 |
|
|
Hover Over Ads Below To Reveal More Info
Become a Member TODAY! Individual-$20 Family-$25 Club-$50 Sustaining-$75 Business-$100 LIFE-TIME-$500 Send a Donation |
1972 Northway RX440 Racer Restoration This Restoration is one that I doubted I would ever
do. Only 21 of these RX racers were built and 35 years later with the help of
DAVIDS VINTAGE SNOWMOBILE PAGE I found one. I had always wanted one of these
since we built the first one back in 1971. I want this sled to be in like new
condition and it will make a real nice show piece. I picked it up in January
2006, after 8 weeks of negotiations and it will be the jewel in the crown of my
Northway Collection. Over 140 hours of work went into this project. Here are a
few pics from my restoration. No way that these pics represent all the work that
went into this sled but it will give you an idea of what it took. Enjoy The
pics - Mr. Northway
 Lots of photos were taken so that I could reproduce
the lettering and stripeing.
 I had to make a new bumper jig. This is my first 15
Inch sled.
 The chrome guys always take
forever so this time I prepared and sent the parts out
to be chromed before doing anything else.
 Then the sled is completely dismantled.
 Then I replaced all broken or loose rivets and
cleaned and buffed the frame. This frame needed $60 worth of rivets!!!
 I sandblasted, washed, and clear coated the unpainted
aluminum parts.
 Starting reassembly of the frame, but couldn't go any
further till the chrome arrives back from plating.
 The Mogul Tamer suspension was seized and really
hard to take apart.
 Suspension is sandblasted and ready for
paint.
 Now the suspension will look good and work
good!!!
 I reproduced the heavy steel belt guard with an aluminum piece. Looks better too...   The skis after sandblasting and paint.
 The dash needed fiberglass repair, gelcoat repair,
and paint.
   A bright light inside the bellypan showed me all the
places in need of repair.
 After filling the hazing cracks with resin, I used
an etch primer and a light to correct the defects with glaze and and then resanded and etch primed again.
  The dash and belly pan are hung up to
dry.
 Before striping the cab i traced the stripes to
paper.
 After painting the cab I used my paper models to
trace the stripes to masking tape then cut it out and painted the new
stripes.
 The stripe is painted.
 The trim was put on the cab and dash. This gives a good idea of what the finished sled will look like.
 The engine has a fresh crank,
pistons, and seals. It had been fogged and stored properly. Lucky me!!!
After a good bath, points, condensors, timing, and a leak
down test the engine is clear coated and tested. I need a # 1 ignition
coil. The spark is weak and will damage the engine if it is run. If you
can help PLEASE EMAIL ME!!!
 Finally the chrome is ready and the final assembly
is underway. This is the fun part. No more dirty work, just
assembly.
        Well it may have taken 35 years but I finally own a
Northway RX. Look for it at this years shows in New York, New England, Quebec, and
Ontario.
Andrew Northway Taylor |
|
Site Administrator | Terms-Conditions-Liability-Copyright Notice | DESIGN BY AGILOUS Bear Brook State Park, Just Off Rt. 28, Allenstown, NH PO Box 10112 Concord, NH 03301 (603) 648-2304 |
|