New project tractor

[S.E. Ohio Farmall]

I just recieved a Farmall 400, NF, FH with a bad motor witch belonged to my late grandfather. This is the first tractor that I remember running and I logged a many long days on this old girl conditioning and tedding hay, mowing roadsides with a FH mower and unloading silage wagons at the bagger, absolutly loved that thing. The only draw back to this tractor was fuel consumption - 6 gph at wot. Dad and myself were talking about it the other night and were wondering about bolting a newer diesel in place of the bad gas motor. Does anyone know if any of the newer diesels will bolt in ? We were thinking of one out of a 504, 560, just off of the top of our heads. Any and all suggestions are appriecated.

 

[RegularRog]

My opinion, for what it"s worth, I would want it
just like it was when my Grandfather had it. I
would love to have my Grandfather"s F-14, but I
wouldn"t want any other engine in it other than
what was stock. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Steven f/AZ]

If you're going to go through the work, put a 4BT Cummins in it.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Yeah, 4BT Cummins would make a sweet tractor engine.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I would suggest getting 560 frame rails and 560 diesel engine that would be neat.

 

[Hayfarmer]

I agree with the bottom post. Depends upon what you are going to do with it. If it is gonna be Grandpa's tractor, restored, rebuild the engine of get another like it. My SMTA burns lots of gas whe I pull it hard, running around pulling a light load, I adjust the carb and it burns very little. If you put the diesel in it it just won't be "Grandpa's Tractor" anymore.

 

[S.E. Ohio Farmall]

What am I looking at to get the engine from the 560 to bolt up to my 400 tranny? Sorry, but I am not familiar with these beasts as far as what will interchange between series. I don't mind spending a little money to make this a nice project, but I also don't want this to turn into somthing that will make me want to hit myself in the head with a shovel ( I already have enough of those projects ). Thanks for the replys and keep the suggestions comming.[/quote]

 

[S.E. Ohio Farmall]

Don't get me wrong here fellas, but I honestly believe that grandpa would approve of the project AS LONG as it was done correctly and it was useful when it was all said and done witch I do believe it will be. The tractor was just soooooo perfect for a lot of things other than the fact of the fuel consumption. I have thought about buying a 560 or such but I know over the years what was done to the 400 as I was doing the wrenching on the thing and other than the bad motor and a rotten radiator the TA, hyd. system&final drives are in excellent shape. I have a 504 utility that I am playing " what will break on it this week " and I really hate to go through that with another tractor and still wind up with the 400 setting idle because between the price of 504 parts and buying another tractor and taking a chance of playing the game with it there won't be enough money to go around,, and I don't have time to work a 3rd job

 

[ScottyHOMeY]

Only thing I might caution is to keep in mind the 460/560 disaster. Putting the kind of torque you're talking about onto the rear-end of a 400 could be more than it will take.

 

[Lee in Iowa]

I have 3 tractors that were my dad's and I would like to keep them as original as possible. But only one of them is a gasser and I don't use it a lot. The immediate problem I see with putting a 560 engine in a 400 is going from a 4 to a 6 cylinder, even if you use the 560 frame rails many other things will be too short hood, steering shaft, etc. The money and time spent on a repower could be put towards a newer small diesel tractor and keep grandpa's tractor original. Lee

 

[Dick from Iowa]

So, S.E.Ohio, How many hours are you going to work this machine. If it is for chores and parades figure how many hours a year - and gals of gas - that will be. Once you have the projected fuel costs of a stock 400, subtract how much diesel will costs for the same usage. With those two guide lines you can see what a "conversion" saves you? Costs you? Repowering to save money with diesel only works over the very long, very hard useage application. Anybody know a guy who paid the high price of a diesel pickup to save pennies on mileage to/from work? I know a couple like that. Dick in Iowa

 

[BOBM25]

I agree with most of the other guys, keep it a gasser. A 264 gas start diesel would be your best option if you really want a diesel engine. These do pretty good on fuel but only problem is they are kinda hard to come by and parts get expensive in a hurry. A 560 diesel motor would take extensive body work to look nice and if you use it for heavy field work, the drivetrain won't hold up (just like the 560's didn't). I'm all for cool retrofits and stuff for pulling tractors, but thats a different animal all together. Over haul your gas motor and get a nice 706-806 diesel for doing the everyday work. It will be a better use of your money, I think.