New member, first post although I've been reading up here lately, so thanks to everyone for the knowledge base here. Anyhow I just picked up this 1969 or 1970 Ford 3000 industrial model, and have a few questions about it.
First and most obvious, what year model is it, 1969 or 1970? Here's the number plate under the hood:
The production code is 9L18B. According to the references I found online that denotes it was built November 18, 1969, day shift. The seller told me it was a 1970, which could be true if these are like cars. Do these tractors go by a "model year" or are they strictly denoted by the date of production? Should I consider it a '69 or a '70?
Looking at the model code, C5011F denotes its a 3000 industrial model, diesel, no PTO, with the 4/4 torque converter transmission, all of which checks out visually. But I have some questions about the "industrial" designation. Does anyone have a comprehensive list of all of the differences/changes the industrial model had compared to the other variants? Most obvious is the color, I'm assuming that yellow paint is stock for the industrial models. There's also a heavy steel nose cover and grille that differs from the other 3000's I've seen photos of. Anything else that's different?
I thought I read somewhere that the front axle is different for the industrial model?
Speaking of that nose cover, the only ones I've found photos of online that looked like that were designated as model 3500's. But I saw somewhere the 3500 was only built until 1968. Is the "industrial" 3000 just the continuation of the 3500, in an effort by Ford to streamline the model numbers? And if I want to replace the F-O-R-D letters, can I use the ones that are sold for regular 3000's? What about decals for this one, as the regular 3000 decal pack doesn't appear to be correct for this one?
My next question is about the loader. Is this a stock Ford accessory? Is there a way to determine the model number for the loader attachment?
There is what might be an oval Ford logo cast into the lower part of the upright, plus some casting numbers. Can this help ID it? I haven't crawled all over it yet looking for a number plate, but should there be one, and where should I look for it?
In addition to the huge outer wheel weights, there are some huge inner weights attached to the axle just inboard of the rear wheels. You can see them in this photo. Has anyone seen these before or know anything about them? I'd like to lighten this thing up a little bit, as it is HEAVY, and I don't think I'll need quite so much counterweight during normal use of the loader around my place. If I were to take off either these inner weights or the outer wheel weights, which would you recommend removing?
BTW I do have the hydraulic ram top link for it. The guy said he removed it because it leaked, but he gave it to me in the deal. I'll need to get it back on there to operate the gannon properly.
Next question is about the gauge panel, which is missing but I want to install one.
I see there are two different gauge clusters sold by some of the tractor parts places, for whether the tractor has an alternator or a generator. This tractor has a generator but its missing the tach drive, and I wouldn't mind upgrading it to an alternator anyhow.
The notes on the alternator-compatible gauge clusters say they are for tractors "originally equipped with alternator". But am I correct in assuming I can use it if do the alternator conversion at the same time?
Does anyone have a photo of the transmission shift pattern for the 4/4 TC trans? I can't find it in any photos, and the parts houses don't seem to sell replacement shift pattern decals for it.
That's it for now. I'll have a ton more questions I'm sure, as I get more in to this thing. Thanks in advance for any help with any of these questions.
First and most obvious, what year model is it, 1969 or 1970? Here's the number plate under the hood:
The production code is 9L18B. According to the references I found online that denotes it was built November 18, 1969, day shift. The seller told me it was a 1970, which could be true if these are like cars. Do these tractors go by a "model year" or are they strictly denoted by the date of production? Should I consider it a '69 or a '70?
Looking at the model code, C5011F denotes its a 3000 industrial model, diesel, no PTO, with the 4/4 torque converter transmission, all of which checks out visually. But I have some questions about the "industrial" designation. Does anyone have a comprehensive list of all of the differences/changes the industrial model had compared to the other variants? Most obvious is the color, I'm assuming that yellow paint is stock for the industrial models. There's also a heavy steel nose cover and grille that differs from the other 3000's I've seen photos of. Anything else that's different?
I thought I read somewhere that the front axle is different for the industrial model?
Speaking of that nose cover, the only ones I've found photos of online that looked like that were designated as model 3500's. But I saw somewhere the 3500 was only built until 1968. Is the "industrial" 3000 just the continuation of the 3500, in an effort by Ford to streamline the model numbers? And if I want to replace the F-O-R-D letters, can I use the ones that are sold for regular 3000's? What about decals for this one, as the regular 3000 decal pack doesn't appear to be correct for this one?
My next question is about the loader. Is this a stock Ford accessory? Is there a way to determine the model number for the loader attachment?
There is what might be an oval Ford logo cast into the lower part of the upright, plus some casting numbers. Can this help ID it? I haven't crawled all over it yet looking for a number plate, but should there be one, and where should I look for it?
In addition to the huge outer wheel weights, there are some huge inner weights attached to the axle just inboard of the rear wheels. You can see them in this photo. Has anyone seen these before or know anything about them? I'd like to lighten this thing up a little bit, as it is HEAVY, and I don't think I'll need quite so much counterweight during normal use of the loader around my place. If I were to take off either these inner weights or the outer wheel weights, which would you recommend removing?
BTW I do have the hydraulic ram top link for it. The guy said he removed it because it leaked, but he gave it to me in the deal. I'll need to get it back on there to operate the gannon properly.
Next question is about the gauge panel, which is missing but I want to install one.
I see there are two different gauge clusters sold by some of the tractor parts places, for whether the tractor has an alternator or a generator. This tractor has a generator but its missing the tach drive, and I wouldn't mind upgrading it to an alternator anyhow.
The notes on the alternator-compatible gauge clusters say they are for tractors "originally equipped with alternator". But am I correct in assuming I can use it if do the alternator conversion at the same time?
Does anyone have a photo of the transmission shift pattern for the 4/4 TC trans? I can't find it in any photos, and the parts houses don't seem to sell replacement shift pattern decals for it.
That's it for now. I'll have a ton more questions I'm sure, as I get more in to this thing. Thanks in advance for any help with any of these questions.
