More Power For An 8N???

[rarneson]

Has anyone tried to get a few more horse power from a stock 8N?

 

[Royse]

Many people have, including 6 cylinder conversions, V8 conversions
and turbo chargers. All depends on how much you want to spend.

 

[8NChris]

(quoted from post at 18:42:26 05/24/21) Has anyone tried to get a few more horse power from a stock 8N?

wondered if the engine could take more stroke like other engines. Never mind the cost or a persons reasons, enthusiasts do things because it suites them.

 

[Dean]

Folks have but for a worker, it's easier and more cost effective to upgrade to a later, more modern tractor.

Dean

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 23:11:55 05/24/21) Folks have but for a worker, it's easier and more cost effective to upgrade to a later, more modern tractor.

Dean

ot to mention cheaper & more reliable. :roll:

 

[Ken(Ark)]

(quoted from post at 20:42:26 05/24/21) Has anyone tried to get a few more horse power from a stock 8N?

A guy will push the tractor as hard as the horsepower will let him until something breaks . I got a 48 hp 3000 diesel because the N needed more . Now I find there are times I would like more than 48 . Good thing the drive trains are pretty well matched for the hp . The 5 - 10 hp you could build in is a novelty for bragging rites but not that effective in overall usage . With the cost of rebuilding a stock motor plus upgrades you can cover the cost of a stock chevy v6 , which is a lot more power and ten times cooler .

 

[Ultradog MN]

Ken,
Gotta quibble with you on the HP of a 3000.
I may be old school but it was old school
rules that the University of Nebraska used
to determine the HP of tractors in that
era.
They set the hp at 38 or 39 depending on
which transmission it had.
Click the link below for a synopsis of test
#881.
For more detailed info you can download a
pdf file which is linked there.

In reply to rarneson, unless you are just
building a toy I think upping the HP on an
N is a fools errand.
As others have said, buy a newer tractor
instead.
You will not only get your desired
horsepower, you'll also get more features
and options. Things like live hydraulics,
live PTO, more gears, greater longevity,
power steering, better ergonomics and more
robust components are not to be despised.
PS,
Welcome to the N board.
Nebraska Test for a 3000 on tractordata.com

 

[Tim PloughNman Daley]

Sure, Sherman Hi-Compression Head (failed), FUNK 6 & 8 CYL revamps; and more recently there was a place, external_link, now out of business, who offered a dual exhaust setup that claimed to increase HP but it too failed. As stated, if you are planning to farm hundreds of acres and want more HP, go with a bigger model like a mighty New Holland or equivalent.


Tim Daley(MI)

 

[Dean]

Agreed.

Dean

 

[8NChris]

(quoted from post at 18:42:26 05/24/21) Has anyone tried to get a few more horse power from a stock 8N?

pinions will vary but never mind them for a moment. Think about what the poster asked. I am sure an engine builder has worked over the inline Flathead four beyond a carburetor tweak.

 

[8NChris]

(quoted from post at 19:17:44 05/24/21) Many people have, including 6 cylinder conversions, V8 conversions
and turbo chargers. All depends on how much you want to spend.

oyse, curious if your collection has any trick head work about. I've read about a cylinder head that Sherman offered. Have you seen milling and porting done to the stock head? I've wondered myself about what has been discovered and if the large combustion chamber has any hidden power. I suppose someone could mill the head and get away with smaller ports by straining out the intake and exhaust path some.

 

[Dean]

The 8N engine is a L-head (side valve) design. There are no valves or ports in the flat cylinder head.

Very little CR to be gained by milling the head because the pistons are already very close to the head.

The Sherman head produced a bit more power especially when used on 9/2N engines and, being aluminum, dissipated heat a bit better.

So-called high compression pistons were once made but it's been decades since I've seen any.

Dean

 

[Ultradog MN]

Chris,
I actually thought about you and your Funk
when I made the post below.
I don't doubt that your tractor is a
workhorse and I don't disparage you for
liking the heck out of it.
But aside from the added HP you have, it is
still just an N from the engine back.
Fortunately for you, you bought it that way
and the money that was spent to upgrade it
was spent long ago - perhaps when it made
economic sense to do so.
In today's world of dirt cheap old tractors
it makes little sense to spend your money
to upgrade just the engine in one of these
Ns. Not when for less $ you can get a
tractor that has the HP you want plus a
bunch of other features.

 

[8NChris]

(quoted from post at 07:23:42 05/25/21) Chris,
I actually thought about you and your Funk
when I made the post below.
I don't doubt that your tractor is a
workhorse and I don't disparage you for
liking the heck out of it.
But aside from the added HP you have, it is
still just an N from the engine back.
Fortunately for you, you bought it that way
and the money that was spent to upgrade it
was spent long ago - perhaps when it made
economic sense to do so.
In today's world of dirt cheap old tractors
it makes little sense to spend your money
to upgrade just the engine in one of these
Ns. Not when for less $ you can get a
tractor that has the HP you want plus a
bunch of other features.

o offense taken. I heard a builder refer to the (what I call) valve pockets as part of the port. He may have terminology unique to his shop or experience. I've not dabbled in the Flathead myself, have yet to pull my first cylinder head on one. Not the builder above but I once knew a man in Hamden, Connecticut who was a guru with these things. In particular the Ford and Lincoln V-8 Flathead. One of his creations is a four or all wheel drive supercharged V8 Ford Flathead pickup. Maybe forcing air around the nooks and crannies into the large combustion chamber is about all a person can do.

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 10:42:59 05/25/21)

(quoted from post at 07:23:42 05/25/21) Chris,
I actually thought about you and your Funk
when I made the post below.
I don't doubt that your tractor is a
workhorse and I don't disparage you for
liking the heck out of it.
But aside from the added HP you have, it is
still just an N from the engine back.
Fortunately for you, you bought it that way
and the money that was spent to upgrade it
was spent long ago - perhaps when it made
economic sense to do so.
In today's world of dirt cheap old tractors
it makes little sense to spend your money
to upgrade just the engine in one of these
Ns. Not when for less $ you can get a
tractor that has the HP you want plus a
bunch of other features.

o offense taken. I heard a builder refer to the (what I call) valve pockets as part of the port. He may have terminology unique to his shop or experience. I've not dabbled in the Flathead myself, have yet to pull my first cylinder head on one. Not the builder above but I once knew a man in Hamden, Connecticut who was a guru with these things. In particular the Ford and Lincoln V-8 Flathead. One of his creations is a four or all wheel drive supercharged V8 Ford Flathead pickup. Maybe forcing air around the nooks and crannies into the large combustion chamber is about all a person can do.

The L-head has been raced extensively and there are volumes written on what has been attempted in the way of aspiration as well as what works and doesn't. If you want to know the details spend some time on those websites. I think you will find that playing with the block intakes and exhausts has not been real productive.

TOH

 

[Ken(Ark)]

(quoted from post at 07:03:38 05/25/21) Ken,
Gotta quibble with you on the HP of a 3000.
I may be old school but it was old school
rules that the University of Nebraska used
to determine the HP of tractors in that
era.
They set the hp at 38 or 39 depending on
which transmission it had.
Click the link below for a synopsis of test
#881.
For more detailed info you can download a
pdf file which is linked there.

Nebraska Test for a 3000 on tractordata.com

I got a turbo charger , LOL , no I must have looked at the wrong numbers , you are correct

 

[Ken(Ark)]

Found it , tractordata list the motor in the 47 hp range and the draw bar at 35 hp range for the 3000 and does not list the 8n at the motor , just draw bar . I was comparing apples to oranges .


http://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/000/2/2/223-ford-8n.html

http://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/000/2/5/259-ford-3000.html

 

[Dean]

Late model 8N produced just over 27 PTO HP (belt) at NE.

Dean

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 20:36:30 05/25/21)

(quoted from post at 07:03:38 05/25/21) Ken,
Gotta quibble with you on the HP of a 3000.
I may be old school but it was old school
rules that the University of Nebraska used
to determine the HP of tractors in that
era.
They set the hp at 38 or 39 depending on
which transmission it had.
Click the link below for a synopsis of test
#881.
For more detailed info you can download a
pdf file which is linked there.

Nebraska Test for a 3000 on tractordata.com

I got a turbo charger , LOL , no I must have looked at the wrong numbers , you are correct

You will find both numbers. The 3000 engine produces 47 HP measured at the flywheel. The Nebraska numbers are PTO/Drawbar horsepower.

In today's world AG tractors are generally marketed and classed by engine horsepower. My new Kubota L3901 is sold as a 38 HP diesel tractor with 32 PTO HP. It competes with a JD 3038 which produces 37 engine HP and 30 PTO HP. Those numbers are for HST transmissions - same machines with a gear transmission are a bit more efficient and will produce a bit more PTO HP.

Similarly a Claas Xerion 5000 is considered a 520+ HP tractor yet it produces a paltry 472 HP at the PTO :roll:

TOH

 

[Kirk-NJ]

I guess it's a matter of how much you want to get involved and want you what to spend Here are a couple simple tricks.
link

 

[Duner Wi]

32 HP is easy and not terribly expensive.

 

[Bill(Wis)]

Dell used to tell about using a 454 smog pump and an NAA carburetor and some homemade brackets to rig up a simple but effective supercharger.

 

[Dean]

Yes, turning up the RPMs (governor) will provide a bit more HP, which will be largely unusable if operating at 540 PTO RPM without a Sherman combination. What it will do at increased RPM is use more gasoline.

The carburetor and timing adjustments simply compensate for the increased RPM and will not alone make noticeable HP improvements (unless something is amiss pre adjustment).

Hot rodding tricks such as larger valves, porting, polishing, relieving the block, long duration camshaft etc., are useful to produce more
RPMs and corresponding HP but not useful, indeed often counterproductive, for a low RPM torque motor as used in a farm tractor.

What is needed is increased torque at operating RPM, and this requires increased displacement, CR, and/or forced induction.

The late 8N engine is rather well optimized for its intended purpose.

If not enough, one needs a larger and more modern tractor.

Dean