VinsRJ 721 #1 Posted November 28, 2015 Picked up this early 1955 RJ35, its missing a bunch of original parts but for the price it was a good deal IMO. Indicators of an early 55 RJ35: gas tank stand, no front axle stops, no support brace for the veri-dive arm and hood provision for the brass kill switch. The plan right now is to blow it apart and go through it. As the original hood is nice but not perfect... I have been toying with making another fiberglass RJ hood... As always the build will be on my Youtube Channel... https://www.youtube.com/user/VinsGN 16 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wishin4a416 2,189 #2 Posted November 28, 2015 A very clean looking tractor. Some of you fellows sure know your old ones and what to look for. Good Luck. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,231 #3 Posted November 28, 2015 That looks pretty nice Vin. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 19,570 #4 Posted November 28, 2015 Looks good Vin....why tear it apart? I would bolt on a motor and ditch those wheel-barrow tires up front and use it to putt around at shows. Mike......... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian01 481 #5 Posted November 28, 2015 I agree with Sparky, lol I like my front lug wheels/tires on my 58, but the more I see with original 8" wheels/tires on the front of these RJ's, the more I want a pair to stick on it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VinsRJ 721 #6 Posted November 28, 2015 45 minutes ago, Sparky said: Looks good Vin....why tear it apart? I would bolt on a motor and ditch those wheel-barrow tires up front and use it to putt around at shows. Mike......... Mike, I can never leave things alone... LOL! 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 36,945 #7 Posted November 28, 2015 No patina left on that one. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,487 #8 Posted November 29, 2015 Nice pickup Vin, cant wait to see you go through it. Glenn Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,769 #9 Posted November 29, 2015 Chuckle! What Craig said! Would love to see a photo of the inside of that hood! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlwaysLookin80 1,308 #10 Posted November 30, 2015 Nice find. Good condition too!! Wish I could find a RJ 35 in any condition ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 24,172 #11 Posted December 8, 2015 Nice! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken B 3,116 #12 Posted December 8, 2015 Nice snag? What's with the Spirit of 76? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 51,769 #13 Posted December 8, 2015 great find, to my uneducated eye that would have been a 1957 due to the hood. How about doing a "Wiki" on the RJ 35 and 25 from '55 to '57 to share some of your knowledge. I just did a couple the other day and it didn't take too long. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VinsRJ 721 #14 Posted December 14, 2015 (edited) Well I started a project which I said I would never do again... make another fiberglass repro RJ hood... In the pic attached I had not trimmed the edges down to size nor had I married the nose with the top portion. Overall I am just as pleased with the start of this hood as with the one I made for my Prototype tractor. The over all build process vid will be up on YouTube shortly if you are interested. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On 12/8/2015 at 6:43 AM, Ken B said: Nice snag? What's with the Spirit of 76? Ken I just picked up the hood at the fall Zagray... why?... I have no idea, LOL! On 12/8/2015 at 6:52 AM, 953 nut said: great find, to my uneducated eye that would have been a 1957 due to the hood. How about doing a "Wiki" on the RJ 35 and 25 from '55 to '57 to share some of your knowledge. I just did a couple the other day and it didn't take too long. The "Wheel Hose" on the hood is just a sticker... its a 55 hood for sure... Edited December 14, 2015 by VinsRJ 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 59,740 #15 Posted December 14, 2015 I just watched the three videos on this RJ35 (early 55) and have to say I've learned a bunch just from that 30 minutes or so of explanation! Thanks for being such a solid source of info and sharing what you do Vin! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VinsRJ 721 #16 Posted January 26, 2016 (edited) Well the work on the hood has been slow... I'm just about to embark on the block sanding to straighten it all out. Big thanks goes out to a RS member with an original fiberglass hood, I was supplied with pics so I have been able to tailor this hood to the original specs... as always the actual build process will be released in stages on my YouTube Channel. Thank you for watching if you do so, much appreciated! Edited January 26, 2016 by VinsRJ 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 36,945 #17 Posted January 26, 2016 Nice fab work, and really looks great. What were you able to determine from the picts... is different about the fiberglass version Vin? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VinsRJ 721 #18 Posted January 27, 2016 On 1/26/2016 at 8:29 PM, AMC RULES said: Nice fab work, and really looks great. What were you able to determine from the picts... is different about the fiberglass version Vin? The back of the fiberglass hood is more of a pointed shape than gently rounded... and the sides have are more evenly rounded shape that runs the entire length... It's kind of hard to explain... I'll have pics in one of me up coming vids. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 36,945 #19 Posted January 27, 2016 (edited) Just watched the latest hood vid there earlier this evening... that thing is turning out awesome Vin. Edited January 27, 2016 by AMC RULES 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VinsRJ 721 #20 Posted January 28, 2016 23 hours ago, AMC RULES said: Just watched the latest hood vid there earlier this evening... that thing is turning out awesome Vin. Thanks Craig! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coadster32 793 #21 Posted January 28, 2016 You are hugely talented, and awesome that you're sharing your knowlege base as well. Great work. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
whtractors24 2,898 #22 Posted January 28, 2016 looks mint ! i want one Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,769 #23 Posted January 28, 2016 There are indications from the originals that they were 2-piece molded? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buckrancher 2,675 #24 Posted January 28, 2016 8 minutes ago, DennisThornton said: There are indications from the originals that they were 2-piece molded? originals were 1 piece and made in a mold looking good Vince Brian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,769 #25 Posted January 28, 2016 21 minutes ago, buckrancher said: originals were 1 piece and made in a mold looking good Vince Brian I really thought they at least could have been and laid up in a "male" mold where the outside of the new hood would have been the inside of the nicely finished mold. Heck, the mold could have been 2 pieced. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites