1855 what to do

[BigJohn23]

Tell me I'm crazy....Here's the deal, I have a chance to buy an 1855 diesel that has a window in the side of the block. The tractor was being used when it blew. The rear tires are 18.4 x 38 151 Firestones at about 60 percent. The sheet metal is above average but the paint could use a new job. I am thinking I should buy this and put a 5.9 cummins in it. Does anyone have an exact breakdown of cost of parts and cost of unknowns to doing this conversion? What is this tractor worth presently and what is it worth with a neat cummins conversion?
 

[rrrepair]

call Ron at 563 382 4530 and talk to him, he does many oliver repowers and can get you a good price.
 

[e]

If you are looking at adding value to a tractor, a conversion will add some, but not as much as you would think. Unless absolutely exceptional or if it’s an FWA tractor, they tend to max out at around $10k. Not to say you may not get lucky and find the right guy at the right time. The rule of thumb I use is a conversion adds about $3k to the value of the tractor. Again, that’s a rule of thumb and not for every case.

Talking to guys, what I’ve found hurts the value of a converted tractor is parts. If something breaks, then what do you do? You can’t look up “1855 with Cummins” on AGCO’s website to find a clutch, turbo, injection pump, etc. The configuration of most engines is altered from the way it left Cummins. Cummins parts network works strictly on CPL and serial numbers. If the parts on the engine you have are not original, most Cummins distributors fall apart if the engine has been altered. So, it becomes a seek and destroy mission to find the right people to get you the right parts. And most conversions done by guys end up being snowflakes. This means the person on the other end of the phone has to be well versed on conversions to help out. All of this adds up to a bad deal when you are broke down and need to get up and going.

Genereally, conversions work out well if:

1. You plan on keeping the tractor and using the snot out of it and you want to have a converted tractor just to want it.
2. You already have the tractor and know it’s history.
3. You have a tractor and know of or have an cheap available engine.

For costs, here is what I sell parts for:

Cummins Conversion Flywheel $539.40
New Cummins Flywheel Housing $300.00
Pressure Plate $260.36
6 Button Clutch $175.38
8 Button Clutch $194.65
Pilot Bearing $13.88
Release Bearing $30.63
PTO Drive Hub (Large Frame) $135.59
Starter $161.58
Mount Kit $100

You will then need a bell housing from an 1850, etc to mate the flywheel housing to the over/under. These run about $300. So, figure about $2100 for parts to get the engine sitting in the frame. Factor in shipping and other misc things and you are at about $2500.

Now, you’ll need a tach drive and hoses (~$250). Depending on what you find for an engine, you might need to reconfigure some stuff. The worst option is a pickup engine, but if you start with one of those, you’ll need a fan hub ($100), used manifold and turbo lines (~$300), alternator mounts ($50), and an injection pump with the correct governor and fueling settings ($700). Add this up and there is another $1400 to get the engine right. That’s on top of the cost of an engine which you might as well figure about $1500.

Then there will be a bunch of little this and that’s. Remember a Cummins has the exhaust on the opposite side of the engine as the Waukesha. So, you’ll need to either do some funky routing of the exhaust or punch new holes in the hood. Piddling like this adds up. It may sound high, but I’d figure on another $1000 for the unknown.

So, right there, you’re at $6400. If you get the tractor for $1500, that’s $7900 total. Say you can sell it for $9500 all painted up, is a $1600 profit worth it?
 

[rrlund]

If it was me,and you really want to save it,I'd be looking for a below average 1850 diesel. Take the front tub and engine from that and make yourself a good tractor with a 354 Perkins in it.
 

[J.Wondergem]

Another idea, is the hole in the block repairable, or did it take a web, or other parts out?
 

[formenwhogrow]

or, he could save himself the headache, leave it sit and find a good 105 white.