V-8 Conversion

[GT65]

I see there"s one of them V-8 Conversion tractors in the Photo Ads.How fast is a tractor like that?How could you possibly make something like that safe?
Hopped Up Motor,old tractor steering,old tractor braking and old tractor handling.
It's a free country,you can do what you want, but this sure sounds like a fast ride to the "Funeral Home" to me!!
GT65

 

[old]

Speed does not increase all that much. If you figure the normal tractor engine spins at 2500rpm max and most V-8s red line in the 3700RPM range you only can go maybe half again what it would go other wise so if top speed was say 15MPH normally then you might get up to 23MOH or so. Now HP and all ya much higher and things like axles can/do snap off for to much torques etc.

 

[GT65]

Thanks for your reply Old.
I bet if you had a Sherman Combo and put it in high range and high gear you'd go a lot faster than 23MPH.Yeee Haw!!!

 

[Rick Sundblad]

I've heard rumors of 45+MPH

 

[Jon Hagen]

For many years my free stall barn cleaning tractor was a GB Moline chassis with a 4500 + rpm Chrysler 383 in place of the original GB Moline which ran ?? 1200 rpm ?.
I would not have considered running the thing flat out in 5th gear as it would run 40 mph. where it did work beautifully was being a loader tractor that easily ran 10-15 mph in reverse.
Ran mostly in 2nd and reverse at that speed, it made a quick loader tractor.

 

[old]

Ya probably so. I know many years ago I had my wife follow me when I drove my 841 with Sherman combo and I asked her how fast O got up to and she said down that one hill you hit 45MPH first and last time I ever took it for a 10 mile drive

 

[showcrop]

Those v8 and six cyl. conversions were originally done to enable the powering of larger belt drive equipment.

 

[rick in san jose ca.]

Never tried to see how fast she would go with my Sherman but I tell you she got plenty

 

[Tony Jacobs]

Hello Rick , That's all they just rumors if you are going 45+ mph on an 801 someone is towing you . The best I ever had one of my 841's with a Mildly Modified FRESH REBUILT 192 gas engine built for pulling with a Sherman Combo in High Range , NO LOADER , NO LOADED TIRES OR WHEEL WEIGHTS and with Firestone Button tread Industrial tires on it which are similar to a Turf type tire , with the Elenco front axle but with the Driveshaft out , which having a tie rod like a 4x4 truck connecting the front wheels together to stop the wheel shimmy problem unlike a standard 801 front axle has , I could only get 32 - 35 mph wide open out of it . In a PERFECT WORLD or one VOID of the effects of Wind Resistance , drag coefficent , parasitic loss of Horsepower through the drivetrain and weight of vehicle , Horsepower per pound of weight to over come friction of just the rolling resistance of the tires touching the pavement etc. etc. MPH = TIRE DIAMETER(IN INCHES) X ENGINE RPM divided by 336 x GEAR RATIO . Which an 841 with 13.6x28 tire with a COMMON DIAMETER of 51.5 LIMITED to 2400 RPM with a REAR AXLE RATIO of 7.17 to 1 NOT INCLUDING THE SHERMAN OVERDRIVE GEAR should propel the tractor to a top speed of 51.3 MPH IN A PERFECT WORLD . So taking a worn 50 year old tractor with a loader and additional weight with horsepower loss due to age if you can get 25 - 27 mph out of it I would say you would be lucky . Thanks Tony

 

[Tony Jacobs]

Hello Gary , You will only pick up about 5 mph because you gain some rpm's but no additional horsepower , read my post below . Thanks Tony