First Sportfire built

General topics related to John Deere Snowmobiles
User avatar
Horicon Joe
Posts: 1091
Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2005 12:00 am
Real Name: Joe Wanie
Location: ROLLING PRAIRIE WI

Re: First Sportfire built

Post by Horicon Joe »

I just cleaned and buffed the paint to look nice. I left all the original decals like they were put on in Horicon.
I also fixed the pulled out distorted bumper ...... without painting it. Someday someone might
walk up to you and say ..... "I put those decals on, and remember doing it on the first Sportfire".

It is all a matter of opinion and my opinion is it is only original once. You can't go back .......
At least think about it for a long time before you restore it :beers;
Please add your Real Name in your User Profile or at least your first Name!
User avatar
fast823
Posts: 117
Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2009 3:31 pm
Real Name: Trevor Fast
Location: MN

Re: First Sportfire built

Post by fast823 »

I agree on only original once. I will take some more pics and see what everyone thinks.
18 and counting
fastl82vette
Posts: 460
Joined: Wed Mar 13, 2013 8:22 am
Real Name: Greg Cyrocki
Location: LaMoille, Il

Re: First Sportfire built

Post by fastl82vette »

I agree with Joe and Bill. Leave it original and just go through seals and bearings and clean it up.
Speaking of the last liquifire, I've never seen any pictures of the finished product...
-Greg

'82 Sprintfire (original running project) SOLD
'72 400 (original non-running 2nd owner)
'73 400 (original non-running 2nd owner)
'86 Kitty cat
'77 Cyclone SOLD
'78 Spitfire x2 (sold one)(I think I officially have a sickness)
'84 Liquifire #420 "The Last Liquifire" (rescued, SOLD)
'82 Spitfire #2100 "The Last Spitfire"
'83 Sprintfire (wife's sled ;))
'84 Snowfire
'88 Yamaha Sno Scoot
'71 Massey Ski Whiz Special
AirborneX4Special
Posts: 1450
Joined: Sat Jan 30, 2010 10:54 am
Real Name: Pat
Location: N. IL

Re: First Sportfire built

Post by AirborneX4Special »

Clean it up and retain as much of the originality as possible. It's not a wreck chassis that needs restoration, it's a pretty good survivor.
jdjock
Posts: 99
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:15 pm
Real Name: Tom Schuster
Location: Hartford, South Dakota

Re: First Sportfire built

Post by jdjock »

Have you found out any history yet. I know a lot of the first built Sportfires were sent to Lake Placid, New York in December of 1979 for the Winter Olympics. Has anyone out there traced one down yet? Quite a few had the electric start option. Tom
Nice find by the way. Keep it as found , with cleanup of course.
sledhead16
Posts: 1386
Joined: Sat Dec 14, 2013 3:39 pm
Real Name: Allan Campbell
Location: Saint Peter MN

Re: First Sportfire built

Post by sledhead16 »

The ones that are fully restored always come out nice. With mine I choose to keep them with original patina if their not to banged up and just make them mechanically nice, also its cheaper lol but tinkering none the less is the frustrating fun!
1975 340/s Speed Run Sled
1975 340/s I500 #161
1980 Liquifire SN# 4995 From WA Speed Run Sled
1980 Liquifire SN# 4996 From MN
1983 Sportfire
1984 Liquifire Deep Snow Tunnel 4/6 motor
1984 Sprintfire (2)

***Duelling Deere Garage***
stv1991
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2015 11:27 pm
Real Name: Robert
Location: WI

Re: First Sportfire built

Post by stv1991 »

I had the opportunity to buy that very sled about 6 or 7 years ago in western, WI. If I remember right, the sled was in OK condition but the guy wanted quite a bit of money for it so I passed. I knew the significance of the sled but he was asking too much and wouldn't negotiate.
User avatar
Horicon Joe
Posts: 1091
Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2005 12:00 am
Real Name: Joe Wanie
Location: ROLLING PRAIRIE WI

Re: First Sportfire built

Post by Horicon Joe »

Trevor ..... I have your info ........ I'll send you a PM
Please add your Real Name in your User Profile or at least your first Name!
User avatar
fast823
Posts: 117
Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2009 3:31 pm
Real Name: Trevor Fast
Location: MN

Re: First Sportfire built

Post by fast823 »

Finally had a chance to look at it and take some pictures. Needs a air box, glove door and dash else it needs a good cleaning before I can see what else it needs. Hood cracked and one TPR panel has a hole in. Tunnel nice.
Attachments
IMG_0281.JPG
IMG_0280.JPG
IMG_0279.JPG
IMG_0278.JPG
IMG_0277.JPG
18 and counting
User avatar
JoeRainville
Posts: 4355
Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 12:00 am
Real Name: "John Deere Joe"
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Contact:

Re: First Sportfire built

Post by JoeRainville »

Holler if I can be of help with parts. I have NOS air boxes and glove box doors. I should have a good used dash for it too.

Good luck with such a neat find,
-Joe Rainville
joerainville@hotmail.com
Honorary Tech Editor

Chuck Norris doesn't get frost bite. He bites the frost.
sledhead16
Posts: 1386
Joined: Sat Dec 14, 2013 3:39 pm
Real Name: Allan Campbell
Location: Saint Peter MN

Re: First Sportfire built

Post by sledhead16 »

Trevor she's rough, but hey....she's #1 ;)
1975 340/s Speed Run Sled
1975 340/s I500 #161
1980 Liquifire SN# 4995 From WA Speed Run Sled
1980 Liquifire SN# 4996 From MN
1983 Sportfire
1984 Liquifire Deep Snow Tunnel 4/6 motor
1984 Sprintfire (2)

***Duelling Deere Garage***
Post Reply