Joe, Nice pictures of the challenger. I new Mike Popp had that tractor for sale for a few years and I saw it at the swap meet a few years ago. I had called Mike about a week later and had intended on buying it, but he informed me that it was sold. After reading the story on the tractor I am very glad to see that it wnt back to the family it came from. My great grandparents also had a challenger, But it was traded in on a 44 in 1953. I cant help you much with your tractor questions, But I put a new shifter boot for a M-H 44 on my challenger and it fit perfectly. Good Luck, Todd