you should set it up just the way your want. I hope you continue to share your projects here and please know that you are always welcome to seek answers to any questions you have regarding these vintage machines from me and the other knowledgeable and generous members here.

I try to read most posts here regarding repairs, rebuilds, restorations and customizations. Note that these four terms imply different levels of "preservation" but all involve applying considerable skills to obtain the results the owner has in mind. In the end, it is the owner that chooses what suits their tastes -- after all, it is 'their name on the mailbox...'

Please let us know what you have going with your "project X" when you get to a place you are willing to do an unveiling...and pictures are always a treat to most of us cruising these threads.

For the record, I don't think that either Mike or Scott are anything near "purists" but all of us do have our preferences. A turbo on a 322 is not 'what Deere shipped' for instance, but Mike's tractor is very well done and shows considerable skills in fabrication and in fit and finish.

I hope that this is just a case of missed communication and we can continue to see your work here on the forums.

Chuck

 

[grandpajay]

James,
I work in the museum business. There is a constant battle between the historians that want to display an artifact just like they found it-wear and tear are all part of the story. The conservation technicians (in the laboratories) don't want something displayed until it looks original. For exhibition, a lot of my job is to make old things look new and new things look old. Odd but interesting job.

All that said, when I look at a restoration, I evaluate it based on "Is it exactly like it was when the first owner picked it up from the dealer?" Often the "restoration" looks (and is) far improved than the factory delivered models. Noble effort, but not correct, either. From a museum standpoint, louvers in a hood are no different than the paint being too shiny.

A great example of this is a C47 (WWII) Transport aircraft that I managed the modification and "restoration" for a museum exhibit. It came time to paint the D-Day invasion stripes on the aft fuselage. (70 years ago tomorrow by the way-God bless you veterans!)

These stripes are the huge black and white vertical ones. The orders were given at the last day to paint them to prevent the enemy catching on. Paint was delivered to the airfields and the crews used every manner of mop and broom to apply the paint. Their incentive was "no stripes-get shot down". Many of the stripes were applied in the rain.

So every warbird "restoration" that you see today (Oshkosh and elsewhere) has these stripes beautifully detailed. Looks better but not original.

This is a long way around to answer the critics of modifications. To each their own. After the first scratch from the factory, it's not original any more. But it's story has begun.

Go for it JZM!
Jay

 

[JDF/ SwampFox]

I'm impressed but......being a 98 Ford Ranger owner and lover I hope you didn't trash a 93 Ranger for your parts......lol

 

[bob421]

JZM

I would like to see you stick around, you are a very talented individual and I enjoy your projects. Your projects are always very well documented and I have learned from you.

Bob P

 

[69project]

Not much for louver's in the hood, but great work saving the hood. Can you do louver's on the side tin that way its in the metal? That would look pretty cool as well being functional...It's your tractor so you can do what you want with it. I will say that your mods are professional looking unlike some of the stuff I have seen in the past.

You should start buying up all the 4x5 hoods you can find and save them, they are always broken and new ones run $400+. You would have a good business fixing those hoods.

 

[coalminer16]

Not for me. But - you do GREAT work and you are right-you saved a destroyed hood. I am more of a purist but at the same time have helped with plenty of custom things. Keep up the good work. We can't all fit into a box-we have to think outside it once in a while. That is what creates innovation.

 

[geb63619]

JZM

Wow you attention to detail is great the inside of the hood looks as good as the outside. I've seen repaired hoods before that look good on the outside but on the inside looks like dog doo doo. GREAT job

 

[mikeduwe]

Your post was a question, so I answered it. If your not expecting some criticism, why ask for opinions.

Tractor looks beautiful, awesome restoration.

"louvers" look out of place, add on, JC Whitney catalog to me.

Since you did drill some holes(althought not much surface area)they may have some small funcationality to them to help cool the engine bay down, so there may be some functionality to them?

 

[KB]

Mike,

There is a polite way to say its not for you and not criticize all at the same time. I was under the impression that it is against the forum rules, but even if it's not, I have come to expect respectful, and non-critical discussions on this site. So you wouldn't buy that tractor used, no big deal, there are others out there who would. I had refrained from commenting up until now because I was hoping I just missed some sarcasm. The comment seemed out of character for from what I have seen. Lets keep it positive, and learn some things that we can apply to JD's or other projects.

JZM,
I always enjoy seeing your work. Your proud of it as you should be, keep sharing

KB

 

[JDF/ SwampFox]

Sheeesh, You guys need to focus more on National News than beating down Mike...lol

 

[jd4001]

James

great work on that hood. If your happy with it thats all that matters. I've thought about making a "shaker" hood for one of my JD's and just might give it a try one day.

That 400 is looking really nice and with all the little extras you've put into it I'm sure is a pleasure to run.

Keep up the great work and keep sharing your ideas.

 

[michael l.]

JZM, I have always enjoyed your posts and opinions and do hope you can continue to contribute to the forum.
I for one come across as a somewhat harsh type person sometimes, but am a very sensitive type person that tends to overthink alot of things.
I try to enjoy the pasts I like and ignore the ones I don't when possible.