Should I take on this FREE Ford 4000 project?!?!

Dchilds

Member
I have an opportunity to get a free 1964 Ford 4000. It's a diesel. Sometime in the last two years, the tractor was overheated by the original owner and the pistons began to sieze up. He sold the tractor to the current owner. This guy has torn the tractor apart (seemingly in a mostly organized manner) and has the engine apart, as well. He has removed the sleeves and says he "has too many irons in the fire and can't finish the project". I'm somewhat afraid I'm opening a can of worms taking on this project and I'll be nickeled and dimed to death to get it operational. Frankly, this just fell in my lap. I was really looking for a 3 cylinder 4000 when this came along.

My intent is really just to have a tractor I can cut grass and do small tillage projects on my farm. If I can get it done on the cheap, I'm up for the project. If there are too many potentially costly variables, I'll probably move along.

Has anyone come across a scenario like this? What did you/would you do?

Incidentally, the tractor does look very complete and he said he was told all else was functioning perfectly when it was overheated.
 
What transmission? If it's a five speed, I'd be inclined to say yes. I would not take on an SOS basket case, although I'm sure others would disagree.

Is he including any new parts? It sounds like he's just giving you the basket case tractor; you might want to check out how much <a href="https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/PK20_Piston-and-Sleeve-Kit-STD-172-CID-Diesel_2917.htm">pistons and sleeves</a> will set you back. And of course that's just for starters. Replacing clutch, brakes, tires, etc. can set you back a lot more than the completed tractor is worth.

Hopefully the head's not cracked, look it over carefully for cracks between the valve.
 
(quoted from post at 17:04:31 04/16/20) What transmission? If it's a five speed, I'd be inclined to say yes. I would not take on an SOS basket case, although I'm sure others would disagree.

Is he including any new parts? It sounds like he's just giving you the basket case tractor; you might want to check out how much &lt;a href="https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/PK20_Piston-and-Sleeve-Kit-STD-172-CID-Diesel_2917.htm"&gt;pistons and sleeves&lt;/a&gt; will set you back. And of course that's just for starters. Replacing clutch, brakes, tires, etc. can set you back a lot more than the completed tractor is worth.

Hopefully the head's not cracked, look it over carefully for cracks between the valve.

It is a five speed. The tires are 3/4. They re all newish but one of the rears has a gash in the sidewall. Maybe it can be repaired? No new parts are included in the deal except a crankshaft that s already been machined. I thought that was odd to have had it worked on but not ordered anything else. I m sort of thinking in a worst case I figure out there s major warpage etc and I just have to part it out or get rid of it as a parts tractor. That s some work in and of itself, too.
 
Sell the diesel remains for parts and install a complete running 172 gas from a salvage operator. Money way ahead nobody needs a diesel in that application.
 

That s an interesting idea. A departure from what I was planning on but interesting, nonetheless. Wonder how available the parts would be.

Anybody have an idea what an overhaul of the diesel would involve?
 
Alot of guys will have the crank done first, then order parts so they can get the correct size rod and main bearing in the rebuild kit..
 

Makes sense.

So, no one is telling me to walk away. I have a feeling y all just like watching a train wreck!! :lol:
 
10 years ago I would have jumped on it but depends. If you don't need it running right away you can scout for deals on parts and take your time getting it running. You are looking at a 4 to 5 K tractor when running (at least that is what they are selling for around here). Would be a fun project if you have the time and facilities to play with it for a while.
 
(quoted from post at 00:56:22 04/17/20) 10 years ago I would have jumped on it but depends. If you don't need it running right away you can scout for deals on parts and take your time getting it running. You are looking at a 4 to 5 K tractor when running (at least that is what they are selling for around here). Would be a fun project if you have the time and facilities to play with it for a while.

I guess I do somewhat have that luxury but I also don t want to drag the project out for a year.

Can anyone give me guidance related to what exactly a rebuild might entail? The rebuild kits I see on YT range for $550 to around $800 but I m not sure what additional work would need to be done at a machine shop etc. I would prefer to just get by rather than throwing as much cash as possible at it. I also don t want to fire it up the first time and realize I ve made a big mistake. Maybe it s not possible to have my cake and eat it too.
 
You have nothing to lose. You are looking at the cost of a
sleeve kit and engine bearings and gasket set. Ask the owner
if he has the specs that the crankshaft was turned to so you
can get the right bearings. I would also have the head
checked by a good machine shop. If you decide not to repair it
you have a tractor with some good usable parts. Maybe you
might find another similar tractor that you could use the parts
on . I guess it depends on if you want a project. If it was
offered to me I wouldn?t be typing this, I would be on the way
to get it.
 
Agree, both my 3000 and 3600 Fords are diesel. If someone were to offer me the same tractor in gas with $1000.00 boot I wouldn't take it.
 
Go for it. Shucks, everyone needs
a good whooping now and then.

I picked up a "free" John Deere
mower Friday. Spent all day
yesterday taking off and ordering
most of the parts that will have
to be replaced. Couldn't tell you
how many times I asked myself why
do you keep doing stupid stuff
like this? So far free is $200.
 

I think that you could get banned from this board for failure to take it. You had better report back tomorrow!
 
mvphoto53025.png
 

I'm obviously experiencing difficulty with this and I'm not a computer idiot, either... Can anyone point me towards directions on how to upload multiple photos?
 
When you're on the page where you're replying to a post, down near the bottom of the page is a section titled "Upload photos/videos" and there is a button in that section that says "Browse". Click on that button and browse to the photo in your computer that you want to upload. Do that once for each photo. It's best to add a new line by hitting the Enter key in the main text editing section after each photo link gets embedded so the pictures show up one below the other instead of all next to each other which causes people to have to scroll way over to the right, not only to see the pictures but also to read any of the other posts since they will then fill all of the space of the newly widened page.

If you already have the pictures on some internet hosting site like imgur or photobucket, you can use the "img" tag to embed a link to the picture on the other site instead of uploading it here directly.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top