Engine Overall in a 51 Farmall H

Do not just throw nuts and bolts into a box as you do the teardown. Put all nuts and bolts from one section of the engine into a box
and mark the box as to where they were removed.
An example would be the head bolts, then the rocker arms and bolts. Pan bolts in another box.
This saves time during assembly so you do not need to hunt for the correct bolts or nuts.

I would get the engine degreased "cooked" once you have it stripped. Have the machine shop to check the crankshaft and install new cam bearings. They may recommend using a new cam shaft. Redo the cylinder head too. Find a good machine shop in your area. Good Luck, Hal

Post it here when you have finished and have it running.

If it is just a bad valve, it could be fairly cheap to fix. I wouldn't spend $1800 to completely rebuild the motor until I knew a little more about why it was missing.

If you have any skill with wrenches, you can do it yourself. An H is an easy tractors to work on. They were designed to be simple to fix. Like others have said, get yourself some manuals and a parts book.

crankshaft turned .010 on rods and mains
new cam bearings
rods turned
flywheel machined
engine kit with pistons,pins, rings, bearings, all the gaskets, sleeves (pressed into the block).

add $120 or so for new clutch and pressure plate

add a couple hundred or so for head rebuilt

i think no matter what it costs (up to a point of course) its worth it to do it youself for the stuff you learn and the satisfaction you get.

Jeff

If you are inclined to do it yourself get a shop manual and maybe a friend that has done an overhaul before.

I always look at these things this way.

With a dead hole, for all intents and purposes, the tractor is totally useless to you for any work at all; it is nothing more than a neat pile of iron.

Plus, if you are going to sell it and are honest about it, it "might" bring maybe $350 or $400. Nobody else wants that 3-lung problem either.

You can forget the $2K.

So, stew on it for a day or two and forget the past; face it, yesterday is gone. Then when you are ready to decide, do you want to buy the tractor again for another $1750?

I would. You'll see a heck of a lot more money in your lifetime, but there are only so many 51 Hs out there and you will know what you have. Hang on to her for another 20 years and you'll see all your money back.

'Course, I'm a fanatic when it comes to red tractors too; I wanna save 'em all.

It's a tough call, Sarge

Allan