Oliver 550 1958 worth restoring?

[Davis Hillbilly]

My father has a Oliver 550 laying out in the weeds, serial number 66-635-519 so I'm guessing it's from 1958. It is in pretty rough shape though it still ran a year ago. There is no 3-point hitch or draw-bar and the hydraulics look like they've been completely removed. My dad says it is missing a few gears but I don't know that first hand. The front left rim looks pretty bad and one front and one rear tire will have to be replaced. Check the pictures below - there is probably a lot more wrong with it than I'm listing right now.

My question is this: is it worth trying to restore this tractor to working condition or should I consider selling it as a parts tractor? Any guesses as to how much I'd have to spend to get it functional (not necessarily to original condition)?

 

[Davis Hillbilly]

Here's a 3/4 view from the front:

 

[Mike (WA)]

Sounds like its beyond saving, with that many missing parts. "Missing a few (?) gears" sounds especially ominous. A good, working 550 is worth about $3,000 to $4,000 these days, and I think it would cost far more than that to get yours up in shape. Depends on how many a "few" is, for example.

 

[RAB]

I would disagree with the Mike (WA) .

You could find another scrap tractor - you would probably just need a back end and go from there. Don't see why you should have to spend that much to get it running again.

It is not eating anything and you can bide your time. As long as you don't take into account the hours put in to restore it, it need not be so expensive.

Did your Dad buy it new? Any other reason for keeping it? Your choice, but that might be one way I would consider to go with it.

Gears may only be the selectors. You don't know unless you investigate. Just try not to let it deteriorate any further. From what I have read they were a good utility tractor - and they ain't making anymore like that!

I didn't notice if it was gas or diesel. Either way a good tractor, for me diesel would be a further plus.

Regards, RAB

 

[Eric The Red]

I agree with mike as when you figure your time and you probably will not get by with less then $2000 in it if the information that you have from your dad is correct. Now the only thing that would make it worth while is sentimental value. We have an F-20 (only non oliver) in our garage that was my great grandfather's (we original bill of sale) that will get redone someday and it will cost more to fix it than it is worth on the open market but the sentimental value is what will get it running someday.

 

[J.Wondergem]

A whole lot worse than that has been brought back to life. I agree with RAB.

 

[old1850d]

Im working on a 550 right now and it was really better shape than this one and based on what ive got stuck in this one i would run like the wind and buy one that runs

 

[Eric The Red]

Here are some things that I can see that you will get into and some of this is guess work as cost but you usally spend more than you think (I might be high on some stuff but if you are sending it out to get worked on and most of this would be done yourself). I redid a Ferguson TO-20 for a guy and we had over $3000 in it before we knew it. I do not know how detail you want to get but if you do it right this is the costs that you will get into.
Carb rebuild $150
Manifolld $150
Grill $200
Front rims $150
Wiring Harness$100
Tranny Work $1000-1500
Draw Bar $500
Three Point $400
Paint $250
Front tires $150
Fluids $100
Muffler $20
Battery $100
Seat Bushings $50
Total $3820

 

[super 55]

Heck that doesn't look so bad. However, I don't even think of what I have spent on my Super 55. I just like working on it... and working on it.... and working on it.........

I am just about done, I feel pretty good about it, even though it has been a long job for me.

Where the heck is that tractor? I bet someone would take it on.

 

[Davis Hillbilly]

I dug through some piles of parts that I didn"t know about before and found most of the three point hitch, both fenders, some levers and a bucket of rusty gears -woot! Not only that, my dad found a shop manual for it and so, after some reflection, I think I will tackle this project. I"ll be sure to keep posting with updates - thanks everyone for your input! The question still remains if it is worth restoring but heck, I"ll at least give it a shot.

 

[Chris VdV]

If you are anywhere near Upstate NY, let me know. I have a complete transmission and hydraulic cover, pump etc. from a 550 of same vintage.
I also get down to PA and west to OH from time to time and even VT - so delivery is possible.
But to answer your question, without some friendly Oliver folks to help you out with cheap parts it'll cost you plenty...

 

[Mike (WA)]

Disagree? With ME? Well. . . For once, I'm speechless! LOL

I see in more recent posts, he has found a bunch of the missing stuff, so it looks a lot more feasible now.

You did bring up a good point that I missed, though- Investigate the scariest part- the transmission- before writing it off as a bad job. Thanks for your post.

 

[Davis Hillbilly]

Chris - I am in upstate NY! More west than up, but if you're serious about the transmission then drop me an e-mail and we can talk it over. I think clicking "send e-mail" at the end of this reply would do it. Thanks! I'll try to open up the transmission to see what I've got in the next couple days.