Ford Tractor Engine ID

[Robert69]

I recently purchased a 1955 Ford 860. I was told it had a 172(like it should). But when getting kit for carb, it had a smaller one like for the 134. Ever heard of a 172 w/ 134 carb setup? Its giving me a fit with starting and running and I"m wondering if this the problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[awhtx]

All of the MS carbs used on the NAA and later are very similar. As the carb got larger the mounting studs got farther apart but a rat tail file will fix the original manifold and the aftermarket manifolds are made with slotted holes so all of the carbs will fit. The 172 will start and run with a smaller carb until you try to get max RPM. Then the smaller carb won't flow enough air. If yours will barely start and run it obviously has problems and they may not be carb problems- maybe spark problems.
What is the casting number on the right side of your engine block? It should begin with EAF for the 172 and EAE for the 134.

 

[souNdguy]

ditto what awhtx said. it should start and run and get a good amount of hp out before that carb bottleknecked you.

i have done the opposite and ran a large carb on a 134.

heck.. I have a naa carb on my 950 parts machine and it mows with a 5' mower fine..

soundguy

 

[Robert69]

Thanks, I will check casting in the morning. And repost what I found.

 

[Dean]

All early Ford 172 CI engines used the "small" carburetor that is visually very similar to the carburetor used on 134 CI engines of similar vintage. The so-called "large" carburetor and corresponding air cleaner, air inlet and exhaust were not used until the 1958 model year.

Keep your small carburetor. You will find it noticeably more economical with negligible power effects.

Dean

 

[concho38]

I bought a 1955 960 that had the large carburator and the newer air cleaner system I asked on this forum if one of you knew if some of those models came that way. I never got an answer, Today I see where the large caburator came out in 58. I guest right and changed it back to the original carb and air cleaner a couple of years ago.

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 21:41:31 03/05/11) I recently purchased a 1955 Ford 860. I was told it had a 172(like it should). But when getting kit for carb, it had a smaller one like for the 134. Ever heard of a 172 w/ 134 carb setup? Its giving me a fit with starting and running and I"m wondering if this the problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Regardless of what is the 'correct' vintage carb for your tractor (that is a history/research exercise), it is my experience that you can always run a smaller carb than designed for, but a larger than designed for will generally yield poor results. A 'little' variance is no big thing, but 2X larger & it will be obvious that there is something wrong. Don't bother with any hot rod, modified engine stories either....that isn't what we are speaking of here.