The rat rod of chainsaws

[weedkilla]

So here is what I'm thinking - I get a kick out of grabbing a saw and surprising people with its performance. But when they look all shiny and nice it doesn't have the same impact.
What would you recommend for a saw that goes like stink, looks like a dog, looks like it's been around the world twice and still has reasonable parts supply available?
I actually want to run this thing, not spend my life looking for nos parts. I have no brand bias.

Heck, any ideas or inspiration are welcome.

 

[Haywire Haywood]

Sweet... I like it. Get a ratted out saw, replace the bearings and such as needed and then port it up for a cookie cutter.

 

[lone wolf]

So here is what I'm thinking - I get a kick out of grabbing a saw and surprising people with its performance. But when they look all shiny and nice it doesn't have the same impact.
What would you recommend for a saw that goes like stink, looks like a dog, looks like it's been around the world twice and still has reasonable parts supply available?
I actually want to run this thing, not spend my life looking for nos parts. I have no brand bias.

Heck, any ideas or inspiration are welcome.

288 Husky

 

[dl5205]

272 or 044 first came to mind. 371/ 372/ 2071/ 2072. This series has been around long enough to find an 'experienced looking' example. 2100 husky. mod'd 056.

 

[Zero_sum]

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[Giles]

Of all the chainsaws I have owned, one stands out as unusually impressive. It is a Craftsman (Roper) 3.7 c.u. with vertical cylinder. I bought it new in 1980 and have cut many cords of wood with it.
The impressive part is the torque that this saw has. Only saw I have ever run in this size that will start cutting if you have it idling, with chain touching wood, pull the trigger and it starts cutting. It still runs excellent but is old and heavy so I don't use it very often, got many more saws that will do job easier.

 

[weedkilla]

Yep. I think you guys get my idea.

The stihl options have been a bit "not quite right" that I've looked at. The cracking tanks and handles are a bit of a pain. Might be a case of just buy something and then search for a serviceable tank/handle. You can't really fake patina - it's either an old war horse that's seen some **** or it's not.

 

[old-cat]

046

 

[Mastermind]

Yeah.....a rough old 046.

I wish y'all could have seen the faces on them guys with their nice shiny MS460s when my beat to hell 046 won that build off.

 

[BigDee]

PP295 with muffler mod, 14-inch bar and sharp .325 chain.
or the 2900 green one.
or the Craptsman 46cc.

 

[Mastermind]

The Poulan 4000 is beastly too.

 

[weedkilla]

Yeah.....a rough old 046.

I wish y'all could have seen the faces on them guys with their nice shiny MS460s when my beat to hell 046 won that build off.

Hmm, could a monkeys arm be twisted to have a saw sit around until a spot was free if I found something stateside? I'm sure shipping to Aus isn't anything new for you.

 

[Mastermind]

For you....that is not a issue.

 

[rattler362]

This work's good not a cookie cutter but gets the work done. It is a 257/261/262.

 

[Mike from Maine]

Dirt covered 044 with a duct taped handle

 

[weedkilla]

That's a nice looking 257!
Sure wouldn't pick it as being 16.

 

[weedkilla]

Dirt covered 044 with a duct taped handle

I was thinking push bike handle bar tape, or tennis grip if the standard handle wasn't serviceable. Duct tape sucks, and the point would be that it should work perfectly - just looked beat to hell and back.

 

[weedkilla]

This is **** -
Stupid stance, rusted for effect.

This is a legendary effort.

Usable and a strong sensible build. They clear coated it so all the body work was visible, some of it's history is still on show.

The only thing better is old race cars that have never been cosmetically restored. All the battle scars worn with pride.

Dunno how the Porsche examples will go down in these parts - but they were the first examples I found with a quick google. Helped that I had read the story of the rebuild on that 356. An amazing, epic effort.

 

[cobey]

too many people that know whats fast and whats not..... i would say a used 600 echo
AWOL has an old 450 echo that is bad fast... its old and beat but runs great!
ask Mike (homelite410) how to make a 50cc yea right.... run like 60 or 70 thats the ticket
thats the only way to make people trip.............. im sure mastermind could make an odd saw fast
but you aint gonna suprise no one with a husky or stihl ................ unless its 20 or 30 cc bigger than its
supposed to be and ported

 

[cobey]

btw the echo recomendation is seperate from Mikes saw plan, sorry i didnt seperate the two better