400D troubles

Last summer, a friend of mine bought a '55 400D. The tin was in good shape and it was a runner. Turns out, the seller thought fuel filters were overrated, because it didn't have any in it. The injection system failed shortly after he got it home. When he found out what it was going to cost for repairs, he decided to sell it (cheap). I bought it off him and sent out the pump and injectors. The pre-combustion cups were heavily worn/cracked, and I was advised by a local diesel mechanic to pull the head and check for cracks. I'm glad I did, but not glad with what I found. The head is pretty much destroyed. The #4 cylinder had been eating water for a while (i'm guessing), because there is excessive pitting around the valves. It even pitted the valve seat. Checked the rod and main bearings, and they're junk. Pulled the pistons and sleeves, and there are cracks in all the cylinders of the block. Junk head, junk block, and beat up bottom end... I found a 450D block without main caps, which would require line-boring. The sleeves are still in it, so I can't tell if the block is cracked like the one I've got. Any suggestions on where I go from here? I hear scrap is around $230 a ton right now

Thanks,
Joe

part it out don't scrap it

What about repowering with another engine gas or diesel? Bud.

You could stick a 264 gas engine and flywheel in till a diesel
showed up! I know alot of guys on this site think he is a
butcher of good tractors, but Marty in Bad Ax Mich, mite have
a diesel. I have bought a few things off him with no issues.
Hey had a couple SMD and 400D blocks on ebay recently. If
the rest of the tractor is decent it would be a shame not to
put it back together, the pre 57' diesels keep fewer and
fewer.

Warhorse

It still sounds saveable to me. You will never get your money back no matter what if you go to sell it, but that is true of any tractor.
Most need a rebuild anyhow. Yours just needs a head as well. There are a bunch of them out there. Call that guy in Miles, IA. He talked like he had quite a few.

I like the temporary gasser bit! Never thought of that. Just got off the phone with Berkshire Implements (IN), and a rebuild kit is going to set me back around $3k. It's hard to justify the cost of bringing one of these engines back to life. It's becoming more and more apparent that this project is turning into a money pit. What about the thought of trying to save the block by using a ceramic block sealer? Worst case, it leaks and I pull the motor apart and put the new parts in another block. Joe

Warhorse,

Have you been to Marty's yard?

Just curious because it is my impression if a bid item can't bring $9.99, it goes into the dumpster. I can't back that up because he won't answer emails requesting availability on failed auctions. Those unsold parts are like water over a dam. They seem to be gone forever.

Seeing as how he dismantles several tractors a week, he probably has to do something with the inventory.

But you are right. He did disassemble a 400-450 diesel within the last several months. If I were desperate for a 400D engine, I would risk the time to find his telephone number after checking the eBay "completed listings" to see if it sold.

I think his last name is Pring. Search on that or equipment dealers in Bad Axe, MI.

Don"t know where you are located. I"m not into shipping something like that. If you decide you want a block I have 2 400D blocks rust free with main caps I saved in case I needed a extra for my 400D. Probably won"t need more than one in my lifetime. $150 in WV.

You can find a running 248 from an M for 500 and up around
the Northeast. 264 and 281 engines get a little more pricey.
But at 3K to rebuild the diesel I woud consider converting it
to gas if I could not find diesel block. The 400 is a nice tractor
when it runs!

D Slater, I'm in Southwest Michigan. I'm interested in getting one of those blocks off your hands, but that's a haul. Do you think we could fit that bad lad in the trunk of my VW Jetta (it's a Turbo Diesel, so don't knock it too much!) There's always the trunk lid if it doesn't fit.

You should be able to contact me where it says send email. If no responce post back.
If it fits we can load it in anything. I can measure.

The cracked head and block may be able to be repaired. Back in the early 80's Oldsmobile had the diesel engines and they had head cracking issues and everyone thought they were junk. Bought a really nice car for $400 bucks because everyone said you had to buy new heads. At the time there where only 2 places in the country that could repair (weld) the heads properly Had that car for 200,000 miles and 1 more engine rebuild. Second rebuild the heads didn't have any new cracks. Don't junk the block and heads.