[Farmall] 2 Super A's combined into 1 Restored tractor

[Jim Becker]

Dale,
I agree with the other 2 comments you have gotten.  Don't tear the second 
tractor apart any more than needed to get parts.  You may want to finish 
tearing it apart after you finish the first tractor.  But I'd wait on that 
move until the first is done.  Too many extra parts floating around may 
confuse the issue later on.  By the way, the automotive type tie rod ends 
didn't get used on the Super A until well after 1948.  So you may have some 
sort of frankentractor there.

Jim Becker jim.becker at verizon.net

-----Original Message----- 
From: Dale Finch
Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2011 7:45 PM
To: farmall at lists.antique-tractor.com
Subject: [Farmall] 2 Super A's combined into 1 Restored tractor

Hi all.  I just had my 2 '48 Super A's trailered to the shop where I plan to
begin rebuilding them into one.  Though they are both the same year, there
are some differences, such as one has the older steering rod ends, while the
other has the "automotive" style ones.  One of the engines has a broken
crankshaft (at least that was the understanding when I bought it for a parts
tractor), but I THINK the rest of the tractor might be the better of the two
to be the surviving tractor.



My big question is, can anyone outline an approach for beginning this
project?  In other words, how should I start it?  Should I start tearing
down BOTH tractors simultaneously, choosing the better parts from each as I
go along, or should I pick which one I THINK is the better, and start
breaking it down, replacing bad parts as I come across them from the other
tractor?  The second engine works fine, although I will probably at least do
a top overhaul while I have it apart.



I will be degreasing, sandblasting/stripping, repairing/replacing parts,
then repainting, and figure it will be several months' work, at the rate I
go.



I'm sure some of you have done "2 into 1" projects before, and can at least
give me some ideas, and help me avoid big pitfalls!  Thanks, and I will
check in tomorrow.



Dale Finch

Chapel Hill, NC

919-969-6543