Installing a turbocharger on a 9 n ford

[93699 mopar]

What is to stop a mechanically enclined person from turbocharging my flat head 4 in my 9n? I haven't seen a kit for the ford gas tractors. I have found them for some international 6 cylinders. But finding a kit isn't my concern. I believe I have found everything I need parts wise to make it happen for around 400 dollars. But not having seen anyone else on the Internet with a turbo n tractor with the stock engine makes me wonder why their isn't another one running around some where. It just seems too easy. What am I missing. I found a small turbo for an engine a little over a liter in displacement. I found a pop off valve that is infinitely adjustable from 0 to 25 pounds of boost. I imagine 6 or 7 pounds should liven the low compression flathead up. I can get a fuel pressure regulator and pump that will keep the boost from blowing boost up the fuel line. So why hasn't anyone done this. Help me soundguy pllllllllz any input would be appriciated

 

[curtis larson]

Why do you not look at the size of your connecting rods/ kind of wimpy to handle the higher compression

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 22:13:27 07/12/12) What is to stop a mechanically enclined person from turbocharging my flat head 4 in my 9n? I haven't seen a kit for the ford gas tractors. I have found them for some international 6 cylinders. But finding a kit isn't my concern. I believe I have found everything I need parts wise to make it happen for around 400 dollars. But not having seen anyone else on the Internet with a turbo n tractor with the stock engine makes me wonder why their isn't another one running around some where. It just seems too easy. What am I missing. I found a small turbo for an engine a little over a liter in displacement. I found a pop off valve that is infinitely adjustable from 0 to 25 pounds of boost. I imagine 6 or 7 pounds should liven the low compression flathead up. I can get a fuel pressure regulator and pump that will keep the boost from blowing boost up the fuel line. So why hasn't anyone done this. Help me soundguy pllllllllz any input would be appriciated

Turbo charging aFI engine is altogether different than turbo charging a carbureated engine. Have you considered what happens to the carbs bowl venting when you try to pressurize its inlet? If you try to suck through the carb, now you have a very much longer tract in which fuel wants to fall out of atomization, heating, etc. It isn't as sraight forward as you seem to think. If you ever succeed, post about it, the time & money, etc. and we will compare to buying a larger tractor that has HP, weight, mechanicals with strength to handle the HP, etc. Best of wishes.

 

[Dean]

Bingo!

Not a good idea.

Dean

 

[Dell (WA)]

Mopar.......stedda turbocharging, consider the BIG 454 Chevy V8 smogpump with a NAA carb so the throat faces the pump. You doubt? Look up dirt-cheap supercharger by Steven Richmond. (google is yer friend) ........Dell

 

[93699 mopar]

The carburation I believe I can handle. I may have to build two separate manifolds to manage the intake air temp but if I don't have to go that route I'd rather not. As for the connecting rods I have never tore down one of these but that is about to change in roughly a week when I get home from work. I'm going to tear it down freshen up the transmissions and see what size oil pump gears and cylinder liners I have so I can rebuild it next month when I get home again. I will have the parts I need waiting for me. After I get mr 9 n tip top, if deemed possible then I will start ordering parts to turbo it. I'm not looking to get alot mor out of it. Would like to be able to run a 15 or 20 kw generator from the pto. I also think it would be cool to hear the turbo spool up when I hit that thick spot of grass in my field and keep chugging at the same pace. I'm only looking to get maybe 35-40 hp out of it and make it a bit more torquey. U guys on here have been the most knowledgeable people on these tractors I have run across. Hope some day I can be as well. Thanks for the input.

 

[tesmith66]

DO IT! And post pictures.

It can be done. It won't be practical or cheap, but it would be fun. All it takes is time and money...

 

[ericlb]

a couple of years ago me and a friend tried to get that idea working, the turbo was from a '79 mustang 2.3 with factory turbo, after several attempts we decided it was a failure, our opinion is , the N engine doesn't make enough rpm or exhaust flow to spin up a turbo to the point where it provides significant boost, you could hear the turbo spinning, but it wasnt loud like you would expect one to sound like, and the tractor never showed any increase in hp that we could observe, that being said we are not engine designers, and we may have had a badly designed system, i dont know, the smog pump idea does work however , ive heard several people that have them say they work, might go that way

 

[Gaspump]

Futile, but a possible fun project. 120ci, 2000 RPM, 23HP and a drive train suited for the same says it all Only practical response is "get a bigger tractor".

 

[Dean]

35-40 HP from your 9N engine at 2100 RPM is not cost effective and probably not even possible.

Dean

 

[Bodo]

Sure, why not? I have seen non-forced induction carbs used with forced induction by building a box around the carb. That way the entire carb 'sees' the pressure increase and runs like normal. It would have to be a pretty small snail to even run, I'd imagine.

 

[JMOR]

Hey, 93699, if 35 or 40 hp is all you are looking for, you already have it, just defeat the gov.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Why not go this route if you need more power? Look-up 1950 Ford V8N Tractor

 

[Ken(Ark)]

What is to stop a mechanically inclined person from turbocharging my flat head 4 in my 9n? I haven't seen a kit for the ford gas tractors.

We are not talking practicality or economy which are probably two words which are not used in Websters definition of "Hobby"

Sounds like a fun project but I would think a belt mounted blower would be better for a low rpm small cid motor .

10 more HP would be nice . Didn't the fergy's have about 5 hp more than the Fords ?

 

[Hobo,NC]

(quoted from post at 22:24:34 07/13/12) Hey, 93699, if 35 or 40 hp is all you are looking for, you already have it, just defeat the gov.

Already tried that,,, the ground speed is so fast its hard to hang on...
For practical use the extra HP is not manageable with out a gov...

 

[Dean]

"Would like to be able to run a 15 or 20 kw generator from the pto. I also think it would be cool to hear the turbo spool up when I hit that thick spot of grass in my field and keep chugging at the same pace."

We aren't?

Dean

 

[Indiana Ken]

The Ford N series engine is 119 cubic inches however the HP is very low, lets say 30 HP for round numbers. Turbo chargers are sized based on air flow and air fow is proportional to HP. Another poster attempted to use a turbo from a 2.3 liter Ford. While this engine is similar in size at 140 cubic inches, it puts out some 150 HP. If the N series turbo application is designed to produce 50 HP the 2.3 liter Ford turbo is still much too large, by a factor of three. With a turbo this large there are just not enough exhaust gases to drive the turbine. The result is poor performance as the poster indicated.

I did a quick check in my Garrett catalog and the smallest turbo they make is a GT-12 and it is in the 50 to 125 HP range. I have a 750 cc (45 cubic inches) motorcycle that is turbo-ed even that engine puts out over 100 HP.

Yes an N series can be turbo charged however it will require a properly sized turbo.

 

[Ultradog MN]

Not to mention you've only got 3 main bearings.

 

[Anonymous-0]

The con rods are plenty strong. Flathead Ford V8s could be hot rodded up to almost 300 HP using the original bottom end. 40 HP out of a half V8 should pose any problems. When I was a kid I built a flattie. It had an Offy 400 Jr cam, was ported with the block relieved, high compression Weiand finned aluminum heads, headers, dual Strombergs, and a stock bottom end. It never broke either.

 

[Kevin in MN]

key words "For practical use"

Fun isn't always practical

 

[Dell (WA)]

Ken........would you believe the 9N engine is rated by Univ of Nebraska as 23hp??? Also, in the late 40's the 2-liter (119cu/in) N-Engine was making about 60hp in 1/4-midget racecars. (Indy-type) .........Dell

 

[93699 mopar]

Ok guys after reading up on rods, mains and turbos I have come to the conclusion that the turbonics t3 turbo I was looking at as feared would be too big for my Lil flathead tho is desighned for engines of the same displacement. Those engines flow way more air than I can cram into my flathead through mor volumetricly efficient intake and exaust ports and more rpms. But in my looking I have found a company that manufactures a turbo for 10 to 25 horse power engines and is generally used on Briggs and kholer engines. But is recommended for anything from 100 cc to 900 cc. Tho my engine is a bit larger given the lower working rpms and the airflow restrictions of the flat head desighn am starting to think is the better way to go. As for the rods and mains. The flat head v8s run very similar rods and mains if not the same from what I can tell and stock put out 100 horse power. So a load of 50 horse power should be applied to half those engines. Im not to worried about them being able to handle the little extra stress. I am wanting to do this vs getting a larger tractor because I have always thought the little n tractors where what a tractor should be. Parts for them are cheap, and plenty full. It amazes me that I can get more parts for my tractor built in the 40's than are still available for the 1210 ford I grew up on. As far as defeating the governor I want it to still function as a tractor and I need the power in the same range the tractor is set up for now. The smog pump idea isn't exactly what I'm looking for. Tho is an idea. I have always liked the sound and feel of the turbo spooling up. I have become fascinated with my little tractor. Is far more of a work horse than I ever imagined it would be. It has a few Lil quirks that I'd like to iron out is all. Thanks guys again for all the input. You all are great!

 

[93699 mopar]

Ok guys did some more research tonight on my way to the big river. Did some serious number crunching. Found that our loved Lil flathead 4 has an air flow requirement of 9.80805024 pounds per minute at 2600 rpm. That puts it right in the middle of the working range for the worlds smallest turbocharger known as the rhb31. Manufactured originally for a Suzuki 660cc motorcycle engine. Looking at the only compressor flow chart I could find it seems like this turbo was built for this engine on paper. Under load at 2600 rpm the turbo should supply around 8 pounds of boost wich I don't believe will cause it to detonate but is adjustable if need be. This puts the turbo spinning at a rate where it is most efficient. Spinning fast enough to supply the needed boost but not so fast as to creat losses due to heat and put undue strain on the Lil turbos bearings. The turbo can be had for around 190$. I am going to try it and see how it works in a couple of months after I finish my rebuild. If I can figure out how to post pictures on here I will get y'all some. I will keep y'all posted none the less