Reviving an ABANDONED Thiokol IMP Snowcat - Stacey David's Gearz S10 E7

Through the years, we’ve had some amazing vehicles featured on GearZ-from elite racecars to the insanity of a V-8 barstool. Well, here we go again! Stacey hauls in a Thiokol Imp that needs some…attention. First things first with this crazy snowcatmobile; we’ve got to see if we can make it run. Follow along as Stacey takes you through the ins and outs of getting a neglected vehicle up and running again. For you performance BMW guys, a tuner from Dinan is going add the horses you’ve been looking for. We’ve got sparks flying, fuel splashing and all kinds of garage mayhem on GearZ.

[@petelemke6365]

I grew up watching this great man on tv and really miss those Saturday mornings. Two guys garage horsepower trucks ya know back in the day when it was spiketv

[@happymonk4206]

Always liked Stacy David, he looks like he's having fun and he knows a lot of stuff about lots of different vehicles.

[@clydebalcom3679]

The potential is nearly endless. I love those little imps. I did get to drive one, and it was more fun than I thought it would be.

[@jasonnichols7067]

I’ve been watching you for years!!! I enjoy the KZbin stuff since we do mostly internet tv. One day I’d love to visit you and your shop.

[@kkeyz69]

Thought this was a great video. But..... I have never, repeat never, seen so many ads!!

[@catsbyondrepair]

@Jay Leno a fake Jay Leno

[@declangohsman9913]

Even just product placement, its like an early 2000's show with all the ads.

[@MFKR696]

It's no worse than when it was on TV. Ads were the reason I stopped watching PowerBlock on SpikeTV. I miss the good old days of TNN (The Nashville Network). It was great while it lasted, but then they went and turned it into the lowest-common-denominator male-dumbass network.

[@joseflindbom7680]

i insta followed undra liked. cuz of intro and what stuff they worekd on. now i have unliked and unfollowed.. fucking repeat everything. and the "fun" unfun jokes and musik... just revivit. dont play funny..

[@kmt01]

Worked on these, and their big brothers, decades ago...great fun seeing this one. Do not miss repairing those tracks, tho.

[@karlsmith2570]

Yeah, I bet those tracks are a real pain in the ass to work on

[@rowdyhoundsman]

I’ve been wanting a snow cat for years. This video made me want one even more ha ha ha.

[@garyheighway7635]

This thing is awesome

[@MLFranklin]

Great project! Whenever I'd go skiing my mind used to race about how I could get one of these things.

[@seansemsar8059]

I have been a big fan of your show cents I was 18 teen years old you are a cool guy

[@Jacksonransom]

Cool build. Hate the cliff hanger for part 2 and test drive. Slip that other track on and send it!

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

It's very similar to one we had about 20 years ago for our Hydrolagy guys . It had a four cylinder Ford Pinto motor.

[@garystanley6672]

Just found this Vid. I drove a brother of the Trackmaster shown at 3:31 and its two sisters in Alaska. We used them year round, in the snow, bogs, and tundra. 15 MPH max Speed, Walked out of the tracks on very sharp turns and easily overheated on numerous occasions.

[@justinmyslive4108]

A Chevrolet pickup 250 inline 6 would make a decent power plant for that snow cat

[@gapratt4955]

Interesting you had an Alvis Stalwart driving into a LARC 15 @1:01. My sister was one of the first women licensed to drive LARC 15 mid 70's. The Lighter, Amphibious Resupply, Cargo, came in 3 sizes, 5, 15 and 60 ton capacity. Fun fact the 5 ton has been snapped up by coastal towns and converted into amphibious firetrucks!

[@Camdg2010]

I LOVE tracked vehicles!! Theres 2 of these about 8 miles from where I live just sitting in the weeds.

[@Shane-Singleton]

Make them yours and bring them back to life!

[@curtism2095]

Yea man, if you're into tracked lawn mowers, you'll have a blast restoring a sno cat

[@makingithappen9722]

It had many rally successes in the SAAB 96 V4.

[@MFKR696]

Just so you know, towing dead weight like that with a torque-converter equipped lift-truck like the CAT you have there is a great way to burn out the transmission. Forklifts with standard 1 forward, 1 rear automatics in them (ie. most of them) are not designed to deal with excessive Static Friction/Stiction. If you had a lift with a manual transmission in it, you might be able to get away with it, but that's the fastest way to kill an automatic forklift transmission. Some of the newer forklifts that come equipped with Continuously Variable Transmissions in them are even worse, though. Avoid those like the plague. The CVT drive system consists of nothing but a rubber belt driven by two variable diameter pullies. It's just like the belt in the timing system of a normal car, except in this case, it's expected to be able to handle all of the power of the engine combined with all the weight of the vehicle and whatever it is you're pulling. Those are some awfully unrealistic expectations, if you ask me lol.

[@Nothingtoya]

Wonder how long until those e3 plugs were swapped out for some champion copper+ plugs?

[@timmorris3056]

Champion is Cheap China CRAP, same with AC, Autolite, etc. Those E-3's will outrun and outlast and outperform the Worthless Pathetic Champion plugs. We run them in everything from tractors to jet skis to snowmobiles, lawnmowers, tow trucks, etc. Always gained mileage and power and most importantly reliability. A- Street Auto 35 years in business.

[@Nothingtoya]

I'm happy you've had good luck with them. Personally the gap is nearly twice what the gap should be for my 4.0, causing a lot of problems with unburnt fuel and no power, my jeep had a hard time doing 65 mph with them, popped back in some cheap Champions with the proper gap, it'll cruise along at 80mph. 4.0 automatic, 3.55 gears, and 33x12.50R15 tires.

[@timmorris3056]

@@Nothingtoya Try an MSD 6AL, better spark, more reliable, works Great with the E3's and the L is a rev limiter so if anyone other than you drives it, they won't blow your engine. You can get them cheap on ebay.

[@MegaDirtyberty]

Well that sucks, half the video was the intro. Too many ads and ad placements.......and the crap music was drowning out what the guy had to say. Edit....and not much was about the snowcat.

[@MFKR696]

AdBlock is your friend. In this day and age, there's no reason or excuse for not using it.

[@richardm1631]

Stacey you have way to much fun i mean way way to much fun

[@fredschwartz5172]

Cool machine. Lots of happy juice on board. But what kind of animal pelt is perched on his head?

[@Shane-Singleton]

I have to admit that I share your love for vintage ATV's. They aren't as plentiful in my area, though. How's the Sure-Trek running these days?

[@chrismcdonald4748]

Best job every. Been watching you for years 🤟🏻

[@tinatpasselepoivre]

If you have real good drill what you can do, after breaking the engine loose is to 1) drain the oil 2) replace with diesel 3) make the engine spin with the drill (be creative!) without spark plugs obviously real slow for a bit (15-20 min) 4) drain 5) pour 1/2 diesel 1/2 cheap ass oil 6) repeat but faster 7) drain 8) replace with cheap ass oil 9) fix the cooling and start the puppy up and let iddle for 30 min 10) drain 11) fill with quality oil You may replace seals as need be Did this in france with a few 2Cv engines, works like a dream

[@TheShockLoad]

That style electric pump is known for sticking and not pumping. You can remove the fittings and manually unstick the plunger with kroil and a small screw driver. Bam back in business.

[@rayjones463]

my trick was a gallon of break fluid dump a qaurt or so right down the carb and then fill up every cylender and leave set for a week or so and then go out and roll it over

[@alansmlth7989]

I love Snow Cats ,WHY? I have no idea, but i think they are really Cool and i`m very Interested in them, and then i run across this video. Thanks.

[@bmcc12]

This thing is in better condition overall than my daily driver!

[@davekauffman8727]

I love the music you put with your videos Stacey, and tackling unusual machinery is one of my joys in life. Love the Aspen wagon with the hemi, but when I can get a project going, I'll try a snowcat like this. Interesting that this has a German Ford engine, I didn't know that Ford had a factory in Germany.

[@MFKR696]

Good luck to you if you ever feel the need to stop immediately on that Hoss Fly lol. Sounds like a good way to introduce your teeth to their new friend, the pavement. lol

[@brandonrodgers2479]

Stacey is always the happiest mechanic I have ever seen. Between him and Jessi (rip)

[@dandahermitseals5582]

You would be happy too if you were turned loose with a bottomless budget and no limits on category with the greatest shop facilities conceivable. Dandahermit

[@dandahermitseals5582]

I followed this project for some time and they just left us hanging.

[@JustInCases72]

wow I didn't know you was still working on well anything I used to watch trucks then you move to gearz. . Well my grandson like to work on anything he is 13 and he been helping me for years he is working on a 1999 ford ranger I just showed him Stacey David and Gearz now he is watching too

[@ronaldharris6569]

Argos are selling in Louisiana and I bet this show had something to do with it. I had forgotten about those banana buggies until I saw the episodes where he ripped it up on one

[@BigHeartedMan65]

I have a friend who totally rebuilt one of these . BUT he is having trouble with LEAKS on the Rear end steering pins . He has looked and looked for the seals that belong there but in a year he has not had any luck . He has tried everything to fix them , but they still leak . HELP !

[@MrBilldo426]

I’ve got a 2008 Chevy Aveo that I’m wanting to do an engine swap on to create a sleeper. Want something with tuning potential but also not too crazy for a novice mechanic. Any suggestions?

[@ImTheJoker4u]

Turn it into a “Shogun”. Stab the drivetrain from a SHO Taurus in the back and really mess with everyone.

[@melshingleton7865]

Worked at the plant, built those things for years.

[@ronaldhiler7449]

Back in 72 and 73 I was stationed at Thlokol @ clearfield Utah. Is this the same company?

[@johnyoung2544]

yep Thiklo (Mortan Thikol ie space rockets) became DMC (John Deloran ) became LMC (emploee owned Logan Mfg. Corp.) now oned by a Japanese corp.

[@hellyeah2299]

It wouldn't be a show with Stacey David without a fake laugh at a completely mundane comment

[@scottc4433]

Stacy is the chuck Norris of mechanics

[@mikenewmanhayes2010]

Cool a good performance ford/saab eng car motor

[@teamidris]

That V4 transformed the ford van because it gave it a very short front. Great for tight deliveries in small towns. They say it killed the U.K. nationalised truck industry.

[@fernandochavez4312]

Great show, great project!

[@michaelrodrigues5713]

Remember Scatman Crothers in ' The Shining' ?

[@johnyoung2544]

same company that was a 1959 Sprite

[@rjd72577]

where / how do we send pix and story for "what are you working on" ?

[@RonSales]

WOULD BE MY ULTIMATE FIND AND BUILD AROUND HERE I'M PRETTY SURE I WOULD GET MORE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN HELPING ME OUT WITH A BUILD LIKE THAT.

[@angrytrucker3628]

Holy crap Stacey I been wondering where you got to. Haven't seen you since Trucks

[@Pits750]

4:50 is where all the intro finishes

[@roberthoovan4130]

Is there a part two

[@JuanMartinez-vv1sy]

What kind of off road vehicle was that in 1:49

[@cliffcampbell8827]

If the piston rings are rusted, shouldn't everything be pulled (pistons, con rods, crankshaft, everything) to see the extent of the rust damage? Oh and to clean out the oil journals, replace the bearings, seals, rings/hone the cylinders or at least bottle brush them and check for defects.

[@CardboardSliver]

So O'Reilly's has parts for a Snocat, but can't even find me a fuel pressure sensor for a 12 year old Saab.

[@TheSoloAsylum]

Your Saab should have been in the scrap yard 11 years ago.

[@CardboardSliver]

@@TheSoloAsylum Coming from the hick who crushed a microwave with a bulldozer. Okie dokie

[@TheSoloAsylum]

You should know, that dozer is still in use and it's a 1986. Your Saab was junk two weeks off the production line. Maybe you'll be a real hick like me and be able to afford a bulldozer one day. Doubtful.

[@CardboardSliver]

@@TheSoloAsylum why the hell would I want a bulldozer? To tell the world I have an inferiority complex? Besides, my car runs better than my 2018 Chevy, that's been in and out of the shops 5 times since new. American cars are, and have always been junk.

[@TheSoloAsylum]

You're kind of fucking stupid huh? What happened, did you spill your soy milk? Mommy will get you a new one...

[@cliftonsnider1520]

Are you ever going to finish the damn Imp? In this lifetime?

[@danhoy8356]

From a machinist background, I would have a difficult time using a file in a reciprocal motion. Files cut one way and dull the other

[@gpowerdragon9852]

a plastic Red Boat fuel tank can work

[@markamcampbell5795]

you got one of those fuel filters that like to burn things down.

[@999torino]

Yea, I have had them leak. Wouldn't use them anymore.

[@tomc8157]

Where do people find these 'Abandoned" things? I can't even find an abandoned piece of scrap metal.

[@chloehennessey6813]

I think I just grew a mullet.

[@raincoast2396]

To bad this is ONE BIG INFOMERCIAL.

[@dilliongebauer913]

DillionGebauer

[@boxedfender4810]

V4 was in some Volvo's and or Saabs can't remember which

[@mr.jenkinsthebigshit7229]

Saab , 95, 96, and Sonet I've never seen one in a Volvo

[@catsbyondrepair]

Volvo sucks

[@boxedfender4810]

@@catsbyondrepair you've never been in a Volvo. They are pretty boring cars but Volvo is responsible for many automotive advancements and they run FOREVER without Volvo cars wouldn't be what they are today.

[@catsbyondrepair]

@@boxedfender4810 I had a Volvo bought it new worst piece of shit I've ever had.

[@dilliongebauer913]

Who do I get a snow to start

[@stevedoggart2805]

It's not exactly Wheeler Dealers

[@gary3696]

You forgot the other track.

[@DaOneJoel]

Nice ad

[@ken3700]

Try pressure washing all the grease and crap off the machine before you start!

[@ImTheJoker4u]

I seem to remember Stacy leaving Trucks! because it had pretty much turned into an infomercial...... I remember ditching cable years ago for the same reason. Too much hawking, not enough content, and “seasons” are now like 6 episodes. F all that.

[@Spdy-zd9us]

idk what everyone is bitching about? good mechanic. great video!! subbed.

[@jdinnis]

What's with the funky camera moves? Hold still for Pete's sake! You're making me sick. With all that.

[@TheSoloAsylum]

SnowCat from 3:00 to 16:00, with 47 product ads in between.

[@johnswick4593]

Just one big happy COMMERCIAL

[@jamesscott1932]

Cletus McFarland makes this channel stand still.

[@kyledaytona]

Very sad to see you using those glass filters, those are world famous for starting engine fires and really shouldn’t be used on anything at all. 100% not safe

[@tucobenedictopacificojuanm5570]

I'm not sure what I just watched... was this just an infomercial? One thing I did notice, was that they used Kano Aero Kriol, arguably the best penetrating oil made, to free up the stuck rings, but deliberately hid the name on the can. I guess they weren't getting any money from them, but they used it anyway because they knew it would work. Lame.

[@TheShockLoad]

Once you spend the money and try kroil you will be hooked for life.

[@ImTheJoker4u]

It performs no better than Liquid Wrench, but costs way more. The “Project Farm” channel has a penetrating oil showdown where they go head to head.

[@themikeshow]

I thought this would be about a Snowcat, but no, it is about starting a Ford V4 engine. And when he finally gets it running they play music over the sound of the engine. Some Snowcat history but not anything about this Snowcat. Thumbsdown.

[@donaldhofman296]

Hay you have to start somewhere!

[@robertclark4509]

A lot of ads ? anyways I wanna see the snowcat...... where is it work on it.......lets go

[@ROTAXD]

Revving ? Clickbait. This is just like the old "Trucks" show used to be. 9 minutes of content & 20 min of ads. Smh

[@TKettle]

Most of these old auto shows don't hold up to today's expectations. It's sad because I remember loving this show when I was a kid. Looking at it now though, it seems like it was just for the average suburban dad who thinks he's a mechanic, but couldn't diagnose a lawnmower with a bad spark plug.

[@howardthomson5642]

Lots of snarks commenting about this show. It’s pretty well done though, moves fast, and some of those “annoying” ads are useful to me, maybe not for a full-time mechanic though. But why does a full-time mechanic need this man’s guidance anyway? I’m an owner, it helps. I bring his new ideas and products to my mechanic. I don’t get the trade magazines or hang with other wrenchers. Good job David....

[@kingbee5155]

You think that guy can quit moving the camera around so much?

[@benzahm8220]

Way to many commercials. I didn't learn a thing. Rebuild a carb... Boom. Carb done. Not too entertaining or educational.

[@captbrody5036]

This would be a good show if they didn't spend so much air time selling stuff in addition to the regular commercials. The show ends up skipping over way to much of the project that people would want to see.

[@tommygoossen4691]

All adds

[@timmorris3056]

Fire your camera man, he's drinking on the job..... we're all seasick trying to watch your show....

[@jackmajor7865]

More ads than content. I want to see the work being done.

[@Mrdoctile]

50% of this is just a commercial... He gets it to start and that's all..... SKIP IT!

[@fhuckyew8583]

love this show but i think its time to get rid of that gene simmons haircut

[@richardd408]

There is so much better stuff on KZbin in 2019 than watching this montage of lameness. [insert fake laugh here]

[@Ch1ngCh4ng]

Content creators on KZbin are what killed powerblock. I give no fucks for e3 plugs or fake laughs. I wanna see a build not an ad with occasional wrench turning

[@d.wendalattig5116]

Animated Video Bumpers are way too long. Use one or the other, but not both Pleeeease!!

[@nuttynut54]

This show went to shits.. was good when he was on spike. B

[@shawnsleigher470]

too many ads and fluff just like on tv. just work on the project and quit with the 50% ad time

[@hellbillypete.7898]

Is that a helmet or a haircut..

[@phil4193]

The camera work gives me a headache. Is the camera operator dancing, or drunk, or maybe both?

[@c22narf]

DAMN! Ease off of those awful transition noises! I couldn't get past the 5 minute mark.

[@bozo5082]

i see rgat your show is advertizing and not too much actuall wrenching.

[@Bikerbob59]

Bad hair piece.

[@blackswan7292]

Its like a dead squirrel.

[@andrewrobotbuilder]

Saw more product placement and useless title intros than actual snowcat. Don’t think I’ll come back anytime soon.

[@slrn832472577]

These Gears shows = click bait.

[@scottcardwell3520]

Turn that music off.....fuck.

[@thnksno]

This is gayer than TFL.

[@Akhazmat907]

Are you wearing a hair net? That's why your hair looks so weird .

[@davfin8920]

Why do they keep throwing papers up and shit when they act