A new project and not a SIMCA. Ransomes mini crawler tractor

Tried engine from front wheel drive SIMCA... much better fit. Flat sump houses water pump and Starter, distributor etc position will make for much tidier installation. Crossflow head so exhaust will exit in RH side.

Interesting project - Co-incidence - My grandad worked for Ransomes in Ipswich for all of his working life - retired in mid 70's - he's long since departed this earth but he would have loved to see something like this being restored

Will repair the sump on the Lombardini engine, can't find any info on it fore I strip it down. Maybe It may be a model that's 'out of the ark.' Will try to get it going sometime in the future. It might be of some use to somebody??

have finished work on tracks and now both roll freely and brakes work spot on both sides for steering. Fitted 'tool bar' at rear, just needs lift mechansm freeing up and refitting. Was going refit fuel tank under seat until i started to wire brush it ready for rust converter then painting. Abandoned that when wire brush went through bottom of tank. A search round the shelves in the garage and shed turned up a rectangular tank that came from a mower I think. The last vehicle I used that on was my VW beetle 'bomber car' back in the '70s. Still in good condition and fits neatly alongside the seat. The freed up space under the seat will now house the battery which will be needed for the electric start & ignition for the SIMCA engine.
Photos... progress so far With SIMCA engine ready to go in after I.ve unearthed Dad's old lathe to do the machining I need for drive flanges etc.and the last home for the tank I've used..!! Small capacity but It'll do for the use I'll be giving it and it held enough for a 10 lap final flat out in the old Beetle

Sorting the lift mechanism for the bar at the rear. It appears to use a chain that runs over a pulley under the seat down to a toothed quadrant on a shaft turned by the lever in the photo, propped up on the scrap SIMCA 1000 gearbox which will donate its bellhousing to this project. Have freed up the mechanism that lock all this in place ready to refit.

Currently sorting out a bellhousing to use with the SIMCA engine. Was going to use one from a scrap SIMCA 1000 box but my brother suggested using one from the transverse engined FWD SIMCA 1100. So spent this afternoon dismantling an 1100 gearbox. The bellhousing is more compact than the 1000 one and I can tidy it up by grinding off part of the diff housing and it will put the starter motor in a better place.

trial fit of engine shows I need to cut out more clearance below to allow it to sit at suitable height to mate up with Ransomes gearbox....

Now looking into making up a shaft to connect the SIMCA engine to the Ransomes transmission. Will use cut off SIMCA spigot shaft with flange made from selection of bits from Ransomes and elsewhere (in photo between steering levers) with a fair bit of lathe work and welding needed....

Please keep going, I am hooked. My late old man was born in Ipswitch.