[AJD] 39 Styled "B" in a Box

[Dean VP]

Eric:

As a fellow owner of a 1940 JD B I can empathize with what you are going
through.  I assume this is a hand start 1939 B as opposed to a slant dash B.
As far as tin goes, I suspect with a little leg work you could find a used
hood that isn't all rusted out. Now for the block and head, I suspect they
could be found used too except any used block you find might need to be
bored anyway, so the lowest cost approach might be boring and sleaving your
existing block. I think I might have an extra head around here, casting
number B1306R but I haven't looked at it for a long time. I suspect it will
need to be totally reworked which may be no better than what you have. 

One thing you might do is check Valu-Bilt in the Des Moines, IA area and see
what they may have available. At least they might be able to give you some
price references for what you are getting into. They have a rebuilt head w/o
valves (B1306R) for $267.79. They have a re-bored block with aluminum
pistons for $411.99. I suspect you could just get a block from them if you
wanted to try to save your current pistons. 

For all you know they might have a used hood for sale.

www.valu-bilt.com

As far as the tag goes, you might try putting a piece of thin paper over it
and then using a #2 pencil and rubbing the lead over the paper and over the
serial number. Sometimes that will bring out the numbers on the paper.
Another way might be to use some kind of HD liquid cleaner on it to see if
that might clear it up. The third choice will be to remove the tag off of
the block and take it to a jeweler or someone similar to see if they can
help retrieve the number. 

If it is a 1939 model the range of serial numbers will be from 60000 to
80999.

Have fun.

Dean A. Van Peursem
Snohomish, WA 98290

I'm a walking storeroom of facts..... I've just lost the key to the
storeroom door 


www.deerelegacy.com

http://members.cox.net/classicweb/email.htm



-----Original Message-----
From: antique-johndeere-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:antique-johndeere-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of E.
Thatcher
Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2004 10:13 AM
To: antique-johndeere at lists.antique-tractor.com
Subject: [AJD] 39 Styled "B" in a Box

It looks like I'm going to be calling on everyone a lot for advice pretty 
soon. I'm picking up a complete early 39 styled B in the next couple of 
weeks. My brother-in-law obtained the tractor a few years ago just for 
hauling it away. He tore it down to the engine case and transmission/rear 
end assembley but lost interest. He offered it to me so what could I say. 
The tractor suffered more from neglect than use it seems. The transmission 
and lower engine (crank, cam) and governor unit appear to be OK and in good 
shape. The cylinder bores are not the best though, thoroughly and too deeply

pitted for rebore and the tin is rusted through in several places although 
it is straight. I don't know about the radiator or the cylinder head for 
that matter. Any thoughts on the tin... replace with used, any good sources 
for new reproductions??  What's your best advice for the cylinder 
bores...have the original block sleeved, find another block with good 
bores??? I think this one is beyond reboring. I'm considering puting this 
little guy back to original or close to condition since it does appear to be

an early styled B. Another problem, the serial number tag is in place but 
badly weathered. My brother-in-law was able to carefully clean it but 
couldn't make out all of the numbers. Any suggestions on picking up the 
faint remnants of the number stampings?? I'd like to determin its actual 
production date. Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks.

Eric Thatcher
Carrollton, IL

52 JD A


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