Ford 545a Ford 4500 interchange

[avjz79]

Do any of the parts from a 1966 Ford 4500 with a 740 front loader and a 755 backhoe interchange to a early model 545a? Including the 4x4 manual reverser, engine,Hard nose, rear end that the backhoe bolts to? How different is the hydraulic frame on the 4500 compared to the 545? Is the 545 similar on how it uses the front crankshaft for the hydraulic pump? How much of an upgrade is the 545 tractor compared to the 4500?

 

[Sean in PA]

The engine and transmission should swap right in. The linkage for the reverser on the trans might need to be moved with the trans. The hard nose might need the front axle support (bolster) transplanted with it. The "rear end that the backhoe bolts to" is the rear axle. The backhoe subframe should bolt right up to the rear axle if swapped. The hydraulic pump and tank are similar in design, but if you swap the hard nose, you'll likely need to bring the tank along with the nose. The 4500 was replaced by the 535, which was replaced by the 545, which was replaced by the 545A. So it is a direct replacement over time. The only real improvements might be in small design changes that most folks probably wouldn't notice. It uses the same 201 ci 3 cylinder engine. The 545A might have a couple of ponies more in hp from minor improvements in the injection system, but not enough to notice a difference. The power of the backhoe and loader will peak at the relief valve pressure, which is well below the maximum output that the engine could provide. One improvement is that the 545A will be 10 to 15 years younger, so it might be less wore out, but that might be negated by the use or misuse of either tractor over the years by previous owners.

 

[Destroked 450]

Ford upgraded the 201 engine in mid 68 with a higher flow head and higher lift camshaft, this increased hp from 46 to 52 pto hp
The engines will directly interchange but the earlier engine will have less power
Steering is completely different, 4500 uses a manual steering column with power assist cylinder mounted inside the front bolster, 545 has hydrostatic steering with orbital motor at the column and hydraulic steering cylinders attached to the front axle
Early power steering pump pulled oil from the oil tank made into the hard nose while later models and 545 used the later style canister power steering pump pulled pumps

If your looking at acquiring the 4500 for spare parts for the 545 it’s best to pass

 

[Sean in PA]

Ford upgraded the 201 engine in mid 68 with a higher flow head and higher lift camshaft, this increased hp from 46 to 52 pto hp
The engines will directly interchange but the earlier engine will have less power
Steering is completely different, 4500 uses a manual steering column with power assist cylinder mounted inside the front bolster, 545 has hydrostatic steering with orbital motor at the column and hydraulic steering cylinders attached to the front axle
Early power steering pump pulled oil from the oil tank made into the hard nose while later models and 545 used the later style canister power steering pump pulled pumps

If your looking at acquiring the 4500 for spare parts for the 545 it’s best to pass

His last question "How much of an upgrade is the 545 tractor compared to the 4500?" made me think that he has a 4500 and is looking to get a 545A and wants to possibly use the 4500 as a parts tractor for the 545A.

 

[avjz79]

Ford upgraded the 201 engine in mid 68 with a higher flow head and higher lift camshaft, this increased hp from 46 to 52 pto hp
The engines will directly interchange but the earlier engine will have less power
Steering is completely different, 4500 uses a manual steering column with power assist cylinder mounted inside the front bolster, 545 has hydrostatic steering with orbital motor at the column and hydraulic steering cylinders attached to the front axle
Early power steering pump pulled oil from the oil tank made into the hard nose while later models and 545 used the later style canister power steering pump pulled pumps

If your looking at acquiring the 4500 for spare parts for the 545 it’s best to pass

I got an old 4500 for free and just went through the locked up engine. a lot of little things left on it to do but saw a good deal 545 that runs and drives but without a backhoe. If I end up buying the 545 it'd be nice to know that everything will swap over including the backhoe

 

[Destroked 450]

The loader and backhoe can be installed on a 545 chassis but if the 545 has a loader the 4500’s backhoe won’t attach to a 4500’s loader frame
4500 backhoe clamps on at 4 pins
545’s backhoe bolts to the end of the loaders frame
I’m sure with some cutting and welding it could be modified to fit
As for the tractor the 545 would be a good one to have with a more powerful engine, torque converter or 6x4 manual over a 4x4, and a big bonus with the hydrostatic steering

 

[avjz79]

The loader and backhoe can be installed on a 545 chassis but if the 545 has a loader the 4500’s backhoe won’t attach to a 4500’s loader frame
4500 backhoe clamps on at 4 pins
545’s backhoe bolts to the end of the loaders frame
I’m sure with some cutting and welding it could be modified to fit
As for the tractor the 545 would be a good one to have with a more powerful engine, torque converter or 6x4 manual over a 4x4, and a big bonus with the hydrostatic steering

yes, the 545a currently has a good loader on it but no backhoe. You're saying my 4500 backhoe (755 backhoe) will not directly bolt up to the current 545 rear end without modification?

545 stamps above starter

model number
DD411
unit
2J28B
tractor number
C693318

4500 stamps

5J27C
45021G
C125226 6A18

 

[shaun wallace]

If 545A was built as loader tractor only with 3point hitch there is no sub frame for hoe to bolt too.

 

[Sean in PA]

The loader frame for the 545A does not have the rear section that is needed for the backhoe to mount to. The entire subframe mount for the loader and backhoe from the 4500 should swap over to the 545A, and you'll most likely need to use the loader from the 4500 with that subframe.

 

[Destroked 450]

yes, the 545a currently has a good loader on it but no backhoe. You're saying my 4500 backhoe (755 backhoe) will not directly bolt up to the current 545 rear end without modification?

545 stamps above starter

model number
DD411
unit
2J28B
tractor number
C693318

4500 stamps

5J27C
45021G
C125226 6A18

DD4 = 545A
1 = diesel engine
1 = no pto
? = there’s a letter missing for the transmission code
2J27B = 1982 September 28 day shift
C693318 is a late 82 serial number

450 = 4500
2 = gas engine
1 = no pto
G = 4x4 manual reversing transmission
5J27C = 1965 September 27 afternoon shift
C125226 = is a early 66 serial number
6A18 = 1966 January 18

I have seen 2 date codes stamped on a number of early models, I’ve heard the earlier number is the transmission assembly date and the later number is the tractors assembly date, but I have no proof of that