When Does A Tractor Become A Parter And Not A Restoration?

I am just finishing off my MM UTU. Getting close to getting her painted I need a new project...well I look around the farm I see an old Oliver 88 diesel sitting in the weeds. All my life (the whole 16 years of it) I have seen that tractor there. It was a parts donor for our other 88. I am thinking of restoring it, they said it isn't worth it. What do you guys think. I will post pics soon. It is missing the injection pump. Both Manifolds are cracked. The hydraulics and the PTO shaft are robbed, the valve pan is has been taken off exposing the head to the weather for 5 years. The transmission case is open but had a tarp on it. One rear rim MIGHT be good, And I believe the block must have cracked otherwise why would it be sidelined? So what do you guys think? Thanks, Mike

How bad do you want it???

Any old tractor can be brought back to life with
large amounts of time and money.

Think about it and if you go for it theres sure
alot of people here that will help you. Im 15 and
am most of the way through restoring and Allis B
from the ground up with the help of these great
people. If you need help, heres where it is.
Theres not too many people who can say dont do
this because that will happen and the next day
say allright first you have to fix this and that
then listen to us next time.

If you like the idea, i say go for it.

When you cant afford to restore it, and cant afford to keep it around. I've restored some JUNK in my time, sometimes I wish I hadn't, and sometimes they were the best "users" I ever had around.

When you can't find or make parts for it anymore, I guess.

This past Saturday I stopped into Myers on 19 South between Elkhart and Wakarusa in Indiana and took a walk through the bone yard. That place has been there all of my life and I'm 50. And when I say bone yard, I mean like walking through of a spine here, a femer bone there, and bones, bones, bones. But was like a kid walking through a candy store. Olivers, Fords, Allis', Deeres, Masseys, and you name it. Even seen something I never seen before, mostly there, some old Belarus all wheel drive, steel wheels. Not that I wanted it, but it sure was a curious critter with the right side of the block bulging out with a drive pulley on it, almost as the it was super charged and that was intake. I caught them when they were closing and have to go back this weekend when I get home, and will take another walk through that bone candy store, and for the heck of it, take another look at that Belarus. Not that I want anything to do with it, but it sure is a curious looking critter and I want to get another look at that ??? cast into the block with that drive pulley.

How much $$$ and time do you have, can you get parts, or can you craft them?

Good luck young man.

Mark

When it costs more to fix than it will be worth when finished, it becomes a parts machine. Sounds to me like the Oliver 88 you have is about a total loss.

I commend any 16 Y.O.who sees a project the size you are near finishing,to completion.If you are pleased looking back,with what your mentor(s)told
you,consider their advice on the 88.If the 88 has
special meaning,you might consider useing one or more parts from it on another project.I always incourage starting with a good machine with only one major problem like trans,motor or sheet metal.That way replacing the major part now makes it a "VERY GOOD"machine needing only tweeking a bunch of lesser things and paint to make it a"GREAT"machine on which the seat,steering wheel and/or other parts from "Grandpaws"old machine get a second life.In any event there is no wrong aproch to one's hobby.It is good to see deep thinking young folks like you and the other one that offered you incouragment.Godspeed and thank you for allowing the rest of us to share in your hobby.

It sounds like the Oliver would cost a fortune to fix up, let alone restore. There is a big difference between restoring and getting in running order. With all do respect to Lanse, he did not do a ground up restoration on his B. He did take a dead tractor and fix it up so runs though. I've seen some pictures of fully restored older tractors from the tear down to completion. For a proper restoration everything is completely taken apart and overhauled with new parts where necessary. I would bet that most completely restored tractors are done for sentimental reasons or for show by people with a lot of time and money. Most would cost 3 or 4 times more to restore than they could ever sell for. The Oliver probably needs a complete engine. It might be a better idea to find a complete tractor in better condition to fix up. Dave

I don't really agree with that description. According to that, 99% of all tractors are parts tractors. However, according to what this one sounds like, it's a parts tractor and nothing more.

Donovan from Wisconsin

How badly do you want it? If you think you are serious, take a real close look at it. Make a list of all the things you know it needs, estimate their costs, and figure out where to find them. Then add 50% to the cost of the parts for things you don't know about yet. If the cost of the repairs don't scare you away, it's probably a good project.

If you were looking for a tractor and not a project this 88 would probably be a bad choice. Since you are looking for a project, it may be the perfect choice. Since it is already on the farm, the purchase price should be pretty low (or nothing at all). If you are still interested, but unsure, start collecting the parts you think it will need. Since the farm already has another one of these tractors the parts won't be a complete waste if you decide to pass on the project.

Good luck.

You probably could find a running one some where and avoid the hassle [unless that is your thing] of trying to find parts. If the block is solid that is plus for one with blown engine being a recipient of the parts the old Tractor has left.

Thanks everyone, I am still not sure. If I dont do this one there is a CO-OP I can get for $300 Needs some engine work, sheet metal work, wiring, the whole nine yards but the block is good I believe and the transmission is intact. Mike