Need help identifying my Ford

I bought this Ford 4600 a few weeks ago at auction. I'm trying to nail down the exact model, or even if it's really a 4600. There's a bit of yellow underlying paint, so something tells me there's more to the history than what's on the surface.

I have the following photo album so far: https://imgur.com/a/XKjFIwH

Photos of the serials are at the bottom of the album, but a bit hard to see in the pictures. Heck, they're hard to see at all, and at the time I took the photos I didn't have anything to clean it off with. The best I can read right now is:
CH5P45
B?90266

Anyone help clear up what I've got here?

The stickers may say 4600, but I am pretty sure that it's not actually a 4600, although the hood and grill are correct for a 4600.

The engine serial number starts with a C which indicates it was made for a 3xxx series tractor.

CH5, if that is the beginning of the model number, should mean that it is a 3930 Highway model, but it would have a different grill if it was a 3930H.

I was wondering if it might have been a 4600 that had the engine and transmission replaced, as that is where the numbers are stamped, but the front axle and fully hydraulic steering don't match for either a 4600 or a 3930 Highway tractor. I don't know what model Ford that front axle and steering might be from.

Does it still have the sticker on the under side of the right side hood panel, up above the battery?

THe first picture tells me it isn't a 4600, but an industrial model, because of the axle. But it looks narrow for an industrial...
but that might just be the angle. Ribbed block and dipstick on the right says it has a newer, BSD engine. Serial number starting
with a B indicates a Basildon-built tractor. There should be a third number there, stamped half way between the two you listed.
I'm going to have to see what I can find in my books... this isn't one I know off the top of my head.

A Google search on the casting number on the rear axle center housing, E9NN4024BA, looks to be a 3930/4630 series center housing, so that matches the 3H5 model number. And above that is a date that's not even coded, it says 5 4 91, so it was cast on 5/4/1991, which makes it of the same time period as the xx30 series models as well.

The only model from that time period I can find with anything near that style front axle and steering is the 250C, which is the Utility model in the 3930 series. The 250C had the model designator of 3U5, and looking at your pictures some more, it might just be 3U5 instead of CH5. The lines below the crossbar of the "H" hang down lower than the bottom of the 3, so those might just be scratches.

So my best guess is that it is CU5 and it is a 250C with 4600 sheet metal.

Looking again, I agree with the CU5.

Igor says it lives Dr. Frankenstein

Sorry, my brain was saying CU5 but my fingers kept typing 3U5.

So yeah, I think it is a 250C with 4600 tin and grill.

Wow, thanks everyone! So a 250C seems it would be a few
years newer than the ?80s that the seller told me. What does
that mean as far as parts are concerned? Will these 4600
service and operator manuals I bought be any good? Seems
pretty similar so far, but I?ve barely scratched the surface on
anything other than trying to get the gas gauge working again.

Really appreciate ya?lls help!

The manuals you have should be applicable for some things but not all. The steering and front axle is obviously different, and I know that they made some changes in the 3 point hydraulics system over the years and that might be different in terms of servicing. There were also additional transmission choices added so your transmission might not be covered in the manuals that you have.

I'm not even sure what a "5" in the last spot of the model number means. That last character says what transmission it has and none of my references mention a 5 for a transmission code.

if the 5 is really an S... its a 3x3 with reverser... but the double sticks dont match that model??

Na, it's 8x2.

(quoted from post at 20:46:31 10/05/18) Na, it's 8x2.

Click to expand...

Maybe a 4 x 2???

(quoted from post at 04:26:58 10/06/18)

(quoted from post at 20:46:31 10/05/18) Na, it's 8x2.

Click to expand...

Maybe a 4 x 2???

Click to expand...

I was thinking either a 6x4 manual reverser or 8x2 if it truly is a 250C Utility model, which was a several generations later replacement for the 3400. As the parts site only shows only the 8x2, 6x4 or 8x8 as being available for that model.

An update: I went out today and cleaned the numbers up a bit
more with a wire brush, then did a pencil rubbing on them.
You were absolutely right, it?s definitely a CU5P4C. The
middle line is still pretty unreadable and I he last line didn?t
clear up as much as the first, but I?m pretty sure it says
B(6 or C)90266.

Thanks for really clearing it up and pointing me in the right
direction. Anyone have some more info on this 250C model?
Anything I need to know about it?

I spent $4500 on this, is that a fair price?

Well now I'm confused. I went back to my references and they say that CU5 could be either a 250C or a 260C, which were both made from 9/89 through 12/94. They are identical except the 250C had the 192 ci engine of the 3xxx series and the 260C had the larger displacement 201 ci engine from the 4xxx series. Since your engine serial number starts with a C I believe that it it is the 192 ci engine, which would make it a 250C. It is what Ford called a "Utility Tractor", meaning that it has a heavier duty front axle than the ag chassis tractors of the same series made at the same time so that they would handle loader work better, but not as heavy duty as the Industrial Tractors of the same series.

The engine is the same basic 3 cylinder design that Ford/New Holland used from 1965 through at least the mid 1990's. They are strong and reliable and the only thing to look out for is the possibility of cavitation if you don't keep the proper coolant additive in the cooling system, although I don't think that the 3 cylinders were as susceptible to the cavitation as the 4 and 6 cylinder engines of the 5xxx/6xxx/7xxx/8xxx/9xxx series were.

The 3 point lift system is the same as the 3910/3930 ag tractors made around the same time and are also very strong and reliable.

The rear axle has the double reduction gears and the inboard wet brakes like the 4xxx series and a few of the higher 3xxx series models, like the 39xx models. It is also a very strong and reliable.

The only thing to look out for, other than normal wear and maintenance items, is if it has not been properly maintained.

I think that $4500 is a very good price if everything is working properly.