Eric L said:
Sooner or later I plan to repower it with an american V-8 of undetermined displacement... you guys would forgive me for that, right?
One thing that I've noticed about the old snowcats is that Tucker is really the only brand out there that has any potential value as a collectable or a classic.
The little Snow Tracs are plentiful and capable, but really have no collector interest. They are popular because they can be maintained and used. The Kristi units are so rare and so odd that people really don't know what they are, most of their history is lost or at least unpublished, and they are essentially oddities. The Thiokols/DMC/LMC machines are still workhorses seeing daily use, much like the Snow Tracs. It seems like they get used until they die, then get stripped for parts to keep others running.
Tuckers are unique because they are still in business. Also because they have survived from the very earliest years of snowcatting to the most modern. From the early front ski units with dual rear tracks to the most capabable Antarctic explorers, Tucker has seen it all. The steel tracked Tuckers have a "classic" look yet a capable core.
With all that said, it seems like it would be a shame to cut one up.
Then again there were very few arguements about BigAl's restoration and improvements of the only Krisit KT7 known to exist. He was been very critical of some aspects of that unit and has moderinzed it at every chance when any safety or performance issue has come up. The interior has been upgraded for comfort and convenience. So while the Kristi is rare and unique, I think 99% of the people supported each improvement Al made to the Kristi.
Bob Lowe (Arlow) in British Columbia did a moderization of his Snow Trac and people loved it. (LINK :
Arlow's Moderization Thread) Gordon Robertson did a historic restoration of his Snow Trac and people loved that. (LINK :
Gordon's Restoration Thread) But I'd say that more people were positive about Arlow's improvements and upgrades than were impressed by the skill and care that it took Gordon to do an accurate and complete restoration.
It is interesting to see the opposition by so many to your intended modification given you unit is far more common than BigAl's Kristi.