way back when, before I could legally drive I did something like this
I used a 12 hp industrial vertical shaft engine, I put a briggs 14.5 hp rod in it, they are a lot stonger and the same size, I took an 11 hp carb and removed the venturi to bore it about 1/8" that gave it awesome throttle response, put an 11hp head on the 12 hp to raise the compression, and get ahold of a racing go cart flywheel key to advance the timing
make the front axle so it doesn't pivot, also when you are doing that. lean the top of the axle back this will give the front wheels some caster and the tractor will go much more straight and be more manageable, use good ball joints on the end of your tie rod and align the front wheels
move anything heavy as low as you can keeping things low keeps them stable
the tractor I put together way back when used a cub 1320 frame (really stiff), I used a murray 5 speed rearend, massey harris fenders and a sears front axle nothing stood more than 28" tall from the ground, I have no idea how fast it went, but in town I frequently caught up to cars when I wan't even pushing it, and a kid followed me going 40 mph in 4th gear once, so it could move, and I basically had a stock long block
I am not engouraging you, I crashed once and it was bad, and I had many close calls, wear a helmet when you drive it and don't go faster than you are comfortable with