As I have posted in previous threads I have a 1966 Ford 4000 that I am in the process of sprucing up. One of the problems I have ran into is the original nose cone at some point was damaged to where the compound curves where the lower grill sits have been bent, and the entire unit has been warped slightly to the right. As such, the hood doesn't sit plumb, and the lower grill doesn't fit into the lower half of the nose cone. With this being a 1966 unit, it has the nose cone with the two-piece metal grill, and also has the hood with the louvers down the side. I have not had a lot of luck finding a good replacement nose cone; I did find one fairly good one at T&H Salvage in Pavo, GA (at 2 hours away the closest salvage yard to me), but it will still need some work, and they are asking $200 for it. The fear I have is I will pay this, get it home, and find it too has a warp or some other problem I can't see until I mount it on the tractor. Here is Option B that I wanted to run by the group: for $67 more I can get a new later 4000 nose cone (post 4/68), the type that uses the two-piece plastic grills, that is new and already primed, etc. of course I would have to get a new hood as well to match, but this would be another $130 or so,and again these would be new and already primed. Has anybody else just thrown their hands up and went with the later, more plentiful parts, and how big of a "sin" is it to do so? I like the look of the original 1966 grill and hood, but I don't really have the talent or money to have a lot of body work done, and I hate to throw money at salvage parts that might not work after I get them home. Advice, encouragement, etc. is greatly appreciated.
Chuck Yeargin
Patterson, GA
Chuck Yeargin
Patterson, GA