mikemikelle
Active member
Wanted to give a shout out to GMoose and the beautiful restoration of his Frandee Sno shu #37
For all of you who attended McCallin All cats 2018, you saw the Frandee in person. For those of you who took a ride or drove it, you experienced a real treat!
Dave spent 8 years, off and on, completing the restoration, but without the use of a shop. This was his introduction to snowcats, having never had one prior to this.
Countless hours were spent on research, making sure that the restoration was done as correct to original as possible. This is no easy task, considering so few were ever made, and how even fewer actually remain (add to that 65 yrs of tinkering/paint jobs/lack of good records and photos/etc.).
In addition to the restoration, some modern convenience/usage adaptions were added, but in a way that they don't make any permanent modifications, and are easily removable. The side boxes, and their simple slide-on mounting hardware, add much needed storage space (since the cab is fairly small). This adaption allows for showing the Frandee as stock, then pop on the boxes and away the family goes on an all-day trip (Resto-mod mode!!)
My experience with cats is in its infancy, having only had a 1404 Imp for a year (and that being the only cat ever). By NO means do I consider myself any sort of cat expert. What I can tell you is that I am pretty observant and picky (my wife will add anal, opinionated, perfectionist, pain in the ass, etc..)
That being said...That Frandee (and the quality of GMoose's workmanship) is the quietest and most comfortable of all the older cats (and most of the newer cats), especially when you consider that it was barely out of prototype status for 2 track types, or for that matter, over-the-snow vehicles as a whole.
As I said before, I own an Imp, and all of you who have owned or rode in an Imp, know they are noisy (think WW2 Bomber fuselage driving down a washboard road). At the rally, I was able to ride in several other types (steel Tuckers, Sno Tracs, Weasel, Bombi). Again, no expert, and those of you who did get in that rig can attest, it is remarkably quiet and comfortable.
I'll have to admit that when I first saw the Frandee, I thought it was funny looking. Additionally I assumed that it had to be more primitive than my 20 year newer Imp. After spending some time around it, it really grew on me. After thinking about it, I've come to the conclusion that the 2 track forefathers had some ideas figured out that were forgotten or discarded afterward, to the detriment of 2 tracks. Bigger tire wheel combo- so the tire guides were less like a washboard road, 4 wheel drive- to eliminate the need for the ratchety cog (which is also an expensive and rare part when compared to a tire) Big wood grousers- which seem to anchor well, but not too well, and seem to have maybe a noise/vibration dampening effect. Not to say that these are the best methods, but they worked well when you consider.
Hats off to the Frandee forefathers, for getting it right in the beginning!
Thanks Dave, for doing a great job, and for changing my mind on older technology!
(Even with the quiet cab, Dave still suffers from unexplained hearing loss)
If you want more on the Frandee restoration by GMoose, you have to bug him to do a proper "write up"
(Hope this was ok Dave; It was this or a sticker on the window)
For all of you who attended McCallin All cats 2018, you saw the Frandee in person. For those of you who took a ride or drove it, you experienced a real treat!
Dave spent 8 years, off and on, completing the restoration, but without the use of a shop. This was his introduction to snowcats, having never had one prior to this.
Countless hours were spent on research, making sure that the restoration was done as correct to original as possible. This is no easy task, considering so few were ever made, and how even fewer actually remain (add to that 65 yrs of tinkering/paint jobs/lack of good records and photos/etc.).
In addition to the restoration, some modern convenience/usage adaptions were added, but in a way that they don't make any permanent modifications, and are easily removable. The side boxes, and their simple slide-on mounting hardware, add much needed storage space (since the cab is fairly small). This adaption allows for showing the Frandee as stock, then pop on the boxes and away the family goes on an all-day trip (Resto-mod mode!!)
My experience with cats is in its infancy, having only had a 1404 Imp for a year (and that being the only cat ever). By NO means do I consider myself any sort of cat expert. What I can tell you is that I am pretty observant and picky (my wife will add anal, opinionated, perfectionist, pain in the ass, etc..)
That being said...That Frandee (and the quality of GMoose's workmanship) is the quietest and most comfortable of all the older cats (and most of the newer cats), especially when you consider that it was barely out of prototype status for 2 track types, or for that matter, over-the-snow vehicles as a whole.
As I said before, I own an Imp, and all of you who have owned or rode in an Imp, know they are noisy (think WW2 Bomber fuselage driving down a washboard road). At the rally, I was able to ride in several other types (steel Tuckers, Sno Tracs, Weasel, Bombi). Again, no expert, and those of you who did get in that rig can attest, it is remarkably quiet and comfortable.
I'll have to admit that when I first saw the Frandee, I thought it was funny looking. Additionally I assumed that it had to be more primitive than my 20 year newer Imp. After spending some time around it, it really grew on me. After thinking about it, I've come to the conclusion that the 2 track forefathers had some ideas figured out that were forgotten or discarded afterward, to the detriment of 2 tracks. Bigger tire wheel combo- so the tire guides were less like a washboard road, 4 wheel drive- to eliminate the need for the ratchety cog (which is also an expensive and rare part when compared to a tire) Big wood grousers- which seem to anchor well, but not too well, and seem to have maybe a noise/vibration dampening effect. Not to say that these are the best methods, but they worked well when you consider.
Hats off to the Frandee forefathers, for getting it right in the beginning!
Thanks Dave, for doing a great job, and for changing my mind on older technology!
(Even with the quiet cab, Dave still suffers from unexplained hearing loss)
If you want more on the Frandee restoration by GMoose, you have to bug him to do a proper "write up"
(Hope this was ok Dave; It was this or a sticker on the window)
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