1960 Suburban 400

[cdsl810 181]

There is a mostly original, 100% complete, restored 1960 Suburban 400 (I think) for sale right here in my town. I don't know the exact model, but there is a 4hp Kohler, so I'm calling it a Suburban 400 for now. The parts that seem to be missing in the pictures are in a box--but everything appears to be there. Is $500 a great price, or not really? I couldn't put it to work for much, but it sure would be fun and cool to own one of the classic round hoods. I may not buy it, but the temptation is great. It is unusual to see one of these just sitting out at a garage sale when driving by.

[slammer302 2,156]

Looks good to me there is probably 350$ dollars worth of tires on it. I have bought less for 500$ run don't walk to buy it

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

[wallfish 18,131]

All those missing parts would be expensive to buy separate so make sure everything is there.
throttle/choke contols
ID plate that covers the controls
Belt guard
Gas tank
steering wheel
Clutch/brake pedal and all the linkage
the idler pulley and related parts

Don't be fooled by it's size for working. That thing can plow snow like any larger tractor and pull a land plough through the ground. It'll mow grass but uses a fairly small deck so it'll take a while if doing a large area. Tillers for them were a pull behind powered by their own H60 engine.

Wonder why they got that far and stopped putting it back together if they have all the parts

[AMC RULES 37,196]

I wouldn't pass it by...
probably, $500 worth of tires on it alone.  Edited August 13, 2015 by AMC RULES

[cdsl810 181]

The actual owner/restorer lives in another state, but worked on it every time he came here. His brother is selling it for him. He is retiring and selling off all his goodies so he can travel. I was able to speak with him on the phone and get all the details.

I literally locked up my brakes when I was driving by and caught it out of the corner of my eye. They probably thought I was crazy when I ran up to look at it, panting partial phrases like, "what year... model... work?  How...much?" Now that I think about it, I looked like a complete nut--

--a Wheel Horse nut!

By the way... I was driving to look at another C-175 Auto when this all happened. And the price is right for the C-175 this time around. I know AMC RULES is partial to his C... what to do? Get the everyday workhorse C, or the too cool Suburban kit? I hate decisions like this...

[AMC RULES 37,196]

Silly Q...
both  of course. 

[stevasaurus 23,281]

Yep...you will not find another one that nice for that little...IF that other stuff is there. 

[Racinbob 11,938]

C's are much easier to find. That 400 looks like a great deal if the parts wallfish mentioned are with it.

[DennisThornton 4,771]

Mounted tires alone are worth that!

[WHX?? 51,780]

Check the box REAL CAREFUL.....if the aforementioned stuff is there GRAB IT  !!!!! Check some other pics here so you know what yer looking for for that clutch/idler.  You could finish it in a couple of hours have a couple (dozen)  fun rides and always easily sell it for 6 or 7  bills.  I thinkin what maybe Wallfish is......he didn't finnish it cause he's missing some stuff??? Gotta be an early 60 with the solid seat pan.

[wallfish 18,131]

Just noticed the hood is cut over the engine.

[DennisThornton 4,771]

Just noticed the hood is cut over the engine.

I thought that was how they were made...  Choke and throttle mounted on a separate plate.

[wallfish 18,131]

The bottom of the hood is cut off, over the engine
Choke/throttle are one piece that does mount in the square hole

Edited August 14, 2015 by wallfish

[cdsl810 181]

I suspect the hood may be from another round hood model--and it is just resting in place and not actually bolted on. Up close it didn't look like it was cut, unless someone took the time to do factory looking edges. It's like it came from a shorter round hood model if that's possible.

I went back, and so far found the belt guard, gas tank, steering wheel, clutch & brake pedals with linkage, and the idler pulley. The owner said he has more for that tractor at the barn, which is one county over. I told him that if he produces all the parts to completely assemble the tractor that I will gladly part with my $500. Still need the throttle & choke, ID plate, and the rest of the idler pulley assembly. There is no oil in the gearbox yet, either. The gears do turn freely. They did let me run a fuel hose from the John Deere parked next to it and start the engine (I removed the drive belt first). It took a few pulls, and I needed and extra set of hands to operate the choke, but it started and runs fine.

I love the possibility of owning this. I do not want to step into an expensive project right now. If he comes up with everything needed to have it up and running soon, then I'm in. The parts alone are worth probably twice of what he is asking. But I don't intend to part it out, unless it turns out to be a round hood mutt. The hood does concern me a bit. A solid, model-correct hood seems really hard to find.

Nevermind, wallfish. I see what you mean. The metal should be lower and the angle very slight compared to the nearly 45-degree cut that's on this one.

[wallfish 18,131]

That hood IS cut and is a 400 hood! BUT- looks like they did a decent job doing it. Many of them get cut because people add a larger engine. That hood is repairable so it shouldn't effect your decision.
The tractor is not a mutt, all parts there look to be a 400 although quite a few will interchange with other models.

Edited August 14, 2015 by wallfish

[Racinbob 11,938]

The hood is a 60 Suburban 400 and yes, it's been cut. Personally I wouldn't let that be a deal breaker in this case. There's plenty of value there.

[cdsl810 181]

Thanks guys. I'm in uncharted territory here, so EVERYTHING about this Horse is new to me. My "expertise" begins in the 70s with the B and C models. Round hoods are a totally different animal... a very pure Wheel Horse experience--before all the extras came into the picture.

I have an appointment with the owner tomorrow to go over everything. If this works out, I'm hoping to use this for tractor rides at my girls' birthday party at the end of the month. They were born 9 days apart, and are turning 8 and 5. How cool would that be? The bounce house is having competition this year!

The only thing that will kill this for me is if it has to sit, unfinished...

[wallfish 18,131]

The heavy lifting has been done so it shouldn't take too much to finish, that's why I wonder why it wasn't done being that close to complete. Definitely a nice tractor.
Plus we are to to help with any questions if needed to get that baby done

[DennisThornton 4,771]

I'm sitting here looking at 400 hoods on my desktop and staring back at this one and hesitating whether to just give up and ask you guys what the heck you mean by "the hood is cut" and then all of a sudden I noticed that THE HOOD HAS BEEN CUT!   Over the engine!  OK, I see it now.  But man!  From here it looks like they did a real good job!

Now here's a hood that's been CUT!

[cdsl810 181]

For sure. In person I really couldn't detect that the shape of the hood was altered. In the cut area, the edge of the metal looks identical to to untouched section. It is a good job. It wasn't until several of you pointed it out and I compared pictures that it became evident.

[bmsgaffer 2,053]

I'm in the "The tires are worth that" group, go grab it.

Also, just check when you get it, looks like the front tires are/were filled with chloride and the "driver side" one is leaking.

I would get it out of there if they are indeed filled with chloride (and its not rimguard) and either fill them with rimguard or get a tombstone weight to go out front. Those things are very light in the nose.

Awesome find!

[wallfish 18,131]

Did you get any sleep? LOL

I might have one of those cast levers which connects the idler pulley rod and brake band to the pedal if that is missing or broken. Let me know and I can search for it. 
There was a guy repoping the ID plates. Very nice and lazer printed. A painted piece of sheet metal or aluminum looks good too and Vinylguy makes a nice decal to simulate it. 

If you turn that front axle around it might fix the toe out in the tires.The grease zerks should be facing forward.

[CasualObserver 3,411]

There was a guy repoping the ID plates. Very nice and lazer printed. A painted piece of sheet metal or aluminum looks good too and Vinylguy makes a nice decal to simulate it. 
 

That was Ken @chevelletown  tagging him so he sees this.  I don't know if he's still doing them, but he is still on RS occasionally.  

Here's an example, this is the one he made for me a few years ago.  Ignore the arrow...old picture from when someone asked where the serial number was.  


 

[Molon_Labe 731]

Here's a picture of what Terry's decal looks like to complement Jason's post above.

[WHX?? 51,780]

I'm in the "The tires are worth that" group, go grab it.

Also, just check when you get it, looks like the front tires are/were filled with chloride and the "driver side" one is leaking.

I would get it out of there if they are indeed filled with chloride (and its not rimguard) and either fill them with rimguard or get a tombstone weight to go out front. Those things are very light in the nose.

Awesome find!

Really ... if the essentials are there go get it! Dip into your girls college savings if ya gotta, I'll bet they will love ya for it and you got plenty of time to put it back! ...Im In the tires are worth that group too. Guys here will help ya figure out the rest. Also check out the front wheel situation if ya get it and let us know.  Don't fret too much about the cut hood.

Edited August 14, 2015 by WHX4
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