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Farmall M engine swap to Chevy V 8

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Donald Burgett

11-05-2004 04:54:45

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Can anyone advise me as to how I would install a Chevy 350 into my spare Farmall M ?
Thank you.
Donald F.

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r4etired

11-06-2004 18:50:10

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Re: Farmall M engine swap to Chevy V 8 in reply to Donald Burgett, 11-05-2004 04:54:45

Donald' 2 winters ago I put a 345 IH V8 in a 560. It had been in a 915 combine, The combine application is simpler because you have a good solid front motor mount and you have a govenor already mounted and a carb set up for it.Getting the steering hooked back up like it was requires a couple extra U joints, Also the gas tank has to be shortened. Last winter I put a 345 IH V8 out of a 4wd pickup in my M.The chevy would better it's a lot shorter than the 345. When I looked into the chevy swap I couldn't find room for the starter. I do not alter the length or width of the frames. If you use a 345 the rear of the block takes a lot of alteration to get it set in. I used a spacer adapter and used the M clutch and starter. I had to use an electric fuel pump, no room for the cam driven one, Also an electric fan as the 345 is 21/2in longer than the 4 cyl. On the M I got a govenor from a MF 750 combine that had a 327 chev in it. Don,t know anything about chev performance spec.s but the 345 is 150hp @3200rpm max torque @ 2000 rpm At 2000 rpm it's 118 hp. I run both of mine at 1950rpm.I set the govenor to activate at a .5%drop Ground speeds are about the same.Plenty of power to pull a 4 bottom plow easy in about any gear. The 345 will burn about 9 gal of gas an hourunder load. My advice is take your time . alignment and balance are very critical

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ChadS

11-06-2004 08:42:49

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Re: Farmall M engine swap to Chevy V 8 in reply to Donald Burgett, 11-05-2004 04:54:45

If it was me,, I would find an old 450or a 500 Red Diamond truck engine and put it in the Ol M!! Maybe a Dt 361 or a 407 out of an 806-1456 or maybe even a 466. It can be done!! ChadS

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gusc

11-05-2004 19:17:55

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Re: Farmall M engine swap to Chevy V 8 in reply to Donald Burgett, 11-05-2004 04:54:45

All the advice to use a six or four is good. V8s will not develop as much torque at low speeds (1200-1800rpm) as the Chevy and Ford sixes. Torque is what a tractor needs for farming or pulling or anything else.

Horsepower is just work (Torque) at high speed, something no tractor needs and, as many have said, high speed on a tractor is dangerous not to mentionA stupid.

That is the reason for the aux transmissions on the V8s mentioned. You end up with a screaming engine to do the same thing as a slow, quiet 4 or 6?

The old Funk Ford flathead V8 conversions on the N series Ford tractors worked because the flathead was not a high rpm engine, it developed its torque just a little faster then the Ford flathead six which was actually better in trucks than the V8 , trucks in those days did not go very fast due to bad roads.

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lee

11-05-2004 09:55:30

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Re: Farmall M engine swap to Chevy V 8 in reply to Donald Burgett, 11-05-2004 04:54:45

There's probably better swap motors. How about a Chevy 300 six. Good low end torque. Any others?

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Allan in NE

11-05-2004 10:21:58

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Re: Farmall M engine swap to Chevy V 8 in reply to lee, 11-05-2004 09:55:30

Hi ya Lee,

Never heard of a Chevy 300 in-line 6. They had the 216 oil dipper, 235, 250 & the 292.

Am I missing a truck engine somewhere along the line?

Thanks,

Allan

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lee

11-05-2004 13:15:14

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Re: Farmall M engine swap to Chevy V 8 in reply to Allan in NE, 11-05-2004 10:21:58

Ok Allen ya got me, it's a Ford 300 but the Chevy 292 would be a good one also. These are big motors with lots of torque and bullet proof.
There's a ton of stuff out there for them if ya got money but a stock engine can be built rather cheap with great power.

http://www.truckworld.com/How-To-Tech/Chevrolet-Engine/Chevy-engine-3.html

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Allan in NE

11-05-2004 14:41:27

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Re: Farmall M engine swap to Chevy V 8 in reply to lee, 11-05-2004 13:15:14

Lee,

Yes Sir, I knew that was what you were thinking; just funnin' with ya a little. :>)

Allan

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Red Dave

11-05-2004 07:39:03

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Re: Farmall M engine swap to Chevy V 8 in reply to Donald Burgett, 11-05-2004 04:54:45

Assuming that you are serious, I'll say that I haven't done it myself, but I have seen tractors with V-8's in them.
The thing you have to consider is the relatively high RPM's that the V-8 has to run at. That would make the M a very fast tractor, too fast for even marginal safety. The ones I've seen used an auxiliary transmission behind the V-8 to slow the M transmission's input shaft speed to something reasonable.
BTW, the V-8 conversions I've seen were just for conversation pieces at shows, they had no practical usefulness.

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captaink

11-05-2004 12:23:18

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Re: Farmall M engine swap to Chevy V 8 in reply to Red Dave, 11-05-2004 07:39:03

I saw a B with a small block V8 (I think 304) International engine in it. The torque tube looked like it was fabricated specifically for this application and was cast just like the original. The conversion looked so good; you would have thought that IH did it at the factory as a promo or something! I wish I had a picture that I could share, if I ever get one I will. As far as I know, the guy did it just as a conversation piece, and that it certainly was!

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S. I. R.

11-05-2004 08:02:29

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Re: Farmall M engine swap to Chevy V 8 in reply to Red Dave, 11-05-2004 07:39:03

Red Dave, You say that there is no practical usefulness for the tractor after the swap, but I have an M with a 350 in it, and I have pulled a five bottom simimounted plow with it. And used it for hay rides and parades. This can be done, altho if I was going to do it again I would do it differently this time.

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Bob

11-05-2004 07:49:40

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Re: Farmall M engine swap to Chevy V 8 in reply to Red Dave, 11-05-2004 07:39:03

You say "The thing you have to consider is the relatively high RPM's that the V-8 has to run at."

There's NO reason the V-8 could not be governed at the same speed as the original Binder engine.

You will need a belt-drive governor, and they are readily available new, or at combine wrecking yards.

At the rated speed of the original engine the V-8 would still have more power than the original engine, and hold up just fine.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating this swap, just stating the facts, that if someone wants to do it, and follows through with it with good workmanship, there's no reason it would not work.

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Red Dave

11-05-2004 08:19:18

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Re: Farmall M engine swap to Chevy V 8 in reply to Bob, 11-05-2004 07:49:40

Of course there is no reason it can't be done. I did not say it couldn't be done.
I mentioned a few things I've noticed on V-8 conversions I've seen and pointed out a couple things to consider in the design phase. But depending on what V-8 you pick it'll be running at a fast idle at the most when you govern it at the RPM's an M was meant to run at.
Will the V-8 have comparable torque at those RPM's? I don't know, but I doubt it. I guess it depends on which V-8 you choose to use.
Who is going to resist the temptation open the throttle a little to hear that V-8 roar? How fast do you want to be going on a vehicle with no suspension and a steering system designed for 10 MPH? You would have to decide that for yourself.

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Bob

11-05-2004 08:52:51

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Re: Farmall M engine swap to Chevy V 8 in reply to Red Dave, 11-05-2004 08:19:18

If a governor is installed, and set at the original engine's spec's, there will be no high speed road races!

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Pete L

11-05-2004 07:13:16

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Re: Farmall M engine swap to Chevy V 8 in reply to Donald Burgett, 11-05-2004 04:54:45

Good thought, but consider that the Chevy develops its horse power in the 3-4000rpm range, where the M is less than 2000. That'll really make that tractor scoot. Also, yup, that Chevy may be rated for a couple hundred horsepower, but the horsepower needed to move a car down the road is only a fraction of what the V-8 will put out. Asking for most of the HP for a continuous time will move the engine life into days, rather than months or years. Will be fun for a toy, but you'll probably be disappointed shortly if used as a working tractor.

Good luck!

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Bob

11-06-2004 09:46:25

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Re: Farmall M engine swap to Chevy V 8 in reply to Pete L, 11-05-2004 07:13:16

The displacement of the Chevy is SO much bigger than the original engine that there is no question that it will develop AT LEAST as much power as the original at the slow speed of the original engine.

As far as usefullness, and durability, I have a neighbor that swapped a Chevy 350 into a Hough payloader, and he has cleaned a large cattle feedlot for YEARS with no problems from the engine. I was nothing special, either, he pulled it out of a 70's Impala.

As I said before, I'm not saying that the swap would be a good idea or not, but it's SILLY to think that the 350 wouldn't do the job, if the conversion were to be done properly.

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Hayfarmer

11-05-2004 07:12:57

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Re: Farmall M engine swap to Chevy V 8 in reply to Donald Burgett, 11-05-2004 04:54:45

I have not seen one in a Farmall but saw one in a Massy 44 which was a really nice job. They guy used an extra transmission ahead of the tractor one to slow it down a bit. Several years ago there was a picture of a JD A with V8 in Green Magazine and you could hardly tell it wasn't original. If you can do it with a JD and keep the hand clutch, should be a snap with a Farmall M.

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rustyfarmall

11-05-2004 06:24:14

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Re: Farmall M engine swap to Chevy V 8 in reply to Donald Burgett, 11-05-2004 04:54:45

I'm sure you realize that the Chevy V-8 will not be as good a work horse as the original M engine, but I won't try to discourage you from doing it. I have never done it myself, but I have looked over a few with this swap. I think you still use the original rear mounting plate, but drill new holes so it will accomodate the 350. The front engine mounts may need to be home made from angle iron or whatever. Of course you will need a flywheel, clutch plate, and pressure plate that is specific to the Chevy. It will take a lot of very careful measuring to ensure the engine ends up exactly where you want it. I have seen some of these swaps that look so good you may think that IH thought of it themselves, and others that are so crude I wonder how it all stays together. Maybe others can be more specific.

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Andy Martin

11-05-2004 06:04:11

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Re: Farmall M engine swap to Chevy V 8 in reply to Donald Burgett, 11-05-2004 04:54:45

It would be a step down in engine quality.

Best to get a JD 2 cyl for the Chevy engine.

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