Took a trip up into the Southern Plains today to begin purchasing the parts needed for the 861 diesel restoration.
The place I am using is a tractor sales/working farm location about 20 miles North of a town named Mexico, Missouri. The name of the place is Unger Tractor Sales.
I always get a kick out of going there. They know about everything you could possibly know about old Ford tractors and I usually love to walk around their old bone yard and see what I can find.
That row in the picture is just the recent stuff there is about 10 acres behind those grain silos with more old tractors, mostly Fords. I could walk around there trying to identify the old bones for hours on a nice day.
They had to order a few of the parts we needed so another trip will be coming up here soon and there were a couple of questionable parts that we did pick up that are going to need exchanged. I learned something new though in that the diesels had a balancer part for the crankshaft and some of them were different with no way of telling until you see them. We ended up buying the wrong balancer so that will need exchanging.
I got a used front grill for the restoration too though and it looks like it should work great with the 100 series front sheet metal I want to sub in. I imagine I will have the 861 back here within a month or so at this rate.
On the way I saw thousands of these tank cars parked along a railroad spur line along the highway. Not sure what they are made to transport but as I said they were literally everywhere. I am not even sure which railroad this spur belongs to these days to be honest but that many cars out of service has to be bad news for someone I would imagine.
There were just miles and miles of them parked and looking pretty new too. Who knows maybe they are just waiting to be used. Be interesting to see if they are still there next time I head up that way. I know they were there last time I went up about 2 months ago.
So I am back from the parts gathering mission and ready for evening chores. I will be so happy when the days start getting longer again.
Keep Prepping Everyone!!!!!
I think I read on ZH that the fracked oil has to be transported by rail, something about the chemical makeup. Anyway I think it was in an article about how railroad traffic was down due to not being able to sell this oil at a profit among other things. So if my memory is correct, they are storing those cars as there is nothing to put in them.
ReplyDeleteActually the feds changed the laws on which oil tankers can be used anymore.
DeleteExile1981
Rail cars info:
Deletehttp://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-01-12/sorry-warren-buffett-things-just-went-bad-worse-us-railroads
I don't know myself. I saw those tanker cars a month or so ago for the first time and they have added to them since then. Someone is parking em way out of the way is all I know.
Deleteohhh old parts !!! i imagine it was fun !!
ReplyDeletei often have to buy parts on e-bay for my old fishing reels - lots of sites out there that are handy..
restoration is MOST satisfying ;-)
you should check those cars for hooch!
cheers pal!
Jamby - I can't wait to post some pics of the new tractor!!!
DeleteI'm ready for longer days, too!
ReplyDeleteHG - At least we are making it passed 5 O'clock now when it's not cloudy!!!!
DeletePP,
ReplyDeleteIs there a way to send you a private email?
Exile1981
Sure thing. My email is pp at fife-drum dot com
DeleteI will warn ya though I am notoriously bad about checking email sometimes I go a month without looking at it.
PP! Those tank cars are where they are storing all of the excess oil.
ReplyDeleteK - I wondered if they were full or not!!!!
DeleteI'll be waiting for your report. A quick jaunt across the field to sneak a peek....
DeleteOh me too. I can't wait for the longer days. The sun sets behind our mountain at 2:30 in the afternoon right now.
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ReplyDelete