Re: 1964 & earlier Ford 4000 & 800 series - What factory options were available?
When i said 55-64 machines can be fitted I meant that they are all using hte same red tiger block, so therefore with the correct brackets.. they will all bolt up. for instance.. you could strip ps off a 1964 4000 and put it on a 1955 640 if you grabbed the pump, top hose connector, brackets and pulley, cyls etc..
There are external cyls. one on each side for ag chassis, and one on right side for rowcrop.
there are aftermarket kits available in the 1000-1200$ range as well.
Prior models better than later models? That's not a straight yes / no answer. There are pro/cons each way. 1, 65-75 models are just plain newer, Both have good parts support and many parts are common across the line 55-75. When it comes to SOS.. later is better.. IE.. DDC machines vs ORC machines.
As to hydraulics.. go even a bit newer, get into the X600 series and get (ve kept up with back in 53 when there was an optional kit to add a spin on hyd filter. ( GASP! ) external hydraulic filters.
something they should have kept up with since 55 or so when adding a spin on hyd filter was an optional add on.
The red tiger 4 cyl engine was a GOOD robust gas engine, it was made to be a diesel in late 58, The 3 cyl engine makes a very good diesel that makes a good gasser too. If i wanted a diesel tractor.. I'd get a 65+ vs a 58-64 If I wanted a gas tractor.. I'd look at the prior models. The 65+ used a holley carb that while miserly on fuel.. is cantankerous on rebuild with respect to exact right kit which can vary based on machine and carb.. and to a mechanical fuel pump ford hid in a less than stellar spot. add that to where they hid the dizzy cap and the access to the spark plugs.. making, for me, the 3 cyl gassers much less desireable than a 4 cyl gasser.
65 got you into some better trans designs. the twin stick 8spd trans is a good deal.. and ford ran with it.. used it up even on larger tractors like 5000 and heck.. even my 7610S NH tractor has a later iteration of that same crashbox 8spd twin stick.
if i had a 3000 that just needed freshening to be work-able.. that would be cheaper than gettin a whole new unit.. unless you just want a 801/4000 to play with.. which is fine too. your early 3 cyl gasser will be the old screw in core plug type.
Here's what the rowcrop power steering looks like. the valve and cyl are 1 piece on the steering draglink. steering box has no ps block on it. an ag model has a different steering box to accomodate a ps valve block..
this is a 941D i'm working on.. in the background you can see a 950 and a 4000
http://photos.yesterdaystractors.com/gallery/uptest/a157116.jpg
here are pics of one of my 850's with a loader. it's ahrd to make out.. but under the draglinks on each side you can just see the chrome piston rods of the small ps cylinders.. there is a knot on the draglink rods where they mount up.
http://photos.yesterdaystractors.com/gallery/uptest/a32424.jpg
http://photos.yesterdaystractors.com/gallery/uptest/a137290.jpg
Appreciate all the info Soundguy, you certainly know your machines! :thumbsup: I had looked into a 'power assist' add-on kit for a previous '66 Ford 3000 I had, but everyone I talked to said it was rather weak and not really adequate for use with a front loader. So I sold the tractor and bought a '65 3000 with factory power steering. Is that 'kit' what you're talking about when you say they can be 'fitted' with power steering?
When I look at pre-'65 801s and 4000s on Craigslist I don't see any hydraulic cylinders on the steering linkage... did they have a different type of factory power steering system such as a hydraulic unit inside the steering column itself or ???
I really like the pre-'65 4000s and 801 series, I think they are better tractors than the '65+ 3-cyl. 3000s. Am I wrong in thinking this? Should I just be happy with my '65 3000 which has all the options I want but seems a bit light and down on horsepower, and needs some work to get it 100%?
