Farmall Cub

Help -

I've always found opportunities appear when you least expect. Today, while picking up bales of hay from a farmer with as horse stable to seed a new lawn, I noticed an old Farmall sitting in the farmer's yard. To my casual comment of "now there's a real project . . ", he responded: "I'll give it to you for nothing if you want it. In fact, I'll deliver it to you if you'll take it".!!

Now here's the rest of the story. It's a 1939 Farmall M. The engine hood, radiator, and cylinder head been removed, are sitting along side on the ground, and appears to have been sitting outside like that for "some time". Rear tires look good, one front tire is missing. But again - the top of the motor has been open to the weather for an indefinite time (years?). I got the impression the head was removed because it was bad. The owner said all of the major parts are there.

I'm half way through a Cub rehab and while it's taking forever due to never enough time, this thing seems like much more than I could envision tackling. Even for free. Is there even hope of freeing up an engine like that? I can't believe I'm even thinking about this.

I'd appreciate any opinions. Also, is anyone else interested?

I might be interested if you have some photos.

Hey Paul. Boy, does that sound tempting.......

I'll get some pictures of this thing and post them. I'm sure it's not going anywhere right now. I'd appreciate input from anyone who has done a restoration of this magnitude, in terms of what is likely involved to getting a motor that has been open like that back to life (ie is there even hope?). Also, any thoughts about a 1939 M would be appreciated, such as availability of parts, etc. Guess what I'm really asking for here is a "reality check" . . . .

The M should have a sleeved motor. So even if the cylinder walls are rusty, it shouldn't be a problem. Anyway, free is good!

A complete engine kit will include pistons, sleeves, rings, bearings, and gaskets. I'd recomend having the block and head checked for cracks. Parts should be availlable at a salvage yard, and a lot of parts still over the dealer counter and after-market.
The price is right,, go for it!!

I know I'm a little late, but from experiences w/ pistons frozen and rusted into the sleeves, if you can put the head back on good or not and pour diesel into the cylinders and let it sit, this freed up my 2 F-12s and My F-20 that there previous owners deemed un salvagable, i poured it in there let it set for a couple months in a covered barn and hand cranked 2 free the other required the use of a block of wood and a hammer but it came free very quickly, just make sure when you put the fuel in through the spark plug holes that you fill it up all the way until it flows out, and make sure you put the plugs back in, and don't forget when you try to free it up take the plugs out, it turns easier that way

I would guess that Paul passed up on that freebie or we would have heered more about it unless I missed the results in a different thread.

Yeah, you're right. I passed on it. It was just too overwhelming of a job for me to even think of undertaking. But it's still there. Just waiting for somebody to take it home. I still run through the thought process every time I take my daughter over to that farm for her riding lesson. Maybe next time I take a picture of it and post it.

if i only lived closer hmmmmmm