Stretched IH 400 Is A Real Show Stopper
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As he grew up on a Missouri crop farm in the 1960’s, Ron Strange dreamed of one day reconfiguring an old tractor with a V-8 automobile engine. Almost 30 years later, Ron bought a rusted out heap of metal that at one time was a chassis to a Farmall 400. Over the next nine months Ron and his brother Art dismantled, cleaned, fabricated and put together a specialty tractor they named “Big Red”. The name was chosen because, at 6,000 lbs., Red was really a stretched out and vastly reconfigured tractor from the original.
“We first thought the 351 Cleveland V-8 from a 1972 Mustang would replace the tractor motor and that we’d use the original tractor transmission,” Ron says. “That all changed when we decided to use the automatic transmission from another car project instead. We stretched the frame 4 ft. and mounted it behind the motor and in front of the gas tank.” The rebuilt 400 was beginning to look more like a dragster than a tractor, and they weren’t finished with modifications.
Ron’s wife suggested that the 4-ft. platform above the automatic transmission would make a nice place for mounting a Farmall pedal tractor. Another creative touch was two large pedals underneath the small tractor, and two custom “legs” to move the pedals. Ron and Art built the legs from square steel tubing, and Linda contributed custom made denim pants and an old pair of cowboy boots. The oversize 400 really turned heads in parades, especially when Ron activated the 12-volt motor that moved the pedals and gave viewers the idea that Big Red was just an overgrown pedal tractor.
Because of health issues Ron is unable to drive his fancy creation now, so his wife Linda is the main pilot. “I gave her a few lessons in handling that special transmission and how to load and unload it from the trailer, and she does a great job,” says Ron. “I’m just happy to see Big Red back on the show and parade circuit, turning heads and making people proud of a 60-year-old Farmall.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ron and Linda Strange, 32409 E. Colburn Road, Oak Grove, Mo. 64075 (ph 816 500-1445).
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Stretched IH 400 Is A Real Show Stopper TRACTORS Antiques As he grew up on a Missouri crop farm in the 1960’s Ron Strange dreamed of one day reconfiguring an old tractor with a V-8 automobile engine Almost 30 years later Ron bought a rusted out heap of metal that at one time was a chassis to a Farmall 400 Over the next nine months Ron and his brother Art dismantled cleaned fabricated and put together a specialty tractor they named “Big Red” The name was chosen because at 6 000 lbs Red was really a stretched out and vastly reconfigured tractor from the original “We first thought the 351 Cleveland V-8 from a 1972 Mustang would replace the tractor motor and that we’d use the original tractor transmission ” Ron says “That all changed when we decided to use the automatic transmission from another car project instead We stretched the frame 4 ft and mounted it behind the motor and in front of the gas tank ” The rebuilt 400 was beginning to look more like a dragster than a tractor and they weren’t finished with modifications Ron’s wife suggested that the 4-ft platform above the automatic transmission would make a nice place for mounting a Farmall pedal tractor Another creative touch was two large pedals underneath the small tractor and two custom “legs” to move the pedals Ron and Art built the legs from square steel tubing and Linda contributed custom made denim pants and an old pair of cowboy boots The oversize 400 really turned heads in parades especially when Ron activated the 12-volt motor that moved the pedals and gave viewers the idea that Big Red was just an overgrown pedal tractor Because of health issues Ron is unable to drive his fancy creation now so his wife Linda is the main pilot “I gave her a few lessons in handling that special transmission and how to load and unload it from the trailer and she does a great job ” says Ron “I’m just happy to see Big Red back on the show and parade circuit turning heads and making people proud of a 60-year-old Farmall ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Ron and Linda Strange 32409 E Colburn Road Oak Grove Mo 64075 ph 816 500-1445
