For those who really know Ford tractors

[Dopi]

I have a 1975 Ford 4500 tractor. It has no pto output and no 3 point hitch. I'm dreaming about some day finding another wrecker tractor that I could rob of these parts and install them on my tractor.
I am wondering how interchangeable these parts among the Ford models of that era are? The rear ends on the ones I've seen all look very similar..does the transmissions have to be the same? Does anybody really know?

 

[Big Barn]

My opinion is you would be much further ahead purchasing another tractor.

 

[goeduck]

I am of the same opinion. We are talking about a 60s and 70s model so information and first hand knowledge is going to be lacking. Not saying it could not be done, but you could sell what you have and buy what you need likely for less money and certainly less headache.

 

[RoyKing]

If you are in to repairs, You could fix the clutch and new orings in the hydraulics, for less than $500.00. You can find shop manuals I fixed the same stuff on my 1966 3000 diesel, plus steering box, rear wheel seals and breaks.

 

[BrokenTrack]

If you are in to repairs, You could fix the clutch and new orings in the hydraulics, for less than $500.00. You can find shop manuals I fixed the same stuff on my 1966 3000 diesel, plus steering box, rear wheel seals and breaks.

I am not familiar with that model of tractor, however I had a John Deere 350D bulldozer and did exactly what you are proposing.

I knew that machine could be ordered with a PTO (and 3 point hitch), though most of the 350 bulldozers did not get those factory upgrades. That meant a lot of parts were in the machine, I just had to finish carrying out what was never done. In my case I made my own 3 point hitch, and then by buying a cover plate with a bearing, and then a jackshaft from a John Deere bulldozer scrap yard, I had a bulldozer that was very capable. The cost to do that was $250.

 

[Jstpssng]

I agree with the first two posters. It sounds like yours was probably a TLB. Just finding the parts could be a challenge. You can buy a used 4500 on Equipment Trader for around $4K which already has what you want to add to yours. I know this because my Father left us a 4400, and my brother keeps showing them to me because he thinks we are going to sell it. He's wrong.
What type of implements are you looking to run? That series was a nice tractor but it is an industrial machine... one thing it doesn't have is a two stage clutch which is handy for a lot of PTO implements.
Did I miss something, or are you also have clutch problems and leaky hydraulics?

 

[BrokenTrack]

There is a guy by me that has an old backhoe with the backhoe on back. He put a bushog on the back, and to get the bushog to raise, he put a cable on the back of it, then over his cab, and onto his bucket. To lower the bushog, he raises his front bucket, and to lift the bushog, he lowers his front bucket.

Granted he had a PTO on it, but it was a simple (but admittedly redneck way) of getting a 3 point hitch. But it does work.

 

[ovrszd]

Welcome to TBN.

There are some very experienced Ford guys here. Hopefully one will chime in with good advice.

 

[joecdeere]

It has been done, you must start at the flywheel and replace it and everything behind it. No more fun than dropping the hoe is on that beast, I’d just get a tractor with lift and pto and keep the 4500 as is. The 4500 is also kinda low to the ground vs the farm models, easy to snag hoses and bend hydraulic tubes if you try to bushhog withit

 

[Dopi]

Thanks for the replies. I figured the 3 point hitch addition might not be too hard but I am unsure about the pto. No I am not having clutch or hydraulic problems. The tractor does not have a backhoe on it and I can't say for sure if it ever did.
I figured if could put on a 3 point hitch and rear pto then the tractor might be worth something to someone. I have fixed and put too much money into it now already and is in good running shape. The front end loader has been busted all to **** and sort of repaired....another reason I would like to find a junker donor tractor.
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