By Ryan Blain, Contributing Writer
In August of 1974 my dad (Jim Blain) then 21 purchased his first brand new snowmobile, a 1974 Polaris TX 440. from Lockwood Marina in Lake, MI. He nicknamed it Wheezy after the sales lady who sold him his first sled. I am thankful that my dad who does not throw anything away, and I do mean anything, still has the original sales receipt and canceled check from the purchase.
Wheezy was rode from 74’ to 92’ before my brother (Jimmy Blain) blew up the engine in 1992 the year I graduated high school and joined the Army. Wheezy had a long pause in her snowmobiling life after that and sat under tarp in the barn till 2016.
After retiring from the Army in 2014 I now had some new found time on my hands which re-sparked my dad and I’s coming love and intrest for Vintage Snowmobiles and vintage racing!
Now with the invention of the internet and Snowmobile Facebook groups we where able to find a brand new never ran 440 engine in Canada for $500. This was going to be a cheaper option than sending both cylinders off to be re-chromed.
As mentioned in a previous edition My dad (Jim Blain) worked at Magnus Tractor sales in Clare, Mi. as a Mechanic working on everything from small engines to mid and large size tractors, from 1978 to 2000 His real passion however was “Snowmobiles” and Magnus’s as you may have guessed was also a Polaris Snowmobile dealer. Thats why he was originally hired, they where in need of a Certified Polaris Snowmobile technician. He attended factory tech school in Roseau, MN. In Oct. of 1979 class of 1980.
My dads Snowmobile maintenance and repair experience form years of working at Magnus’s would soon come into play. After the engine arrived safely from Canada we dusted off the ol’ girl and got to work stripping her all down for a new fresh coat of paint, (paint code # PPG14587) My Uncle who has painted cars for years gave us some helpful tips and we purchased the supplies and paint and gave it a go! Paint job didn’t turn out half bad if I don’t say so myself! I then got to spend some quality Sholder to Sholder time in the garage my assisting my Dad as he worked his machanical Magic! dropping in new OEM pistons and rings from another fella in Canada. Head gasket, base gaskets etc a new exhast manfold and a 2 piece chrome bumper from somegood friends Tom & Linda Doberstine of Blanchard Mi.
It was really exciting to see it all strarting to take shape and comeing back to life again like I remembered when I was a kid growing up. The nice thing was that most of the rest of the sled was in really good conditions still, so we did not have to hunt down a lot of extras, The seat is even all original minus my mom (Pam) dieing the seat belt black again as it had faded a bit over the years. My Mom who also has an eye for detail put the new pin striping down the side of the tunnel as you can see in the photo. (photo of Mom pin striping the tunnel) & (mores restoration photos)
I have to tell you it brought tears to my eyes to hear Whezzy fire back up again for the first time after 24years! Alot of memories as a kid and new memories that were made spending time as an adult with my dad in the garage together bringing a timeless family treasure back to life. My Dad says its like having a brand new sled again, Just like it was when he first bought it back in 1974!
For those that may be wondering “yes” my dad as I mentioned earlier does not throw anything away does still have the original engine, with the damaged cylinders. We may have to consider restoring it one day? It would be a really nice addition to have the original engine all restored and polished up and display along side Whezzy when we take her around for shows and rides. •