Ford 8000 after 1972?

[JLWheeler]

I just acquired a Ford that has 8600 decals, built in January 1974. I was surprised to find that it used the model number G26 that would apply to an 8000. It is Model G2615M, serial #C395026. The model designation for an 8600 is GC1.

There are very few differences between the 8000 and the 8600, but this tractor appears to have the features of an 8600 such as the power steering reservoir integral to the pump, and the park position on the high/low shifter. Sean in PA suggested that it was a simply misbadged 8000, which may be the case, but if there was no difference between the 1974 8000 and 8600 then why have two models? The tractor has not been repainted or restored - it looks pretty original, so it would be surprising if the sheetmetal had been swapped out.

Do others have a post 1972 8000 with all the features (such as they are) of an 8600?

 

[Bern]

I just acquired a Ford that has 8600 decals, built in January 1974. I was surprised to find that it used the model number G26 that would apply to an 8000. It is Model G2615M, serial #C395026. The model designation for an 8600 is GC1.

There are very few differences between the 8000 and the 8600, but this tractor appears to have the features of an 8600 such as the power steering reservoir integral to the pump, and the park position on the high/low shifter. Sean in PA suggested that it was a simply misbadged 8000, which may be the case, but if there was no difference between the 1974 8000 and 8600 then why have two models? The tractor has not been repainted or restored - it looks pretty original, so it would be surprising if the sheetmetal had been swapped out.

Do others have a post 1972 8000 with all the features (such as they are) of an 8600?

Sure sounds like an 8600 to me based on your description. I'm assuming you got the model number off of the rear axle housing? If so, maybe it was replaced at one point in the past. Take a look at the hydraulic filter mounting pad on the LH side of the rear axle housing. Is it a machined surface? If so, it should be a genuine 8600 axle housing. Reply back with a pic if you're not sure what to look for.

 

[JLWheeler]

Hello Bern,
I haven't checked the stamped numbers yet, but the nameplate is interesting in itself as it has the model code for an 8000, but it was built in 1974. I cannot find any 8000 past 1972 listed on any sales website. Everything about it says it's an 8600 except the model code.

 

[Bern]

Hello Bern,
I haven't checked the stamped numbers yet, but the nameplate is interesting in itself as it has the model code for an 8000, but it was built in 1974. I cannot find any 8000 past 1972 listed on any sales website. Everything about it says it's an 8600 except the model code.

If it was built in 1974 then it has to be an 8600. I wouldn't lose sleep over the model number contradiction myself. Do the numbers on the tag match the numbers stamped on the rear axle? Look in the very back above the PTO shaft.

 

[JLWheeler]

If it was built in 1974 then it has to be an 8600. I wouldn't lose sleep over the model number contradiction myself.

I agree, it doesn't really matter as far as the tractor goes. It was more of an interesting anomaly in the historical documentation that it had the model designation for a model that was supposedly superseded 2 years earlier.

 

[Sean in PA]

The parts site says that the 8000 was made from 1/68-12/78, and that the 8600 was only made from 10/72-7/76, so the 8000 was supposedly made even after they stopped making the 8600. My references that I used for my model number identification document say the same thing.

 

[Bern]

The parts site says that the 8000 was made from 1/68-12/78, and that the 8600 was only made from 10/72-7/76, so the 8000 was supposedly made even after they stopped making the 8600. My references that I used for my model number identification document say the same thing.

When the parts catalog says that the 8000 was made from 1968 - 1978, they mean the 8000 series, to include the 8600 and 8700.

 

[Bern]

Hello Bern,
I haven't checked the stamped numbers yet, but the nameplate is interesting in itself as it has the model code for an 8000, but it was built in 1974. I cannot find any 8000 past 1972 listed on any sales website. Everything about it says it's an 8600 except the model code.

If you were to purchase a genuine 8000, 9000, 8600 & 9600 repair manual, you would notice that it is a combination of the original 8000-9000 manual, along with an 8600-9600 supplement. The various supplement pages were inserted into the original 8-9000 manual to make it one combined manual.

So what you'll notice now in the combined manual are supplemental sections inserted into the various affected areas such as the engine and transmission. An example of the first page of the transmission manual is attached below. Notice that the supplement was published in 1973.

 

[JLWheeler]

If you were to purchase a genuine 8000, 9000, 8600 & 9600 repair manual, you would notice that it is a combination of the original 8000-9000 manual, along with an 8600-9600 supplement. The various supplement pages were inserted into the original 8-9000 manual to make it one combined manual.

So what you'll notice now in the combined manual are supplemental sections inserted into the various affected areas such as the engine and transmission. An example of the first page of the transmission manual is attached below. Notice that the supplement was published in 1973.

Yes, I have that manual. It isn't really a question now of what type it is, but simply that the ID tag model number doesn't identify it as an 8600, even though the year and row-crop designation means that it is effectively an 8600. A 1974 8000 row crop is in all respects except the ID tag, an 8600. The interesting issue is the G26 Model instead of GC1 on a 1974 tractor.

 

[Sean in PA]

The 8600 and 8700 were part of the same series as the 8000? Why then, weren't the 2600, 3600 and 4600 part of the 2000, 3000 and 4000 series respectively? My references for the model number prefixes are from a document that Ford supplied to their dealer's service departments. It specifically says that G26 was an 8000 and that it was made from 1968-1978, and that GC1 is an 8600 made from 1972-1976 and GC2 was the 8700 made from 1976-1978. Maybe they did things differently for those larger tractors. I don't have any direct experience working on them. But why would the model number reference that Ford supplied to the dealers claim that the G26 8000 model was made from 1968-1978? That document does not mention series of tractors, only specific models.

 

[Bern]

The 8600 and 8700 were part of the same series as the 8000? Why then, weren't the 2600, 3600 and 4600 part of the 2000, 3000 and 4000 series respectively? My references for the model number prefixes are from a document that Ford supplied to their dealer's service departments. It specifically says that G26 was an 8000 and that it was made from 1968-1978, and that GC1 is an 8600 made from 1972-1976 and GC2 was the 8700 made from 1976-1978. Maybe they did things differently for those larger tractors. I don't have any direct experience working on them. But why would the model number reference that Ford supplied to the dealers claim that the G26 8000 model was made from 1968-1978? That document does not mention series of tractors, only specific models.

I can't explain why the parts catalog and this other document that you cite lists the 8000 as being produced until 1978, it makes zero sense. The 8700/9700 tractors came out in 1976 and these machines were light years ahead of the 8000/8600s. There would have been no reason whatsoever to continue to produce the 8000 model tractors into the late 1970s. That would be like comparing a 6000 to a 6600. Chalk up the documentation that you have as a clerical error.

 

[Sean in PA]

I can't explain why the parts catalog and this other document that you cite lists the 8000 as being produced until 1978, it makes zero sense. The 8700/9700 tractors came out in 1976 and these machines were light years ahead of the 8000/8600s. There would have been no reason whatsoever to continue to produce the 8000 model tractors into the late 1970s. That would be like comparing a 6000 to a 6600. Chalk up the documentation that you have as a clerical error.

But the OP's tractor has a model number starting with G26, which is also listed as being an 8000 on those same reference documents, and it has a 1974 Unit Number. I'm wondering if Ford had a large fleet order that it took them many years to fulfill, or possibly the customer specified a certain number each year for x years, and so they continued to make the 8000 alongside the 8600 and 8700. They continued to make the 4 cylinder 2000 offset model in small batches through the 60's, 70's and into the early 80's until the 1710 offset came out because they had some customers that wanted an offset tractor and Ford wasn't officially making one between 1965 and 1983.

 

[Bern]

But the OP's tractor has a model number starting with G26, which is also listed as being an 8000 on those same reference documents, and it has a 1974 Unit Number. I'm wondering if Ford had a large fleet order that it took them many years to fulfill, or possibly the customer specified a certain number each year for x years, and so they continued to make the 8000 alongside the 8600 and 8700. They continued to make the 4 cylinder 2000 offset model in small batches through the 60's, 70's and into the early 80's until the 1710 offset came out because they had some customers that wanted an offset tractor and Ford wasn't officially making one between 1965 and 1983.

I suppose your theory is plausible. Too bad we'll never know for sure.

 

[JLWheeler]

I was hoping someone else with a G26 built after 1972 might comment. I did check the numbers on the back of the transmission and they all match the data tag. As far as I can tell from the parts book, the 8600 style gearshift was not put in the 8000s. Really, the only single thing that is inconsistent with this being an 8600 is the G26 designation.

 

[Bern]

I was hoping someone else with a G26 built after 1972 might comment. I did check the numbers on the back of the transmission and they all match the data tag. As far as I can tell from the parts book, the 8600 style gearshift was not put in the 8000s. Really, the only single thing that is inconsistent with this being an 8600 is the G26 designation.

Don't be surprised if you don't find anyone else with the same machine you have. If it's real, it must be very rare.