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H delemia

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Paul G. in Mn

Member
I have a 1939 H that I want to restore. It sat for meany years stuck and the motor is pretty bad shape. I just bought a 1950 H today that is actually really nice and had 4 new tires. I bought it for about the price of the tires. My delemia is do I pull this motor and put in my 39? It runs really nice. If I were to rebuild the 39 block Id spend a small fortune as Iam missing so meany things and I am not sure if the crank or cam or head are good and even the block for that matter. I did get the pistons out but broke sleaves doing it. What would you guys do if this was your project? I collect 1939 models and that is the reson I want to save that one.
 
If it were me i wouldn't canablize a good tractor for one in really poor shape. If it were me I'd keep the crappy one for parts or go find another for parts for the crappy one.
 
Use that 1950 H, enjoy it, and don't look back. If you really want to fix the '39 find another parts tractor!!!!!! Armand
 
I don't think tearing up the good running 1950 H to fix the other would be a good idea. The 1939 is harder to find and should be kept as original as possible. If your 1939's engine is too bad to rebuild, find another good block out of a non-running tractor. I'd hate to see a good runner be used for parts, but that's me because I love fixing them and don't like seeing them get parted out.
 
If I'm hearing you right, I'll just say that a good-running '39 would be nice and I'd respect the work that went into it, especially given your starting point. A '39 that's running because it had a 1950 motor swapped into it wouldn't be of the least interest. That would not be a restoration, not even an overhaul. It would be a motor swap.

If all you want is an H that's running, keep the "nice" '50 and let someone else restore the '39.
 
From my perspective it would be a real shame to "kill-off" and nice 1950 H to get an engine for a rough '39. mike
 
I agree with the others, don't destroy the 1950. If you must have 39 models, assuming the 39 block is ok, take it to a machine shop, get the block hot tanked, put in a rebuilt cam, get the crank reground, and the head redone. Likely about $2000. Too much money? Then sell the 50 for more like what it's worth from your description -- maybe $1000 more or less.
 
Things come to he who waits. Leave the 1950 "H" in one piece. Other parts tractors will come along, Rome not built in one day.Best of luck Scott
 
I would leave the late model alone and get parts for the old one. Sleeve kits arent that expensive and you want a good engine if as you say you collect 39 models. Bottom line is how authentic do ya want the 39 model to be when done.
 
Paul:

Don't break down that 50...I am working on one of my grandpa's tractors now. The engine on this one is stuck, but I intend on rebuilding it. I have a complete, not stuck engine from a 1940 H in the shop. If I don't need parts from it, You could probably get the whole thing from me pretty reasonable... I won't know more for a little while, or how much of a hurry you are in, but keep it in mind. I kept it as a spare for this rebuild, but may not need it.

Mark Swenson...the dyno guy from LRPTA in Dalton
 

I'm with the other guys here... The only thing that makes a '39 model special is if it's a "numbers matching" tractor. That is, all the major castings must have a 1939 date code on them... If IH was doing letter date codes, my best guess is that they'd be "I" codes for 1939.

The 1950 H would be just as special to me. If I'm not mistaken 1950 was when IH made some significant changes to the tractor.
 
After doing some thinking and listening to what was said I think I am going to take the new tires off and put some older weather checked tires on the 1950 and then I'll find an old loader and use it to push snow if needed and then I will either find anther engine for the 1939 or rebuild it if possible. That 1939 isnt a low serial number its a real later 39 with dec casting codes.
 
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