GUY FAY I need to pick your brain

This tractor has a custom made high crop wide front end and an exta frame starting at the front of the tractor extending back under the rear axel and 4' beyond the rear axel. The rear wheels have been moved to the rear of this frame and are powered by an exposed chain drive from the orginial axels. An inspection of parts where the sun has never shined conferms that the orginal color is John Deere Yellow, which must have been the Chisholm-Ryder company color.

Questions:

Would the modifications to this tractor have been made by IHC for the Chisholm-Ryder Co., or were they made by the CR company after delivery from IHC?

Were tractors ever shipped unpainted? I am sure that painting a tractor John Deere Yellow would have put IHC's shorts in a twist.

Do you have any way to know what size rear tires would have been standard? The tractor did not have rear tires when I got it. I was told that 15.5x38's were what was on it. I put 15.5x38's on it to get it home but they look to small for this set up as the tractor sits noticablly nose up.

Any help or information you can give me will be appreciated.

THANKS

The part that pleasently surprised me was the tractors increased ability to pull especially in soft ground. Completely different tractor, in my opinion.

2. Some skid units were shipped painted red, some in primer, some in whatever paint the customer wanted- IH had no problem painting them any color the customer wanted.

3. No idea on the tires.

http://www.mcconnellmarctractors.com/about.htm

No plans for it yet but I am guessing it will just be a parade tractor and a conversion piece.