Cost...
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32042
Printed Date: 14 Oct 2025 at 3:22am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Cost...
Posted By: chllngr528
Subject: Cost...
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2011 at 6:31pm
| I'm pretty good at estimating cost for my projects. As of right now the way I have it figured I will have around $2000 in restoring my WC. This includes the cost of acquiring the tractor, tires, paint, hood, and misc. parts and pieces that I need. While the answer will not deter me from continuing this project, whats a 1939 AC WC with a wide front worth if it is properly restored down to the last nut and bolt? |
Replies:
Posted By: chllngr528
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2011 at 6:35pm
| And yes I understand the reason we restore these old tractors (most of the time) is not to make money but to preserve the past and that a lot of times we put more money in them then they are worth but I am just curious. |
Posted By: GBACBFan
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2011 at 6:37pm
|
If you truly restore a WC down to the "last nut and bolt", you will have way more in the tractor than you will ever recoup if you sell it. If you are doing it for personal satisfaction and for your own personal collection, with no profit motive, go for it! It's a great experience.
I also question your estimate. New tires all around will be $800, (a restored tractor has new tires) and paint, primer, and painting accessories will be $600. The original cost of the tractor, and you're well over $2K.
A restoration down to the last nut and bolt can only be profitable if the tractor is highly collectable or rare and you bought it right, IMHO. ------------- "The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you can never know if they are genuine." - Mark Twain |
Posted By: Gary in da UP
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2011 at 6:50pm
| Restoring a tractor for"X" amount of $$$$, sounds good in theory. If you have ever been given a "free" puppy, and never had to feed it , take it to the vet., had it chew up a new pair of boots, ...you get the idea. Buy a lottery ticket if your feeling that lucky. |
Posted By: chllngr528
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2011 at 6:57pm
|
I'm not motivated by profit. The tractor was free and so far it has cost me less the $300 which includes front tires and parts to get it running real good (battery, points, plugs wires, water pump, hoses, belts etc). The fronts were used but only for 8 months so they may as well be new. The only thing I need to make it mechanically finished is a exhaust manifold which I am in the process of getting. I have few seals here and there to replace but that is not a big deal. I have all the painting accessories already so all I need is paint. (I have been restoring GTs for awhile). The list of stuff I still need. Hood, Fenders, the proper exhaust manifold and rear tires. I'm looking to see if I can find a used set for the time being though because the left rear had a massive blowout. I may have a line on the hood and fenders as well for $200 or so. |
Posted By: chllngr528
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2011 at 7:06pm
|
I have been pretty good at estimating my projects so far. The only one that kinda got out of hand is one I am working on now. 1979 case 224. The only reason that one went over was because I had to rebuild the engine twice due to a faulty connecting rod from chi-town. I also shouldn't have said a "restored" tractor as I am not rebuilding the engine. For what it will be used for it will run for many years to come. It has good compression and doesn't smoke so I don't feel the need to do a complete tear down of the engine. I plan to remove the aftermarket crap and replace it with what belongs, fix all the leaks, replace the broken/severely worn parts and spray bomb the heck out of her. (I'm just kidding about the spray bomb part) |
Posted By: Tedin NE-OH
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2011 at 10:36pm
| You do not make money restoring tractors, that is why they call it a HOBBY and not a business. |
Posted By: Alberta Phil
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2011 at 10:43pm
| The only guys that make money restoring tractors are those of us that do it for paying customers!! |
Posted By: Dave Everett
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 6:00am
| I have about 30 odd tractors now, (all allisses) i dont even want to try and guess what im in for. Ill find out at my retirement auction............... |
Posted By: David Maddux
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 6:06am
| One of my most expensive restorations was a tractor that was given to me. |
Posted By: Fred in Pa
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 6:10am
| Good luck with your project.I have one big tractor project ,my 18-30 Allis .People ask how much will I have in it when its done .I tell them I will know when its DONE !LOL .That is if I keep track. |
Posted By: wkpoor
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 7:44am
|
I've got a Farmall H thats is near 5K so far and no paint on er yet. Rims and tires are almost 2K of it. All for a 1K tractor when I'm done. Friend of mine is doing a JD Spoker D for a client. He will have near 40K in parts and estimated value 75K when he is done. Project is nearly a year old now. So some projects do net a profit but darn few. |
Posted By: Dave in il
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 8:12am
|
I have a 1951 Massey Harris 44, I'm over $3000 (Overhauled engine) and haven't touched the tires. I could have bought 2 nice ones for that. LOL
I bought a 46 WC with poor but usable tires that runs good and decent paint for $900.
If you do an every bolt restoration to a WC it's still a WC and there were something like 150,000 of them built, there will always be a cheaper one than yours for sale somewhere. It's a matter of who wants it an what they're willing to give.
|
Posted By: jjrosty
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 9:45am
| But if you list it on Ebay.... :) |
Posted By: CTuckerNWIL
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 1:13pm
|
My WC was given to me and I did all the work myself except for grinding the crank and rebuilding the mag. I had every nut and bolt out of it,sand blasted and primed everything but the gas tank and drawbar assembly. I rebuilt the engine but hired the final assembly of the engine, I had the new sleeves and pistons in along with the crank and bearings fitted. I haven't kept track of little things like a bearing here and there and I have used tires that cost next to nothing. MY total(that I kept track of) so far is over 5K. If you can do one for under 3K, maybe you should share your secrets. ------------- http://www.ae-ta.com" rel="nofollow - http://www.ae-ta.com Lena 1935 WC12xxx, Willie 1951 CA6xx Dad bought new, 1954WD45 PS, 1960 D17 NF |
Posted By: Fred in Pa
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 2:58pm
|
Just an old saying .If you have to ask how much ,you can not aford it. |
Posted By: TomMN
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 3:25pm
| When I did my grandpa's WC I thought I was keeping fairly good track in my head and I was with the large dollar items. I was thinking I had $3500 or so in it but I had been putting all the receipts in a drawer and when I was done I put them in an excel spreadsheet and it came to $5800. All the small incidentals add up quicker than one thinks. I don't think I will divulge what excel said I have in the WD45 Diesel. |
Posted By: BrianC,Ont
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 4:25pm
|
I think a wide front WC is worth more than a narrow front. ------------- 35WC on steel, B with belly mower, D17 puller, D15 Series II puller, D15 Series II with loader, 608 Lawn Tractor |
Posted By: chllngr528
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 6:24pm
|
Lol what a bunch of doubters. Its truly amazing what can be done with a good set of networking skills and patience. I'm sure if I ran out and bought everything I need at once then I would be in the hole 4-5k. Here is a example. I needed the cap for the mag on my WC. Every where I looked they wanted any where from $60 to $90 for this little cap. Well I was at a auction (where I might add I bought a Case 446 for $100) and while walking through the vendors I found a guy who rebuilds mags. After talking to him awhile he sold me a cap for $30. I needed a water pump and everywhere I looked they wanted any wheres from $90 to $120. I bought a brand new pump (might be brand new rebuilt) for $65. Next deal I might strike is on a hood and fenders. I think $200 its a good deal for a nice set of used fenders and a good hood. So after buying the hood/fenders I will be about $500 into her. Lets throw in $400 for paint, $600 for rear rubber, and about $150 for a manifold I'm at $1750. Add another $300-$400 for misc stuff and I'm at $2150. Now my original question was How much money do you (the forum) think a 39 WC with a wide front will be worth in excellent mechanical condition, all original parts (i.e no foot brake or farmer modified equipment), with a nice correct paint job would worth? |
Posted By: chllngr528
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 6:30pm
| I don't know why I made the title of my post cost. I should have made it Whats a WC wide front worth. Sorry for that confusion. |
Posted By: Gary in da UP
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 6:47pm
| Your right and we got off on another tangent, sorry about that. About 1200 to $1500, in todays market. |
Posted By: CTuckerNWIL
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 6:51pm
|
You can go back and change the title of your post if you want. You mentioned "restoration". You haven't mentioned checking compression on the engine,or any other work besides tuning it up and getting it to run. What about the front end, bearings cleaned and seals replaced? What about the transmission and differential, have you gone through them and cleaned and replaced seals and bearings? Now add your labor into the mix @ say $60/hr and what do you have? There are all kinds of tractors out there that get hosed off and rattle canned and people call them a restoration. I'm not saying you would do a sloppy paint job, I'm just saying my idea of a restoration is cleaning and checking everything out including the crankshaft and bearings. ------------- http://www.ae-ta.com" rel="nofollow - http://www.ae-ta.com Lena 1935 WC12xxx, Willie 1951 CA6xx Dad bought new, 1954WD45 PS, 1960 D17 NF |
Posted By: GBACBFan
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 7:01pm
|
Gary's right with his $1200 - $1500 estimate. Watch the classifieds on this site, YT, and Ebay and see how many clean WC's sell for over $2000. It will be a very short list. ------------- "The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you can never know if they are genuine." - Mark Twain |
Posted By: B26240
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 7:22pm
| I have a formula, its add up all expences notcounting labor and divide in half and thats what its worth!! the wide front is of special interest however, that could be a 1k item by itself if in good shape and not welded like many are. |
Posted By: chllngr528
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 7:24pm
Here is where I mentioned the compression and the reason I shouldn't have said full on resto. |
chllngr528 wrote:Posted By: Gary in da UP
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 7:27pm
| I might be tempted to offer $2500 or more for an original ,complete, unmolested, one-owner, shed stored, good running unstyled WC wide front with spoke wheels.... But I would still want to "sleep on it" |
Posted By: chllngr528
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 7:36pm
| I'm not a expert in painting by any means but I do have the attention to detail and enough knowledge to at least do a nice paint job. |
Posted By: chllngr528
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 7:44pm
| The front axle is mint. Not bent welded or damaged by any means. I have had quite a few people want to buy it any wheres from $300 to $600. |
Posted By: Fred in Pa
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 7:57pm
| It will be worth to you what you have in it !!! And that is all that counts .NO BODY can tell you with out seeing and checking over your TRACTOR what THEY THINK its worth!!! 100 people can look at tractor in person ,you will have 100 opinions!! Take it to a Auction and you will only know what it is worth to one person!!!the high bidder !! Enjoy your project ,that is what it is worth to you. |
Posted By: AaronH
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 8:14pm
| Please post pics as you go. I really like the way those wide fronts look. |
Posted By: Thad in AR.
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 8:26pm
| I've always felt that working on my tractors is cheaper than going to see the psychiatrist. Sorry for the spelling. My wife calls it my therapy. I'm different than Tucker I count my time at minimum wage that way I only invest $50000-60000 in a $1200 tractor. |
Posted By: ACscott
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 8:53pm
| this is a wide front wc that isn't restored on ebay right now for $2000. |