need correct color scheme for 64 ford 4000 gas

to my surprise, my tractor is a 4000, not a 2000. how did i find out? i needed to work on the carb and the p/n's came up 4000!
holt cow. all these years i had 55 hp and didnt know it. the seller sold it and painted it as a 2000, so i never bothered to look closer. hey, good for me. he sold it as a 2000!
but now that i know, its eating at me. i want to make it the right color. he had it all blue belly and tank. white wheels and fenders. blue seat.
i searched here and on other places but there are so many variations of people over the years painting them, i have no idea what is REALLY RIGHT.
can someone point me to an honest true factory rendition of what the proper color scheme is for a 64 4000 gas?
and, to a place where i can order correct tank emblems for the 4000?
thanks in advance.
 
I don't think mine is historically
correct, but here's a picture of my son-
in-law on it headed out to plant
foodplots, it was painted this way when
I bought it, I'm satisfied with its
looks, I work the crap out if off and
on...
a167905.jpg
 
thanks for the pic........

dave, the carb p/n tipped me off when I needed to do some work to it.
so I ran the motor and frame #'s...

Tractor Model number: 41212
Tractor Serial number: 48907
Tractor Engine Part number: CONN 6015J

--------------
Decoding the 5 digit model numbers on 2000-4000 series tractors -Â
Engines:Â
134 ci - 2000 series

172 ci - 4000 series
First number (1 digit)Â

4**** - 172 ci gas, LP-gas or 172 ci diesel engine



Second number (1 digit)Â

*1*** - Industrial and agricultural models produced after 1963



Third number (2 digits)Â

**21Â * - Orchard type w/ non-adjustable front axleÂ



Third number (2 digits)Â

*1**2Â - Five-speed w/live PTO



Thousand Series tractor serial numbers

1964 Serial number 38931 - upÂ



Part number identifiers cast into 134 and 172 engine blocks (lower right side)Â

C0NN-6015J - 172 late 1960-1964
 

Gray riders is very close. The only thing that I see that is incorrect is the wheel centers. Be sure to paint the starter and genny blue. After all we know that if they were painted black at the factory they would not have started. And splurge on new lug nuts. Don't paint them. The seat should be black.
 
thanks a bunch.
black seat? really? what about the seat leaf spring?
and the grill. i have a silver grill with red ford letters. what should it be?
do you know of any factory pics of a 64 4000?
any pics would help.
anyone else
 
(quoted from post at 08:10:00 08/05/17) thanks a bunch.
black seat? really? what about the seat leaf spring?
and the grill. i have a silver grill with red ford letters. what should it be?
do you know of any factory pics of a 64 4000?
any pics would help.
anyone else

Bob, it all goes by the order of assembly on the line. The base chassis was assembled and paint sprayed. They could not spray the basic cast iron chassis with a lot of extra stuff over it. Many parts were of course sourced from other manufacturers. After the base tractor came out of the oven, various parts were added as it went along down the line. Wiring and small electrical parts. Carb and linkages, sheet metal already painted and wired. The seat, radiator, distributor, coil, stay chains, steering wheel etc were attached as they came from the vendor. An excellent guide is the advertising video that Ford had made of the Jubilee. Pretty much just substitute blue for red. It is pleasing to the eye to have a few parts be different colors, so go ahead and do that if you wish, but this is how they were built.
 
so, are you saying...there is no proper color combo on a 64?
it doesn't sound right to me. maybe im misunderstanding.
should I have asked my question like this?

1. what is the radiator mesh color on a 64 4000?__________
2. what are the vertical ford letters in the 64 4000 radiator mesh? blue/red/silver?
3. is the 64 4000 seat leaf spring black, to match the seat? y/n

if there is no set correct combo....I wont change what I got now. its all blue with light gray wheels and fenders. red letters on the silver mesh.

anyone have a good source for the 64 ford 4000 tank logos?
 
(quoted from post at 17:18:32 08/05/17) so, are you saying...there is no proper color combo on a 64?
it doesn't sound right to me. maybe im misunderstanding.
should I have asked my question like this?

1. what is the radiator mesh color on a 64 4000?__________
2. what are the vertical ford letters in the 64 4000 radiator mesh? blue/red/silver?
3. is the 64 4000 seat leaf spring black, to match the seat? y/n

if there is no set correct combo....I wont change what I got now. its all blue with light gray wheels and fenders. red letters on the silver mesh.

anyone have a good source for the 64 ford 4000 tank logos?

Bob, I apologize for not being more specific.

The radiator came in one piece from the vendor. The tanks, core, and side strips were all black.

The seat spring as well as the seat should be black.

I am sorry that I can't tell you for sure what color the grill should be, but to the best of my knowledge it is the same gray as the sheet metal. I am not certain about the letters in the grill either but I expect that they would be the same as those on my 9000, which is chrome, with the inner rough part painted red.

I am sorry but I don't know what you mean by tank logos. If it is any help just google George Bradisch, and you can order every sticker that you could ever dream of wanting for your 4000
 
my tractor doesn't have an instrument cluster up top. did all 4000 tractors have one or was it optional? makes me wonder if someone didn't slap a 2000 tank cover on this tractor. afterall, anything goes being I wasn't 1st owner.
 
im working on dial UP and my computer wont load google. honest!
one of these days. lol.
can you post a link to George for me? thank you.
 
(quoted from post at 04:55:16 08/06/17) im working on dial UP and my computer wont load google. honest!
one of these days. lol.
can you post a link to George for me? thank you.

Here is the address for George Bradisch. Have you viewed the Jubilee video that I have told you about? It is the only true color evidence that I have ever seen of a fresh from the factory tractor of that age. As I said before you would find it accurate for virtually all tractor parts except some possible after market ones that your tractor may have or not have and for the grill as I have already indicated. By the way I have never seen the hood called a tank cover before. It is hood and center cover.


http://www.external_link.com/fordDecals.jsp
 
(quoted from post at 04:55:16 08/06/17) im working on dial UP and my computer wont load google. honest!
one of these days. lol.
can you post a link to George for me? thank you.

Bob, I tried posting the address but this site generally doesn't allow posting addresses of other sites that sell parts.
 
Post the following:

Serial number should be located on flat part on left transmission below and left of battery box.
Engine casting number should be on block.
Picture of tractor grille.
 
dave,
serial numbers aren't the issue. we know its a 4000.
we just are trying to get the right color combos for it. thanks.
 

You don't have to Google it, just type in georgebradish.com and it will come up.

Looking at pics of a unrestored 4000 row crop in my Big Book of Ford Tractor, chassis is all blue, wheels, fenders and hood are white, grille is blue, FORD letters in the grille are chrome with no paint in the center rough part, seat and spring are black, if yours has a external air cleaner that is also white.
Roll crop and standard models where painted the same.
 
no need to say youre sorry dave. we're all one big family.

450. thanks. btw...when you say white. real white or ford light gray?
see....this is what im up against. you said it is an unrestored 4000 in the book. who's to say its original? did the writer say this is a 4000 in original finish in need of restoration?
thanks for your input.
 
450....thanks for the computer lesson. got it.
went there.
seems all they have are decals for industrial models.

what makes an industrial model differ from a basic 4000?
my serial numbers are on post 2 or 3. can you tell if mine is industrial? it was bought at auction from the mo DOT and was painted yellow went sold to us.

could mine be industrial?
 

The NH paint chart I found indicates the 63-64 4000 tractors used the same blue as 65-later -000 series but they used the same gray as the earlier 800-801 series, 65-later models used a lighter gray (almost white), they didn't use a pure white until after 94.

The article in the book stated the tractor had the original paint and to me didn't need restored, unrestored original paint tractors in good condition like my 62 model 881 barn find are becoming very rare these days, although it as a fair amount of rust patina in the paint many of the tractor collectors in my area have strongly suggested I not restore it at this time.

You didn't look hard enough in George Bradish's site, on page 3 of the Ford decals # D227 is for 4000 diesels and # D228 is for 4000 gas models, call him up to see if he will package all of the other caution and warning decals you'll need.

**21* indicates your tractor is a orchard model with non adjustable front axle, light industrial is code **30*, I'm not familiar with those years of orchard models but they usually come with no items sticking out such as vertical exhaust, head lights and such for maneuvering in and around tress and bushes, some also have a narrower thread width.

Your last post give's info that should have been told early on, the fact in was sold at a state auction and is yellow. I've never heard of any state buying a used tractor. For cost savings many states, counties and cities purchased these tractors scaled down without any extras, non adjustable axle would cost less than a adjustable axle, non adjustable light industrial axle would come with heavier spindles and hubs and cost more than standard spindles and hubs, there forth the cheapest axle is for a orchard model.
I believe you tractor was ordered new by the state for mowing road sides or parks and was painted yellow per state requirements.

For restoring the tractor yellow is the correct color, but it's your tractor and if you want to paint it the agriculture blue and gray, go for it. After all it is classified as a orchard model that would have been blue and gray if a farmer had bought it.
 
thanks for your insight.
and also what wasn't mentioned, im on dial up!
loading websites takes 5 minutes and times out.
I will try to get page 3. it never loaded to show me a pg 3 option. lol.
it was indeed used for mowing. maybe that's why it doesn't have an instrument cluster up top.
....and to ensure it wasn't mistaken for stolen modot gear later in life, it was repainted for auction by order of modot. in all one color was less hassle most likely.

ok.
im going with this as correct:

1. engine and chassis blue. (aka 'the blue belly')
2. black seat.
3. blue rad' mesh with silver ford letters w/o red inside.
4. gray fenders, hood, and wheels.

steering wheel im assuming is blue. right?
 
ok, got pg 3 to load. I see the decals now.
also too....footnote, if adjustable front axles means they can be moved in or out with numerous sets of holes to choose.....this tractor has it. wonder if that changes anything.
im trying to load pics of it for everyone. bare with me....and my dial up!
 

That is interesting that the axle doesn't match the model code number, but it not a big deal, the engine casting number confirms the 172 engine used on 4000's, the first number on the trans code say's it's a 4000, so it's a 4000, paint it accordingly.

On a side note I'm getting some conflicting information.
NH paint code says the 63-64 models used the darker gray like 800-801 series, 2 sales brochures I found show them to have the lighter gray used on 65-later models, a very popular information books states they where painted the lighter gray, a photo of an original sales brochure for a 63-64 6000 shows it to be painted the older gray.
All of the photos I looked at of restored 4000's look to be painted the lighter gray.

As the chassis came down the assembly line everything on the chassis was painted the same color, engine, trans, steering column, axle, brake drums, carb, starter, generator, ect. I'm 75% sure the radiator should be black, steering wheel is black,
Best I can remember the throttle lever had a rust preventive coating or light clad plating, not chrome plated, on most restored models I see the throttle lever is painted silver, lug nuts, steering wheel nut and all bolt nut and screws used to attach sheet metal in components where not painted, probably had a zinc chromate or other type of rust preventive coating like used on cars of that era.
I was 8-9 years old when these tractors where new at our local Ford dealer. The color of the bolts and nuts where unimportant to me at that time, setting in the seat holding on to the steering wheel while looking at that shiny new paint had all of my attention. When I was 13-14 dad wanted to trade our 850 for a new 3000, I remember spending nearly an hour walking back and forth between a 3000 and 4000SU comparing the differences, I really liked that 4000SU, have one today.
The deal fell through they wanted more boot than dad was willing to pay so we keep the 850, still had it when dad passed in 76, brother sold it some years later.
 

As the chassis came down the assembly line everything on the chassis was painted the same color, engine, trans, steering column, axle, brake drums, carb, starter, generator, ect. I'm 75% sure the radiator should be black, steering wheel is black,

As both of us have told Bob this is the way they did it. If the radiator had been in place when the chassis was painted blue it would have blocked a significant area behind and below from the paint spray. As I have also said I have a bunch actual factory color photographs that show the colors of pretty much everything.
 
I give up on the pics guys. they load using the website system, but don't paste in the post. sorry.
sounds like I have the right direction now. you guys have helped hands down. thanks for all inputs.
im just sitting back waiting to hear some more debate on what color gray. now.
all else seems to make sense.
could the axle have been a simple replacement, based on whatever parts were in the mo-dot warehouse? maybe one of the guys wrapped it around a guardrail and they just slapped on an adjustable one off another parts tractor. sounds about right.
if I was the supervisor being graded on saving the state money, I would have!
agree?
 
I know ford makes oem paint for restoration PROJECTS.

im more of a practical faremr who doesn't mind getting close if being cheaper works.
granted, getting the right colors is nice, but if you saw some of the reclaimed fields im hogging, and driving in between trees with hanging vines, tearing down years of growth....common sense would tell me I should just stick with the walmart blue and white someone painted the tractor with!

I can see it now....i'll get that hood all nice and smooth, perfect gray....put on a 22.00 set of decals..... and tear them off on my first pass into the bush and briars. my wife would kill me.

so....if I may ask....is there a CHEAP on the shelf, common, CLOSE substitute gray canned spray paint out there that resembles the ford gray (darker or lighter blend)
??
 
as you can see, im missing the little hood grill. did the stripped down versions come w/o those or was it one of those pricy options?
 
another pic grading the driveway with the bumper off. I think the bumper that's on my tractor is an 8N style. can anyone confirm that? the one I think belongs on my tractor is more heavy duty and 200+ bucks. i'll stick with what I have since....it works. btw...can you see the adjustable FRONT AXLES?
mvphoto1708.jpg
 

Pic came thru, nice looking tractor, paint doesn't look to bad.
Wheels and fenders look to be white or light gray, if I was going to paint the hood I'd just match it to the wheels and fenders and call it good, a little dust and weeds from the brush hog along with a couple of scratches and it'll all look the same.
Or you could just leave it like it is, you know want you have, different color hood and decals won't make it run any different.
 

Not sure about the hood insert but I doubt they'd leave it off of a new tractor.
The bumper on you tractor is the correct one for my 801, I'd be glade to take that one off your hands since I don't have one.
Even though the red in the Ford letters isn't correct I like it.
 

Pic came thru, nice looking tractor, paint doesn't look to bad.
Wheels and fenders look to be white or light gray, if I was going to paint the hood I'd just match it to the wheels and fenders and call it good, a little dust and weeds from the brush hog along with a couple of scratches and it'll all look the same.
Or you could just leave it like it is, you know want you have, different color hood and decals won't make it run any different.
 
I got an extra fender sitting in the barn.
what part of ky are you? west or east?
maybe we can trade for some paint, decals, and a grill. ill pop a pic next time in mo for ya.

what color scheme is my tractor as it sits? isn't that an earlier 2000 color scheme?
 

I'm in north central Ky between Louisville and Owensboro.
Yes with the blue hood that's a 2000 paint scheme, I'm not a stickler for details as long as it's not cheesy, one of my tractors is supposed to have blue wheel centers but I didn't like that so when I repainted to tractor I painted the wheel centers light gray to match the wheels on my other tractors.
Looking at the photo your tractor doesn't look like it's in dire need of a repaint and as a working tractor, personally I'd probably leave it like it is until it needed or I wanted to do a full repaint.

All that said, as for that cheesy Ford 2000 lettering, I'd probably have to do something about that. :lol:, maybe just remove them for now and leave the hood blank.
 
agree with the cheesy logo. but I think they just did that to sell it and save 22.00!
hmmmm...maybe I should leave it for now, in case the tax man wants to visit. ill just present it as 2000 and not the 4000! lol.

now, if thats a 2000 paint scheme, should the seat still be black?

thank you all for all this help.

if you want to revisit the bumper deal later on, let me know.

now im going to start looking for used cheap hood grill. if ya got any leads CHEAP AND USED let me know.
regards
bob
 
[u:5a1e349b84]and....has anyone come up with a cheap spray paint substitute [b:5a1e349b84]close enough[/b:5a1e349b84] to light gray or darker gray for this 4000? I mean like walmart or ace cheap.
like 99 cent a can cheap.[/u:5a1e349b84]
 
Here's a picture of the bumper on front
of my 4000, looks like an "N" style
bumper, I don't even know what year
model my tractor is, never looked at
serial number, had it 3 or 4 years and
both previous owners have passed away, I
keep a sickle mower hooked to it for
cutting around ponds
a168499.jpg
 
earlier I mentioned...if I was to go to walmart or ace, do they have a close cheap spray substitute to what oem ford light or dark gray would be?
 

If your wanting to spray bomb the hood check at a Rural King or Orscheln's for Van Sickle brand paint, it's a close match and half the price of NH spray cans, still around $5 a can.
My local Orcheln's has a good selection of Van Sickle tractor paint.
 
(quoted from post at 11:53:49 08/10/17) its a start. thank you.

and again....thanks for everyones help.


it must be some kind of record....a 4 page subject. :>

I bet it is a record for the greatest number of posts and never got anywhere :roll:
 
well, lets see.

1. I have a source for alternate ford paint.
2. I found out the right color scheme for a 4000.
3. I learned tractors could be ordered yellow by DOT.
4. I learned I got an 801 bumper.
5. I learned im missing a grill.
6. I learned what the right decal is for my hood.
7. and that the owner disguised it as a 2000 for tax purposes!

sorry, I gotta disagree! im a smarter man from this topic! :>
 
(quoted from post at 03:41:40 08/14/17)
<image src="http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/photos/mvphoto1911.jpg"/>

Oh no, here we go! This will start another round, just with the grill!
 
(quoted from post at 12:13:31 08/14/17) hey I like it! I can leave my ford logo red too! :>

is that seat a 64 seat? mine is a 8n spring steel bucket style.

Bob your seat is a 9N, 8N, NAA, 600, 700, 800, 900, 601, 701, 801, 901, 4000, standard C5NN400AE $363.46 3-7 days, steel seat. Two other seats were available as options. You could also mount approx. 46 different optional reproduction and after market seats. as well as various other NLA aftermarket seats that many dealers and owners fitted to their tractors over the years, that you could source and restore yourself.
 
(quoted from post at 12:13:31 08/14/17) hey I like it! I can leave my ford logo red too! :>

is that seat a 64 seat? mine is a 8n spring steel bucket style.

Bob your seat is a 9N, 8N, NAA, 600, 700, 800, 900, 601, 701, 801, 901, 4000, standard C5NN400AE $363.46 3-7 days, steel seat. Two other seats were available as options. You could also mount approx. 46 different optional reproduction and after market seats. as well as various other NLA aftermarket seats that many dealers and owners fitted to their tractors over the years, that you could source and restore yourself!
 

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