MTFCA Forum

Has anyone seen one of these Livingood 4x4 conversions for sale?
Would love to buy one, but I suspect they are rare and stupid expensive.

His grandson had reproduced some of them a few decades? ago. Seems like I remember him being in western lower Michigan. White Cloud/Hart/New Era?

I remember seeing one in the San Diego area about 25 years ago. One of our club members had it on his car. However, I don't remember whose car it was.
Norm

You could probably more easily build one than find one. Outer ends of an old Jeep axle could be grafted to a T rear axle. Some kind of divorced transfer case could be used, maybe an old Jeep. You might need to split the wishbone to handle the drive/braking stress. Roxor?

If you build one, make it even more of a challenge and make it out of a ruckstell. I want to see the double handed shifting on that one.

The Livingood 4 wheel drive unit was being built in Grayville PA by his son Jesse Jr Livingood.
I visited him and did an article on the 4 wheel drive unit and got to drive Jesse's speedster equipped with the 4 wheel drive.
The article is in Volume 33 No 5 from 1998.
His address then was PO box 125 Grayville PA 15337 and phone No 412 428 3618. That was over 23 years ago don't know what the situation would be today.

I know a couple of guys who have one installed on their cars....neither would consider parting with them.

I drove that one pictured a couple hundred feet to the street and back. Got out and told the seller that there was something really seriously wrong with it. He fluffed me off, got in and proceeded to get it stuck in his yard. My elderly father and I pushed him back onto solid ground and both walked away soaking wet.
Perhaps I just drove a lemon, but that took care of my desire for one, forever.

And by the way, that pretty body is white pine assembled with drywall screws. It’s a hundred footer, for sure!

This has probably been posted before, but it is a good video showing one in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmHoUKq0sC8

After that video I’m convinced I drove a very poor example. It would not have handled 2” of snow.

The speedster Livingood I drove was nice, I would think if one did not know it was 4 wheel drive you wouldn't have known it.
I drove it through 2"deep snow on grass up and down a fair slope no problem. These pictures were in my files of one being put together for those interested.

I have a livingood 4x4 kit I’m putting in a 23 roadster/jitney. I don’t really care how well it works just so cool tho. I’m in Edmonton Alberta

I'm very curious, is the transfer case belt driven? And is it full time four wheel, or can you disengage it? Thanks

There used to be one at Mount Pleasant on display at the Old Threshers Reunion.

Thanks Herb, I should inspect one first hand, seeing is believing.

John, Depending which series Livingood 4 wheel unit it is depends on whether 2 wheel drive can be selected.
The transfer case is chain driven. The later version which had a Warford box installed behind the motor is constant 4 wheel drive.

One sold on the Forum in 2019 viewtopic.php?t=4257 --
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A bit of history https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/129-0 ... dster-4wd/ --
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Gotta see this YouTube video of one driving in snow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmHoUKq0sC8

The reshaped front spring looks problematic to me. Ford steering might be a handful with 4X4 engaged.

Are there any good pictures of the steering set up?

The patents are out there if you want to get a feel for what Jessie Sr did. The steering is same as he T it in terms of connections/tie rod. He used all model to parts. There are original advertisement out there as well. As someone said the transfer cases are chain driven with simple engagement. Like anything else if it is set up as intended it works fine. If you have something not right you have to fight a second driveline. Trying to compare it to a modern 4x4 is tough at a functional level just like trying to comparison a T engine to a modern 4cylinder. They are very cool with a very neat history and a hard to come by. He used to make them but unless the 3rd generation picks it up there won’t be anymore made.

I would think that there would be a market for the original conversations if someone took it up again. I certainly would want to have one

I'd love to have one under a late roadster pickup.

More Pictures --
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still checking out on the internet
724-428-3618
Jesse R Livingood Graysville, age 82, male
104 Stringtown Rd, Graysville, PA 15337

Research shows he died on November 11, 2023. The obituary says he built a total of 4 of these conversions. He was a very skilled machinist that worked on coal mine equipment for many years. Someone might want to contact the family and see if his drawings still exist for the 4 wheel-drive conversion, and if they would permit them to be used.

If you want to see one, there is a complete and intact example, installed on a Model T, at the Rolling Through Time Auto Museum, in Tucson, Arizona

The new and improved C.L.S. 4 X 4 conversion is in the making and will start in the winter. Stay tuned for photos and specs!

Will definitely stay tuned.

Henry, I'm definatly interested ... staying tuned ...