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The only reason a TE or TO block will crack is because some buck eejit hasn't bothered to maintain the tractor, i.e. keep antifreeze topped up, and service/change oil and other normal practices. Otherwise, these engines (Standard Motor Co. - I can't comment on the Continental) are nearly bullet proof, and will give years (50+) of perfect service. To give you an idea, I stripped the crank and main bearings on mine and found the original bearings from 1951, still in good order. The top end (valves etc.) can suffer from wear if the oil isn't changed regularly (once a year). The transmission can also suffer from water condensing out in the gearbox, so change that once a year, too. Look after your tractor and it will look after you. Simple. No maintenance = big bills. Weapons grade stupidity will always override good engineering. The hood (bonnet to us over here) is nearly always dented. These were fast little tractors in their day, and sometimes the side of a trailer, or a fence or brick wall was used as a brake. New bonnets are unobtainable, but you can get some replacement panel parts for them - start by looking at the listings on this site, then use your search engine. 'Paddy filler' usually tidies things up if you don't want to spend $$$$$ Almost all other parts are still obtainable either new (OEM or not) or secondhand from a breaker's yard. Most of these tractors have been worked extremely hard during their life, and are still going strong now - don't believe everything you hear, and well done for checking here. Good luck in your search. PS. Please DONT SHOUT SO LOUD!!
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