Case Tractor Inventory Restoration Priority

Our father had several Case tractors over the years and got my brother and I hooked. Our youngest brother, though, says that he prefers tractors that start easily and have brakes that work - go figure! Over the past 10 years or so, we've bought a few Cases of our own and would like to restore the couple of more rare ones now and then do the others in a few years. For the most part, assume all of these tractors run (or only need minor engine work and tune-ups) and the sheet metal is mostly there and complete.

Here's the inventory and if you don't mind, please reply as to the order of restoration, in your opinion. You can just use the numbers, if you'd like. Also, "restoration" means a lot of different things to different people, so let's use a scale of 1 (do nothing except normal maintenance) to 3 (paint, decals, and tires), to 5 (total restoration, tearing it down and rebuilding it, all new parts).

1. 731 (Daddy's): 1966, Diesel, WF, Comfort King, 3 pt. hitch

2. 731 (Mine): 1965, Diesel, WF (maybe Schwartz, but not Case), Comfort King, 3 pt. hitch

3. 630: 1961, Gas, NF, Tripl-Range, Eagle Hitch

4. 351: 1957, Gas, NF, Tripl-Range, Eagle Hitch - some sort of a tractor dealer had rigged up a different front piece, so I'll need the front sheet metal, including the round nose and screen.

5. 600B Orchard/Grove: 1958, Gas, Standard Front, says "Case-O-Matic" on the side but also has a hand clutch, no hitch, but drawbar, PTO, 2 remotes. Runs great and the tires are pretty good. The big fenders are decent, but I think it's missing the sheet metal that flares from the side and connects to the rear fender.

6. 600B: 1958 or 59, Gas, WF, COM, Eagle Hitch. Really clean tractor, good sheet metal, low hours.

7. 431: 1965, Diesel, WF, Tripl-Range, 3 pt. hitch. Use it all the time for bushhogging.

8. SC: 1949, Gas, NF, with Hand Clutch and Hydraulic lift (not Eagle Hitch). Not sure what you can do with that type of hydraulic lift arms, though! Real good sheet metal and no rust holes except for the right fender. Might have to find a new fender before restoration.

9. 130: 1965 Lawn Mower

We also have a 630 (Gas, COM) and 2 400B (Gas, COM) for parts to fix up the above, but they are missing engines, etc..

In addition to those items, there is a Case loader on the 731 (#2 above) and the 630 (#3 above) currently. We have 2 other Case front-end loaders in decent shape, so please let us know which tractors would look better with a loader on them and which ones wouldn't.

I started out by trying to collect everything in the "30 series", from the pedal tractor that I got when I was 4 years old to a 1030 like our Grandaddy had before trading it in for a JD 4020 in 1972. If you count the pedal (30), lawn tractor (130), Case 230 baler, and the tractors mentioned above, then we're missing a 530, 830, 930, and 1030. On the way, though, we've found these machines that were built right before the 30 series, so mostly it's a 1957 - 1966 collection!

Thanks for reading this and for any comments and opinions you may have.

My point is it is very hard to give you advice without knowing your individual motivation. That said, I would always work on the more rare machines first as parts are getting harder to come by almost daily. The 600 Orchard, the 351, the 600 gas,the 630, are all low number machines. Then I would work on the tractors that I have a personal history with. Then the more common models with the 49 SC last. In my opinion there is nothing more boring than looking at a row of JD A's or Farmall M's half a mile long and the same could be said for any high production models. If you want to set your self apart at shows or parades have something that isn't seen everyday. I will never again go through a complete restoration. It doesn't make any sense economically. You will only come out ahead on a few models and then only if you are lucky AND actually sell the tractor! You have some very nice models in your collection. Good Luck! Don