8N V8 swap

[Landmo]

I'm looking to rebuild my 8N this year. I've always wanted to engine swap it and now is the time. I know the flathead V8 is popular but I happen to have a 70's era International Harvester 345 V8 from an old milk truck gathering dust in the shed. I know this engine is overkill for what I need but do you guys think this engine could work? Never done an engine swap before so just looking for some advice.
Thanks.

 

[Dean]

With enough money and/or time many things are possible.

That said, the IH V8 is significantly heavier and wider than is a Ford flathead V8, making installation into an 8N more difficult because you will need to provide a perimeter frame.

I did see a 345 in a Farmall M at a antique tractor show last fall.

Unknown to most, the IH 305/345 shares the combustion chamber in the block design with the Chevrolet 348/409 and some Lincoln/Mercury engines of the late 50s-60s.

Dean

 

[Kirk-NJ]

Sure, just build an adapter plate and slap the baby in. Tons of money and a lot of head scratching but lots of fun when done. Awesome Henry and RedRock sells kits for more
conventional engines if you want to go that route. Here's my '41 9n V6 walkaround. I'm working on a 6 cylinder 841 now.
9n V6 link

 

[Kirk-NJ]

Here's a RatRod 460 a guy built. working out all the little stuff will drive you crazy but part of the fun.

<a href="https://imgur.com/TEwH8YH">

</a>

 

[Ultradog MN]

I've never done it with a tractor, and
wouldn't.
I did put that IH 345 in a truck once.
Actually, I pulled the cab and flatbed
off of the old frame and set it on a 1970
Loadstar 1600.
Going from a 98 hp JXB Hercules flat head
6 to that 190? hp Binder V8 perked it up
a bit
Had to do a bunch of steering, front axle
and spring work to make it all go
together.
The old Diamond T would only do about 55
- downhill with a tail wind with the
Hercules in it. Repowered with the 345, a
2 speed rear axle and slightly oversized
tires it would do 80 pretty easily.
Had the truck for 17 years but finally
let it go as the State required
commercial plates and Ins just to go to
Dairy Queen for an ice cream cone.
Bought the truck in Utah, drove it up the
AlCan and stayed 3 years then drove it
home.
Still have some fun stories to tell.
Sorry for hijacking your post here but
the mention of a 345 still gets me going.
Maybe you understand?
They were great engines...
Photo shows before I did the change.
Was a 1948 model.

 

[Lynn Patrick]

"If it was easy anybody could do it!"
This is my '50 8N w/'92 Ranger 4.0 V6 project (just pushed together to see what's next!) &amp; my Ford LGT 120 "Funk In-Line 2 cylinder" (Wisconsin) in the background.

 

[Jim L WA]

Landmo, if you decide to do this, keep us posted on your progress. I, for one, will be interested. I'm not familiar with the IH 345, but if it's anything like the AMC 360 I have in my plow truck it will make a great tractor engine.

 

[Wyatt-The-Ih-Guy]

I to was going to swap my 8?n with a flathead V8.
There are lots of things you have to consider, it?s not
as simple as lowering the motor in and there done.
When you swap over you obviously need to have a
conversion kit, your tractor becomes longer so you
need to work out issues with hood and the steering
components, the radiator.Now here comes the big
part, what do you want your tractor to do? Do you
want it to be a workhorse or do u want to take it up
the road once in a while and show of the to
neighbours. If you want a workhorse The 8?n
transmission isn?t meant for lots of power and if you
swap it and say go hook up a plough you will blow
the transmission. As someone told me before, they
knew a guy who did a inline 6 conversion and
ended up blowing gears when they got hung up on
tree roots or other things. But I mean lots of people
like them for show tractors. Now It?s your tractor and
you can do what you want but you have to put
thought into it, will the swap benefit you or is it
better to put 300$ into a rebuild kit for your stock
engine. I know you are probably really set on this
but just think about what you are willing to pay and
What you want to use it for.

 

[Bob]

Wyatt, I would THINK keeping the rather light-duty OEM clutch from the little 4-cylinder would act as a bit of a "safety fuse" against tearing up the drivetrain?

 

[Kirk-NJ]

Disagree with you on the Blowing the trans unless the trans has worn/chipped gears. I'm pulling with NAA trans with 8n rear and running about 70 HP without a problem. I would think everyday farm use shouldn't be a big deal.

 

[Duner Wi]

Motivational video to get her done!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZLe97d1bEQ

 

[WayneIA]

70 years ago when we had a 6 cylindered 8N as the "big" tractor ( had a WC) that little second gear on the bottom shaft in the transmission was replace at least once a year. The Ford dealer said, to many pony's. And it seams as though Ford redesigned that gear. Any way, the 8N got replaced by a Fordson Major