What is a 1020 worth?

I recently purchased a very original and super straight 1973 1020 gas tractor at auction. My intentions were to give it a very detailed cosmetic face lift and flip it. I chose this tractor because it was so complete and original, having not even a small ding in any of the sheet metal. The original wiring harness is just as it came from the factory, never cut or modified. It was everything that I wanted for a project. The tractor also operated flawlessly. The engine sounded so good and ran out great, I just assumed it had be overhauled at some point in it's life.

I later realized the engine had issues! After tearing it down for further inspection, the engine is also very original with over 7100 hours on the clock. I come to this conclusion because the rod bearings are dated 9-72 and one of them has spun, marring the journal. So I've made the decision to do a major overhaul.

My question now... What is the value of a 1973 1020 gas utility with a major overhaul, new clutch, tires, automotive quality paint and ect? I know that tractor values can vary a little by area, we're in SW Missouri. I'm hoping for a selling price of at least $6500 for an exceptional example of a 1020. Is it possible? I know that people over pay for stuff everyday, But I'm hoping that $6500 isn't a crazy number for an exceptional example of this John Deere tractor.

Anything is possible. That sounds like an awfully tall order. Again, anything is possible!

If it is cosmetically very good and original, it may be worth as much as a
repainted one.
Ben

Location of tractor as you stated has a large bearing on value. I think one would be hard pressed to get $6500 for a pristine JD 1020 gasoline down here in Texas

The good news is a used crankshaft is not highly sought after. The not so good news is I don't know how many are waiting in the salvage yard waiting to be sold. Probably
one some place.

I suspect a fresh overhaul, new clutch, new tires and new paint would be lucky to increase the value of the tractor by $1,500, less than the cost of the new parts. Can you repair the spun bearing, adjust the free play on the clutch pedal and buff the paint on the sheet metal?

7,100 hours sounds like a lot of hours for that to still be the original 46 year old gas engine, it has probably been overhauled once already. I would do a compression test and pressure test the cooling system to check for possible cavitation through the piston sleeves or bad sleeve o-rings before sticking any new money into it.

Probably about half your number here.

I realize that I made a mistake, it just took me a couple days to tell my wife that I screwed up! I do restoration work for a living and I've been wanting to do a John Deere project for awhile. I've seen 1020 and similar size JDs sell for about 3k, it's really hard to buy a modern'ish 40ish horse JD in this part of the country for under 3k. The ones that I see selling at local auctions for under 3k are really junky.

Whether I'm restoring vintage kitchen appliances, motorcycles, soda machines, or etc, there's a certain level of "untouched" and "complete" that I look for in a project candidate. Every similar tractor that I've looked at in the 3k price range, just wouldn't work for me. This tractor had all the qualities I look for, even after tearing it down, I got that part right, it's not even missing a single screw.

It was at auction with a blind reserve of 3k, The high bid was $2750, The seller wouldn't accept it. I later paid his 3k reserve price before he took it home. If I had know the engine was so worn out, he would have defiantly taken it back home! lol!

All that being said, I've already torn it down and I'll have to eat it! My wife and I just made the decision to overhaul and restore the tractor. She made a tight deadline for it to be done on or before the first week of April and not to exceed an additional 7k for parts and shop hours.
We'll be donating the tractor to a local charity for one of their fundraiser auction.