C found in a fence row

I've owned several old Farmall's over the years, but this is the first 'fencerow special" I have bought. I blundred onto this queen last week and for a reasonable sum, I bought it. The story goes that it was running 3 years ago, when the starter went out and it hasn't ran since. Given that former owner is 80 years old, I have no reason not to believe that is so.

I found everything I didn't want to.....but expected to find. Gas tank half full of rotten gas and some water, the crankcase had about 6 ounces of water in it...under the oil and when the spark plugs were removed, they were rusty.....I think the water in the crankcase had gone down the exhaust and seeped past the rings. Oh of course there was a tin can over the exhaust.....but it also had a very small hole rusted through!

The carburetor was rusted shut when I got it off...so now it sits soaking prior to rebuilding. In the meantime, I took the carb off my SC which is waiting for the head to come home and I mounted that carburetor on the C. The points were corroded, and so I cleaned them a bit and installed 4 fresh plugs. I also installed the starter off my SC and finally was ready to see if it'd start. I cranked and found there is no spark. I then bypassed the ignition switch (hot wired it direct to the coil) and still no go. I have had enough for one day.....but I have got say my hat is off to those you that relish in resurrecting the dead....hehe! A fresh set of points/condenser and a different coil will probably fix the fire issues.....but I thought if it was running when it was parked.....there was a chance it might start. I once witnessed an old Plymouth start up after sitting outside for over 30 years. The gas tank was drained, new poured in, a shot down the carb and a hot battery is all it took. After pumpimg up the tires, they drove it away! Of course, I'm never that lucky.

So, does anybody have any suggestions before I try again to get this clunker started?

You may find the piston rings frozen in their grooves and the valve seats may be in bad rusted condition.

Exhaust covered???? Or left open????? If left opened that is a rebuild the engine only fix. I bet if you pull the valve cover you will have valves stuck open and closed again rusty plugs tell a very very bad story. Ya you might luck out with an ATF treatment but if you have water in any of the cylinders then that will not do much if any thing for it and that goes back to the first line and a total engine rebuild is going to be the only way to get it running

The fact that the engine was not stuck was a plus. Do verify that you have a spark. I suspect that it will run once you establish a spark. Do not hesitate to use starter fluid. For some reason, these engines do not like to start after long time setting up. Do verify that the valves are not stuck. A lot going on including new to unit carb as well as ignition problems. If there was water in the gas tank you will probably have to reline the inside. Make sure the fuel line is not clogged.

I found a C that was in a flood, where the water was over the exhaust. This was in November up in North Idaho, then the water receded, and it froze for the winter. The tractor was sitting about 3 years before I bought it. It had fenders, front cultivators and a homemade 3 point hitch. I never did get that one going. I ended up parting it out. The engine block was cracked across the top of the pistons, and behind the carb. The piston rings were really rusted to the side of the sleeves, but since the block was junk, I never did try too hard to free it up. I sold the cultivators, 3 point, and the fenders separate, and I rebuilt the narrow front and put it on another C in place of the trike front that was on there.

Not sure what the point is to this story, but I'll bet ya'll enjoyed reading it, and I'll bet you are expecting a moral ending, but you won't get one.

If the wter in the crankcase did indeed run down from the exhaust, you need to run a compression check. The only route it would have to the bottom would be through an open exhaust valve, so the stuck valves the others have mentioned are a real possibility. Any ting stuck in the head will show rightup in a compression check. If you find that, you'l need the hed off for work, and then would be the time to chek out the contdition of the rings and walss of the sleevesto evlauate what they might need. No more water than you found, they might be alright.
sounds like a good project.

Holler for help if you need it, but let us know how it's goin' in any event.