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Tractor Customizing

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Al English

02-16-2001 09:40:25

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If one of these tractors had chrome plating, casting roughness all ground down, custom pearl paint as smooth as porcelian, stainless steel exhaust header, Weber side draft carb., etc., etc., how do you think it would effect the value of the tractor compared to one perfectly restored to show condition?...(no death threats please)Al English

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Al English

02-18-2001 06:32:46

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Re: Tractor Customizing in reply to Al English, 02-16-2001 09:40:25

Thanks to all of you for the responses. My current tractor is complete, and has survived the years in surprisingly good condition. That being the case I feel obligated to give it the care it deserves. Besides, the long time friend I bought it from would ream me out to the third oversize if I messed up his baby. However, I've been looking for the right victim, and when I find it there's no telling what might happen. Everyone has different ways of looking at this, which is why I asked the question. I think putting a flathead V-8 in a 8N is really neat, but converting a tractor that wasn't made that way isn't really much different than what I was talking about. And 9N'er, somewhere I've seen the picture you mentioned at the Dearborn Inn. Over the 15 years I made cutaways and product displays, I did nearly all the Ford jobs. A few of them were shown at the Dearborn Inn, in the same area as that tractor. Another one of my displays is hanging from the ceiling of the Ford Museum across the street from the Dearborn Inn. My displays being shown in the same spot as Henry Ford once stood..... . It makes an everyday guy like me feel like I've really done something. Again, I appreciate all your responses...Al English

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Frank from Maine

02-16-2001 17:58:12

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Re: Tractor Customizing in reply to Al English, 02-16-2001 09:40:25

Now if I could just figure out how to shoe horn my 454 with blower into my 8n....:-)

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N-Sane

02-16-2001 12:56:07

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Re: Tractor Customizing in reply to Al English, 02-16-2001 09:40:25

Wouldn't it be boring if all common old tractors(N-series mostly) were the same? I like seeing just a little "customising" such as a stainless exausht. When seeing one out in the field slight customizers if you will, make me give a second look at the tractor. I don't like it when people cut,chop,modify tractors a lot to the point of barely being able to recognise the model. I heard somebody once say: "if you have seen one 8N you have seen them all" A lot of times some customizing is done for a very good useful purpose such as a ROPS, large toolbox,homemade brush guard,etc. if it's still a everyday working tractor.

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Scott

02-16-2001 12:14:43

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Re: Tractor Customizing in reply to Al English, 02-16-2001 09:40:25

Al- Whatever flips your buttons! Your configuration sounds interesting - I'd be glad to see it if you do it.

Personally, When I get done with my tractor I'm going to call it "stock plus". The paint and trim won't be exactly original, and I'm not going to try to hide my improvements. As far as value, I guess it doesn't matter to me. I've had her for 12 years now and my son will get her when I'm done.

Did you ever notice at tractor shows where all the spectators and owners gather? It's not around the 10 or so restored units, it's around the ones that are a little different. The purists may not like it, but they sure do stand around and talk about it!

My nickles worth-
Scott

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Nolan

02-16-2001 12:12:39

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Re: Tractor Customizing in reply to Al English, 02-16-2001 09:40:25

There's a fella around me somewhere that redoes MF tractors a bit that way. They are restored, but restored to automotive quality. As in all the casting roughness filled in, flawless multi-layered paint, etc. Absolutely beautifull machines.

He doesn't get squat for them at the auctions. Beat up N's and cub cadets match him for price.

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Russ in SoCal

02-16-2001 12:10:43

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Re: Tractor Customizing in reply to Al English, 02-16-2001 09:40:25

How are ya gonna to lower it and where are ya gonna get the forty series tires? How 'bout the hydraulics to make it bounce up and down?
Prove it can haul a trailer of manure, grade my road and drag logs, and we'll talk. I respect the folks that take the time and effort to restore these historically significant machines, but..... . All the grinding, chroming and painting doesn't add any value in my book. Russ

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Nolan

02-16-2001 19:16:13

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Re: Re: Tractor Customizing in reply to Russ in SoCal, 02-16-2001 12:10:43

Hmm, a low rider 8N.... that has some *interesting* possibilities!

Dang, where's a Mexican when you need one? :-)

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Jimp CO

02-16-2001 13:57:09

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Re: Re: Re: Tractor Customizing in reply to ED, 02-16-2001 12:16:22

Who needs a kit? Mine bounces up and down as it is, so no additional help needed thank you.

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9N'er

02-16-2001 12:09:30

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Re: Tractor Customizing in reply to Al English, 02-16-2001 09:40:25

Al: You might find it of interest that in late late June 1939, Ford and Ferguson presented the 9N to 460 guests at the Dearborn Inn. A photo on page 125 of the Ford Farm Tractors book by Leffingwell, shows that 9N. Ford had all of the aluminum polished to a mirror shine. But interesting was the rear and front hubs; the rough cast aluminum hubs were ground smooth and then polished to a mirror shine (yes the hubs were cast aluminum too.) It's a rather neat ol tractor given the hood, dog leg panels, hubs, and I suppose the dash were spit polished. I say: "go for it" and have fun with it. Would love to see picture of the end results.

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Beauty is in the eye....

02-16-2001 12:04:20

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Re: Tractor Customizing in reply to Al English, 02-16-2001 09:40:25

So if you LIKE it, fine by me. I would not expect a "purest" to like it or even give you as much as he would for an original condition tractor that needed a lot of work. AND that is not something I would do to my "family heirloom" that was my Uncle's and will be passed on the my son, and hopefully Grandson. :-)

NOW, if you are talking about doing this to an N that is a "hodge-podge" of parts from different models and years, then I could find that appealing. Especially if done well. It would not be much different that what has been done to cars of the thirties. They also would probably be worth more is "as built condition." But the "customizing" of many of them kept them out of the junk yards.

When do we see your project?!? :-)

Regards
Larry 8N75381

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Tacky, Tacky, Tacky

02-16-2001 11:01:09

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Re: Tractor Customizing in reply to Al English, 02-16-2001 09:40:25

You'd have more money if you didn't do all that junk before you try to sell the tractor.

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