Aluminum Hood parts?

[oldmopars]

Well, I just returned home with my new to me TE-20, and yes it is a TE-20, SN 32704, so its a 48.
However, I discovered that the front dog legs and grill center are Aluminum, not steel like all the other TE/TO-20s I have seen or the parts offered for replacements.
Why would they be aluminum? The main trans section is aluminum too, but that does not seem odd, I have seen other with that.
And Yes, I know the difference, I work in the metal industry and can identify Aluminum vs. Steel.
So, was this normal, were there a lot like this, or is this odd? I would like to restore the aluminum parts, but i don't think I can, they are a bit rough.
 

[miner09]

I always heard they used old war planes etc after WWII. Used what they had to build.
 

[Richard L]

oldmopars, the actual name of what the trans. case was made of in some cases was Magnesium Electron. They did have regular cast transmissions to start with but with the war effort they had to find other materials. So as miner09 said some of the planes became Ferguson transmissions.
 

[Charles in Aus.]

Some lucky owners have bonnets made completely from alloy , they do dent easily though .
If you use the polish and practices used for ' Airstream ' caravans on them you can achieve a mirror polish that is really something to behold .
 

[oldmopars]

[oldmopars]

So are you saying that it could be original? If it was had made, he was quite the craftsman, but as you can imagine, it has been many years and it is showing its age with lots of dents and repairs.
 

[Tom H.]

It is too bad that aluminum parts aren?t available, but, the steel ones will hold up better. A little while ago I bought a to20 with worn out aluminum
sides and grill. Everything was well worn dented and mangled. I bought the new sides and front grill pieces here and am very happy with the
quality. Also bought the hood support as the tracks were with the hood as extra parts.

Looking forward to getting into this project. Post pictures of yours.
 

[John Deere D]

I'm presently away from our summer home however, I do own a TEA-20 parts tractor with a complete Aluminium Bonnet:

Bob.. Owner operator MF FE 35 X and TEA-20:
 

[Kirk-NJ]

Dents in the aluminum???
 

[Greg Vickers]

My tea20 had an aluminum hood, but the grill was steel. When I posted about painting the transmission, John told me whatever you do, don't strip it down to bare metal, but it was too late, I already did.
 

[oldmopars]

I wish mine was in good enough shape to restore, but it would take a master in metal craft to return it to good shape. Lots of welding, lots of bondo, lots of hammering. I will try, but I think in the end I will just end up buying the steel replacements. Its too bad, I think it would be cool to keep it.
Anyone have pictures of a TE-20 with aluminum hood, preferably not painted?
And is it just the sides, or the top too, my top is steel.
 

[John Deere D]

Look into "ZINC CHROMATE PRIMER GREEN"

Bob...
 

[Tim PloughNman Daley]

HHHMMM.. I doubt any sheet metal parts were 'made' unless the person had the stamping dies. What exactly are you thinking was ho-made? Some fellas ' farmerized' parts like grilles and such, but a dogleg, well that just seems hard to do. Some fellas also will try to use Ford parts and there are very few Ford parts that will interchange with Ferguson parts. Can you post pictures?

Tim Daley(MI)
 

[oldmopars]

[oldmopars]

Forgot the pictures:
https://s5.postimg.org/gracv8gh3/20180204_150434.jpg

https://s5.postimg.org/vn8w2tcg7/20180204_150447.jpg