bds1984 1,382 #1 Posted January 3, 2015 Ok, I think it is time that my C-165 get a fresh change of work clothes. I've had her since I was thirteen, and seventeen years later I feel that she has deserved a makeover: rebuilt engine, new ag tires on all four corners, new paint and decals, new Hobbs hour meter, and a custom hitch I made from an extra hitch off my Crown Victoria. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bds1984 1,382 #2 Posted January 3, 2015 Here are some more pictures. The 520H found it's way home but needs a little love in the engine department. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fabricator2009 48 #3 Posted January 3, 2015 I like it. Nice work. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
19richie66 16,942 #4 Posted January 3, 2015 Very nice. Liking the ags all around. Getting prepared to start on my wifes c175. Thanks for the pictures. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Molon_Labe 731 #5 Posted January 3, 2015 Great job, keep the progress pictures coming! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 36,945 #6 Posted January 3, 2015 Engine is a looker. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken B 3,116 #7 Posted January 3, 2015 That is turning out very nice. The black hoods have a nice stout look to them... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bds1984 1,382 #8 Posted January 4, 2015 Here are some more pictures of the progress I made in the last couple days. I just dry-fitted the sheet metal bits on there just to get a feel for the one-inch lift I did on the fenders because I wasn't so sure how well the rear tires would clear. I'm going to be applying some grip tape on the foot rests but I'm not sure if I should do only the bottom section or continue it all the way up to the back of the footrest, by the front of the rear fender. Also, I'm tossing around the idea of painting the 'superstructure', or gauge tower black to match the paint scheme of the 3,4,5-hundred series. Any thoughts? 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KyBlue 652 #9 Posted January 4, 2015 Looks good! Keep up the progress 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmsgaffer 2,043 #10 Posted January 5, 2015 I've always been curious to see what the black hoodstand paint scheme would look like on a blackhood. Someone will have to come in here with some photoshop chops cause I cant picture it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tankman 3,515 #11 Posted January 5, 2015 Excellent work! The Horse deserves some TLC! Be sure to post updates, the forum needs to see, dream, drool a bit. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
19richie66 16,942 #12 Posted January 5, 2015 I've always been curious to see what the black hoodstand paint scheme would look like on a blackhood. Someone will have to come in here with some photoshop chops cause I cant picture it. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmsgaffer 2,043 #13 Posted January 5, 2015 I've always been curious to see what the black hoodstand paint scheme would look like on a blackhood. Someone will have to come in here with some photoshop chops cause I cant picture it. Well that answers that! Thanks! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bds1984 1,382 #14 Posted January 8, 2015 We'll see about the black hood-stand. I've never taken a steering wheel off before and it looks rusted on. Any tips or trickes to remove it? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bds1984 1,382 #15 Posted January 20, 2015 Well over the weekend I picked up a 48-inch deck, snowblower, a good used hood that is miles better than mine, and sheet metal bits for three-hundred. I think I did well, now I just need a snow plow or mid-mout blade! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel-N-It 2,967 #16 Posted January 20, 2015 Nice work so far on the C165 !!! I love them BlackHoods! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bds1984 1,382 #17 Posted January 23, 2015 (edited) Her is what I have so far for attachments...still looking for a blade. The blower works fine but I need a lift assist spring! All the spindles are tight and quiet but needs the left rear portion worked on. The sheet metal bits I picked up are being sent off for sand-blasting. Edited January 23, 2015 by bds1984 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bds1984 1,382 #18 Posted February 16, 2015 Work has been a little slow on her since we have has an abundance of snow here in west Michigan. I've made two 'wings' for the snowblower so I can make a 43-inch pass at once. There surely isn't a better sound than a 16HP Kohler singing away while clearing my driveway! One of the bearings on the snowblower decided to say goodnight after 35+ years so I managed to find suitable replacements from TSC on a Sunday afternoon for less than $40 for a new pulley, bearing, and bearing collar. The PO must have beat the end of the shaft since it was mushroomed over and I had to grind a slight taper on it to remove the old pulled. I made two new plates out of diamond plate aluminum; I'm debating on making the dashboard out of it so I can have all four gauges (ammeter, hour meter, fuel, and tachometer) easily visible. Thoughts on that? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
woodchuckfarmer 333 #19 Posted February 16, 2015 Coming along nice, good work......Wayne 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bds1984 1,382 #20 Posted May 4, 2015 Well I know it has been a while, but here is a picture of the 'work' I had the old girl doing yesterday. Even with half a ton of dirt on at first, she didn't even break a sweat! 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bds1984 1,382 #21 Posted May 26, 2015 Well here is the wok that I've completed in the last week. I've upgraded the front end to 520-H specs with a forward swept axle and installed LED headlights that are incredibly bright and barely register a draw in the ammeter. I never realized how much heavier built the forward swept 520-H axle is compared to the standard axle, which is nothing to bat an eye at either. The gear reduction steering will be installed once I get some down time and the steering wheel off. Any tips? Long term I want to install hydraulics and once it is all repainted, I'll have some decals made that identify this machine as a C-165 Super Duty, but first, I need to either make some spacers for the rear or find a decent set of 520H rear rims. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel-N-It 2,967 #22 Posted May 26, 2015 Thats looking really good there with the swept forward axle. That is something I've wanted to do to my C165. I have a 520 rolling chassis to source all the parts from. Tell me, how does it steer without the gear reduction system in place? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bds1984 1,382 #23 Posted May 26, 2015 It is marginally more difficult to steer beause of the tie-rod geometry, but once I install the new steering gear I have no idea what to expect; I expect steering effort to decrease but more turns of the wheel. I've never used a machine that has the gear reduction steering so this is all new to me. I basically did this upgrade because I like to looks and I wanted the option of being able to use a deck larger than 48 inches. How is it to pilot a 520H with the reduction steering? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel-N-It 2,967 #24 Posted May 27, 2015 Its quite nice actually. I guess you could say its sort of like power steering in a Wheel Horse kind of way. LOLThank you for letting me know about the increased effort without the gear reduction. Now I know that I should for sure install the whole system. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GT14 243 #25 Posted June 3, 2015 Very nice, just finishing my c-175. Would like to get the swept axle for it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
