1979 factory tracked Superchief

[L.D.Bruce]

if a frame is dated 1979 would it hve been assembled then? My track option superchief like most i have seen on here has the od bottom and yellow top

[Bill Gerber]

Yes,
We Stamped the the frames as they started down the line.
From what I remember. The color combination was probably due to the fact that after the Mckay racer that Don runs now was put together.
We all decided that we liked the combination and It stayed cleaner looking. The yellow bottom really showed the dirt and grease.
I think you will find that there were a lot of yellow tops with green bottoms in 1979. Unless the customer specified yellow and yellow.
And I don't remember a lot of 500 Super chief's made with the muffler in the body, like yours.
BG

[L.D.Bruce]

the muffler location is the track option the tub has punch marks for the exhaust cut out but was never cut

[kghills]

I want this build to be not a restoration but more of an improvement with a factory look with some upgrades not exactly available at the time that will make it a more capable and dependable machine for trail use that keeps the machine true to it's original intent.

First was the exhaust. Well, building this exhaust took me a little longer than it should have but I spent a lot of time just looking at the stupid thing to see if this mod was in line with how I felt a production upgrade might have been made at the time. I mean it is a SuperChief and when I look at the Attex gallery two things jump out at me. Big exhaust pipes and round roll bars. More on the roll bar later.

The factory exhaust on the tracked machine exited the left rear of the engine cover. The original hole did not seem to be quite big enough for even the stock exhaust and the surrounding plastic was badly melted. The factory heat shield had also rubbed through from contact with the muffler. I was able to procure a factory Torque Tuned Exhaust from Lewie72 and the mod began. First I opened up the original pocket to remove the melted plastic and make room for the expansion chamber. Then the fitting began I set the pipe on top of the original muffler to get the look. I took lots of pictures just to get a feel for how this was going to look.


Next I removed the stock exhaust and tried to figure out how to mount it. I figured once I had it in place I could cut it and swing it to mate with the engine. I was able to make a cradle for the pipe from a piece of flat stock. It bolts into the original two exhaust mounts in the body and has a slot machined in it to accept the seem in the exhaust.


A couple cuts and I tack welded the exhaust in place.


Then TIG welded the pipe back together.


Now came the hard part. Make it look like it may have if it was a factory option. Here I placed the factory mesh screen on the exhaust. Just a tad too short.


I figured the pipe really was a bit high for the body line so thanks to member Don added a factory rear rack to give it a less elevated look and also have someplace to strap gear when trail riding.


Next the heat shield. I contemplated nothing at all but the thought of ducking to avoid a branch and burning my shoulder kept me on track with the original intent of the machine. Cardboard is my friend.


Flat sheet aluminum grill is still available like the factory used. My shield is just a little taller but riveted on like the original.


I changed the lay of the diamonds because I wanted to roll the front edge down.


Form follows function.

Keith.

[George]

Very nice Keith!

[Don]

Nice work, Keith. 'looks like a factory job!

[kghills]

Very nice Keith!

Nice work, Keith. 'looks like a factory job!

Thanks guys. I really wanted to leave the hole open. Then I went in the direction of a solid front with an isulation barrier and then shielding but the more I looked at how the machine was originally put together I decided this would have been to complicated. The Attex seems to be simple and light weight. This seems to carry over to how they were built and how the parts were made. Probably why they were good racing machines. I am trying to get the big mods handled before I strip it too far down. The trans is out now and 2 new drums came from Jay on Thusday. I hope to get it to Tim in the near future for tracks before I pull the axles and frame out and start the rebuild in ernest.

Keith.

[highrollinmopars]

Thats definitely one of the nicer Attex's I have seen. Keep it up.

[kghills]

Rebuilding the T-20 in the Superchief and found a couple bad drums on the right side of the transmission. The outside of the forward drum had a groove and the reverse drum had a bunch of broken teeth. Luckily for me RI still has these parts new and Jay seemed happy to send them to me.


Bands are off at Transmission Krafter for re-lining and this T-20 had DU bushings pressed in the shifter bores. There seems to be wear in the bushings coating from the o-ring. I was able to order new ones from McMaster-Carr. Jay said he thought that the bushing were used due to porosity in some of the castings years ago. In any case mine has them and after I make a driver should be easy enough to replace.


Also got a 36mm Mikuni Carburetor that member Don recommended to match the TorqueTuned pipe I am going to use.


Found this cool NOS air filter and housing for the carb. I think it looks really vintage should be perfect for this build.


Keith

[kghills]

The anti-springer

Finally got the Superchief to Adair for tracks. The Attex takes a track that is similar to the ones Tim sells for the Max II so fitment went pretty much as expected.


Was happy with the results so on the Trailer and home with it.


Here are a few shots with the exhaust and engine cover back on.


Now comes the easy part pull it all apart powder coat, new bearings and chains and reassemble.

Keith.

[jpswift1]

Looks great, Keith! What size tires are you running with the tracks?

[amphibious drew]

Oh man, I would love to set my Attex up like that. I gotta get some projects done and some stuff sold and then adair tracks will be a possibility. Looks great!!! Like McDonad's, I'm loving it.

[kghills]

Thanks, I think it turned out awesome and am super happy so far.

The tires Tim used are Kenda 18x10.5x8.

[highrollinmopars]

I have never seen Adair tracks with metal links like that before. Is this something new Tim is doing?

[kghills]

I have never seen Adair tracks with metal links like that before. Is this something new Tim is doing?

I think he has been doing this design for a while. This set of tracks/tires/wheels was originally for a Max II but he later went to a wheel and tire combination that had a little more floatation. Works out perfect for the Attex though.

Keith.