Miracle Find

sweep · Nov 17, 2009

I have spent over 20 years trying to locate my uncles old 1968 Ford 4000 which I had spent many summers on back in the 1970's. Found it this past summer in another state through a fluke and told the current owner I would like to buy it if he wished to sell it. Maybe one day he will sell it.

Back in the late 80's he took the tractor to the local Ford/New Holland dealer dealer for an engine rebuild and the dealer said "well I have a brand new diesel long block engine that will not be that much more". In a nutshell the gas engine was taken out and the diesel put in.

To be honest I was disappointed as I figured if I ever purchased the tractor it would be a pain to find a complete, correct gas engine along with all the trimmings (distr/timing cover,manifolds etc).

I went to see the dealer who did the transplant (who happens to be the dealer I bought my TC45A from) and asked if he had any parts cores/distributor that I could buy to start collecting up and told him the situation with the tractor. I figured the original engine was long gone. He said "Oh that is M... P.... tractor, I still have the engine back in the storage building but it's stacked away-give me a few weeks to dig it out" . I just about fell over.

After 2-3 more visits and 3 month later and trying not the bug the dealer to let me get the engine, I just picked it up today. I am tickled to death. The unit # on the block is 8C15B which corresponds with the tractor. The engine is 100% complete, it even has the flywheel.

Not sure why the engine was heading for a rebuild but the antifreeze still left in the engine is green and the oil is still dark brown-not milky white. I figure that MP was originally going to rebuild tells me the block was not trashed.

Now, to buy the tractor.

dave1949 · Nov 17, 2009

That's pretty amazing! Thank goodness for slooooow dealers

Dave.

jinman · Nov 18, 2009

Congratulations on your persistence and payoff! With all the effort you've put into this, I hope the tractor's owner will relent and sell the tractor back to you. Hopefully you will be able to create a family heirloom.

sweep · Nov 18, 2009

dave1949 said:
That's pretty amazing! Thank goodness for slooooow dealers
Dave.

The dealership has been around for along time. It was an Oliver dealer back in the 50's and 60's and then White up until the early 80's. The building is like walking back in time. It has the old style bank of 20-30 pane window's (with single pane glass!!). I would love to go through the back parts room, upstairs storage areas etc. Not sure when it became a Ford dealer but I'm thinking the early 70's.

The storage barn where the engine was located was full of old Oliver fenders, engines, wheels etc.

Bird · Nov 18, 2009

If you tell the owner of the tractor about having bought the old engine, he might decide if you want the tractor that bad, that he'd be willing to sell it to you. Because of the sentimental value to you, he might even give you a bargain price. Of course, on the other hand, if he figures you want it that bad, the price might go up instead.

Makes me wonder whether it would be to your advantage to tell him you have the engine or not.

Soundguy · Nov 19, 2009

sure.. tell him.. at this point.. it sounds like he's in a 'no sale' mode anyway.. what could it hurt.

he'll probably need a replacement tractor.. so the $$ will have to be enough to at least buy him a similar setup as a replacement.

soundguy

lhfarm · Nov 20, 2009

Soundguy said:
sure.. tell him.. at this point.. it sounds like he's in a 'no sale' mode anyway.. what could it hurt.

he'll probably need a replacement tractor.. so the $$ will have to be enough to at least buy him a similar setup as a replacement.

soundguy

Maybe he would trade? My guess is the tractor is perfect for him and it is there. If he sells it to you, then he has to go through the hassle of finding another tractor. But if you could find a 4000 with a diesel, maybe he would be willing to swap.

Just a thought.

sweep · Nov 20, 2009

lhfarm said:
Maybe he would trade? My guess is the tractor is perfect for him and it is there. If he sells it to you, then he has to go through the hassle of finding another tractor. But if you could find a 4000 with a diesel, maybe he would be willing to swap.
.

IHFarm. I know this is the exact case. He uses the tractor to push snow and he told me it works great. At this point I think my only option is just to offer a significant amount of money more than the retail price of the tractor.

Soundguy · Nov 20, 2009

perhaps offer money, and hand him a list of mahcines that fit his needs and are for sale inthe area?

soundguy

sweep · Nov 20, 2009

Soundguy

Your restored 3000 looked great(saw a pic of it on the yt site) . Can you post some more pics on this site?
I've noticed the 1960's/1970's 1000 series tractors are starting to take off in popularity and more people are starting to restore them. Some think these are too modern and should not be in shows but I'm middle aged (47) and I think of these tractors as being "old". I guess you like what you grew up with.

Tractor magazine out of the UK has been doing some great articles on the Ford's of the 60's and 70's.