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Ford 8N Restoration

R

Randy K. Crump

Member
My Ford 8N is starting to burn oil. Smokes some from the breather cap not the exhaust. It runs fine and the tires are good. The body is rusty. Everything works except the tach. I use it for mowing and lifting items with the loader. Should I overhaul the engine and restore/paint the tractor? I could do everything my self except for overhauling the engine. I could remove the engine from the tractor and take it to a machine shop. Estimated cost to overhaul engine with new parts, $1400.00. What is the value of these tractors? What will the value be in 15 years when I am not using it any longer?
 
(quoted from post at 21:42:48 11/23/17) My Ford 8N is starting to burn oil. Smokes some from the breather cap not the exhaust. It runs fine and the tires are good. The body is rusty. Everything works except the tach. I use it for mowing and lifting items with the loader. Should I overhaul the engine and restore/paint the tractor? I could do everything my self except for overhauling the engine. I could remove the engine from the tractor and take it to a machine shop. Estimated cost to overhaul engine with new parts, $1400.00. What is the value of these tractors? What will the value be in 15 years when I am not using it any longer?
Click to expand...
If it starts fine and runs good, I would just keep on running it. If you spend 1400 on an engine rebuild and then repair and paint the rest you will more into it than what it is worth now. 15 years from who knows what they will be worth but the price is dropping every year. is the smoke out the breather smoke or water vapor? does it smoke out the breather after it has ran for a long time? Does it has water drops mixed with oil in the breather?
 
IMO with the current trend in the old tractor market you won't recoup the money you put into it. Since the Ag tractors weren't ready built for loaders front end parts wear out and will probably add to your cost. I would invest in a later model tractor. It will get you more HP, live hydraulic, maybe live PTO and power steering for the same price you would have invested in your old 8N and will also give you a better resale value. If the 8N is what you ready want I would look for a parts tractor with a good engine and switch them like this one listed on CL. The needs work is that something is wrong with the tranny but the engine runs good. You can sell the brushog, bumper and parts and get the engine and other parts you need for free. Don't get me wrong I love the old N tractors and have a bunch of them But won't invest it them for resale, those days are long gone unless you are talking aluminum hood 9n.

Kirk
8N CL link
 
RG is correct, just keep running it.That said if you have some kind of attachment to this tractor like if it was Dads or Granpas and you want to save it go ahead and fix it up. The market is drying up on these Ns as most owners are older people who grew up around them and it wont rebound IMHO.
 
I agree with the consensus given so far. If it ain't broke mantra applies. Now, I'd only hang on if it was an early 8N, built in '47, but still considered a '48, will have a serial number up to 5-digits, I'd think about a restoration project. Since it isn't, the Tach is the clue here and it isn't essential to operating it, don't worry. What is the oil pressure at idle after engine is hot? Is the smoke black or white? Black is oil, white is water. I would only trust my old tractors to a handful of certain mechanics who really know these old Fords, otherwise you may not get a decent job done. You would need to get the block boiled and inspected by a good dealer, but you can do all the grunt rebuilding work if you choose to go that way. No one can predict what values will be tomorrow let alone in 15 years. Keep it as is until ready to sell and invest in something better -power steering, live PTO, et al and if you have the $$$ a new Kubota or similar model.

Tim Daley(MI)
 
(quoted from post at 00:42:48 11/24/17) My Ford 8N is starting to burn oil. Smokes some from the breather cap not the exhaust. It runs fine and the tires are good. The body is rusty. Everything works except the tach. I use it for mowing and lifting items with the loader. Should I overhaul the engine and restore/paint the tractor? I could do everything my self except for overhauling the engine. I could remove the engine from the tractor and take it to a machine shop. Estimated cost to overhaul engine with new parts, $1400.00. What is the value of these tractors? What will the value be in 15 years when I am not using it any longer?
Click to expand...

A little smoke does not justify a rebuild. What is you oil pressure at idle!
 
The general rule of thumb for restoring old vehicles, be they cars or tractors, is to buy them already restored because you will never recoup the cost of restoring one yourself. Especially if you consider labor costs.

I look at it this way......you will never recoup the costs of your golf hobby. So I don't plan to recoup much of the cost of my restoring old vehicles hobby.

I've probably got at least $4k in direct costs, excluding my labor, in each of the three 8N's I've restored. Maybe on a good day, I might sell one for that much. Probably not.

A few guys in the local Model A club have $20-30k invested in cars that might bring $15-20k. Again, on a good day.

So, if you want a "new" 60+ year old tractor, put the $1400 in it and fix it up. Depending on your workmanship, you might get your direct cots out of it.....but probably not.

However, what you will get out of it is a damn good running 60 year old tractor that properly maintained, will easily last you another 15 years.
75 Tips
 
I am rebuilding the engine in my current 8N with plans to
restore it. The machine shop work alone was $700. So it gets
quite pricey, quickly. The rest of the work I can do myself.

For a working loader tractor, as long as the oil pressure is good
and the engine isn't making noises, I'd agree with running it.
As far as the paint, I would at least sand and paint it to keep it
from rusting more. A brush would work for that type of paint job.

This one, while not restored, was brush painted with Rustoleum paint.
Except the exhaust. It was rattle canned with VHT header paint.

6677.jpg
 
I've wondered about brush painting
my 960. It's a worker. Do you
paint on a good hot day? Do the
brush strokes smooth out? Yours
looks good! and the other post
shows the Ford advertising for
brush painting. Any advice on
cleaning up the oil and grease
before painting ? Thanks. Kevin
in Central AL
 
(quoted from post at 10:35:40 11/24/17)
(quoted from post at 00:42:48 11/24/17) My Ford 8N is starting to burn oil. Smokes some from the breather cap not the exhaust. It runs fine and the tires are good. The body is rusty. Everything works except the tach. I use it for mowing and lifting items with the loader. Should I overhaul the engine and restore/paint the tractor? I could do everything my self except for overhauling the engine. I could remove the engine from the tractor and take it to a machine shop. Estimated cost to overhaul engine with new parts, $1400.00. What is the value of these tractors? What will the value be in 15 years when I am not using it any longer?
Click to expand...

A little smoke does not justify a rebuild. What is you oil pressure at idle!
Click to expand...

i had a pretty (bad) good amount of smoke. my oil pressure was ok, so i'm happy to have put about 450 total (puller, new studs, etc) into it for sleeves pistons and rod bearings, no mains. it has noticeably more power now, and i don't have to setup a quart of oil on an IV pole hanging off the side any more ;)
 
I would look very closely at the oil consumption. If our tractor is running okay and not really using any oil I would not worry about it. I had an 8n that was smoking quite a bit. The rings and the gasket set was less than 100 bucks. I put them in myself. Didn't smoke after that. As far as restoration it depends what you call restoration. Professional paint job will probably cost 1500 or maybe more. Like some one said on here your better of buying one that has been restored. I am guessing for 2500 you can buy a very nice 8n depending on your location. I you have someone restore yours you will probably have more in it that you can ever get your money out of it. one other thing schools/colleges that has a course in automotive might overhaul your motor for you. I think some will just charge you for parts. Same way if the have a paint class. they are always looking for items to use to teach there class with. I would suspect they would love to have an old 8n to restore. Just a thought. Years ago I did that in my automotive class with my dads old 55 chevy.
 
"Do you paint on a good hot day?"

On the contrary. When brush painting, I thin the paint as needed
and paint indoors in moderate temperatures which lets the paint
flow out to smooth out before it dries. I still use hardener in it.

As far as cleaning, dollar store oven cleaner and a hot water
pressure washer work well for me. Cold water pressure washer
certainly beats a garden hose! Just make sure you use the proper
safety gear. That oven cleaner is noxious and bad on the eyes.

Normally I spray paint everything because it is faster and easier.
But it does require a lot more disassembly and work.
 
If it just a worker I would brush the body and rattle can the tin. To do a good job with the brush there would be a lot of fine sanding/steelwool between coats. Rattle can is easier and IMO looks better.
I've been using cheap engine degreaser at Walmart. A couple a buck a can then power wash. Wire wheel brush the body and paint that stays will be painted over.
All my tractors work for a living if not I'll send them down the road. Most look pretty good although on some I do like the rusty patina.

Kirk
 
" It only smokes at oil cap. Inside of oil cap is a creamy white film. "

The "smoke" is likely condensation, ie, steam. That's what the milky white stuff is from. You probably don't have a t-stat in it. The engine never gets hot enough to burn off the condensation in the pan. See tip # 25.

You might have a "blow-by" problem; see tip # 46. A compression check will tell you for sure.

Your oil pressure is fine.

Bottom line: doesn't sound like a rebuild is needed anytime soon.
75 Tips
 
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