OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Unusual Customisation Projects Engine hiding

Hi everyone! I was wondering if there are any modern mower engines that would fit under a early 60s 125 CC cowl? or even under other types of old cowls. I have been working on a rat rod style mower and i would like to put a more powerful engine under the 125CC engine cowl, but i didn't know what would match. Thanks for reading!

G'day Kye if it's more pep your after have you considered rebuilding a 125? They used to hot them up and race them in go carts and mini bikes. From my understanding you could always swap the barrel and piston for a 160 full crank but I'm sure.

Kye, if it is a toecutter model cowl, swapping barrel and piston is not an option, base barrel bolts are wider and then you have the spark plug angle to fit inside the cowlAs far as I know that was a bit unique to the 125s with removable ports. Could be wrong

I love projects like this, off the question but is this a riding mower or push mower? Sounds awesome and I would would love to see pics. Post a build thread on it of you could be bothered.

But anyway, relating to the question. I'd rebuild the 125 or get a period engine which is larger. As slashnburn said, I've heard of people running modded ones in go karts, minibike and such, so surely that would be adequate power for a mower. You could maybe chuck a vintage Briggs cowl on a more modern Briggs engine and call it a day? I've had a look under under the plastic of my 725 corvette, looks an awful lot like every other Small Briggs cowl under there, could be wrong.

thanks slashnburn, norm and victa pro for the info. yes slash i am planning on rebuilding it if it is my only option. Norm it is the cowl used on the Utilities and some sheerlines during the 60s. It is a push mower victa pro, i would like to keep this original cowl as the patina is great! I will post a thread about it soon, i have a a lot more to do, clean the tank, change the pull start, get a carby set up and much more!

Kye if she's a 60's unit then surely the first step would be a full crank 160. Beyond that it looks to me like a die grinder and some port polishing. Maybe an expansion chamber exhaust if you can make fabricate one. Perhaps shaving the head. Poke around on the net I haven't had much luck on anything specific on hotting them up.

yes i am planning on trying some modifying once me and my dad get some time, i might just modify the exhaust so it sounds louder then usual. Performance will come second behind looks though! i will probably put some brass or copper pipe from the fuel [Censored] down to the carby instead of the plastic. I will get a pic of it next time it is sunny, here is a pick of it so far, so far i have changed the original 1967 (i think) engine (was seized badly) with an earlier Utility engine i bought for $12 at a swap meet, changed all axels and wheels, took of the pull start, put on new air filter and air hose and put a screw into a hole on the handle bars for a pull start to be wrapped around, so despite not looking like much a fair bit has been done.
It looks much better in real life!

Kye, that copper fuel line's s a cracker of an idea I might do that myself sometime it'll look a treat all polished up. Having a project with your dad is an investment in time. So much to learn about what works and what doesn't how to do things and how not to do things. My young bloke is 5 and already loves loitering in my garage and finding treasure.
Anyway back to that toe cuter, she'll be a ball tearer mate. You can refine many skills from welding to mechanical and fault finding. Best of luck mate and keep us posted.

Kye, pity you are not a bit closer to Melb, I have a couple of those bases in the scrap bin with no holes in them

thanks slash, my brothers 8 and he hates working on my mowers, until there fired up and running . Its all good norm! I have a few bases and the holes in the base add to the rat rod affect! if even thinking about putting an exhaust i found in a scrap pile on a farm out west into it that has super bad weld marks, moss growing on it and has rusted through!

Looks awesome, inspiring me on what to do with my rover regal barn find. I love it.

I'd clear coat the deck to protect it and ensure the rust does not continue getting worse. I believe you can buy rust stopper or something like that.

i would victa pro, but i'm scared it will kill of moss starting to grow on it