1952 Ford 8N Conversion Tractor
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My 1952 Ford 8N "conversion tractor", equipped with a flathead V-8 engine, is a rare collectors item.l have a fairly extensive collection of old Ford tractors. I paid just $17 for the antique conversion kit at an auction to put in my '52 Ford. Conversion kits were designed to boost tractor horsepower but installed easily without any modification to engine mounts or transmission.
It made a big tractor out of a small one. I've been offered $10,000 for this rare tractor. The conversion kits were made by Funks Aircraft Co., Coffeyville, Kan., and were designed to fit 1939 to 1952 Ford tractors. About 200 8Ns were converted to V-8's, but only 20 or 25 are still known to be in existence although I'm sure there are more out there. They were made because there was a shortage of labor after World War II. The original 4-cyl. engine had 119 cu. in. but the replacement engine has 239 cu. in. with horsepower doubled from 17 to 34. It allowed the tractor to be used as a portable power unit for operating irrigation pumps, generators, backhoes, etc.
When I first converted the tractor it had two mufflers that curved down under the tractor on each side. I replaced them with a pair of 2-in. dia., stainless steel vertical straight pipes that make it more attractive and give it a smoother sound.
I use it mainly as a show tractor, but I also used it last year to pull a 6-ft. lawn mower. It did a beautiful job. My conversion tractor could also be used to pull a 7-ft. brush mower or 5-ft. Rotovator. It'll pull a 3-bottom, 16-in. moldboard plow about 20% faster than the 4-cyl. tractor pulling a 2-bottom, 14-in. plow. The replacement engine uses the same pistons, valves, and rings as the original 4-cyl. engine. However, it has a heavy duty clutch designed for a pickup and a heavy duty differential, ring and pinion gear designed for a 1 1/2-ton truck. (Rufus M. Roberts, 3845 Bradley Rd., Cortland, Ohio 44410 ph 216 638-4834)
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1952 Ford 8N Conversion Tractor TRACTORS Antiques 18-6-38 My 1952 Ford 8N "conversion tractor", equipped with a flathead V-8 engine, is a rare collectors item.l have a fairly extensive collection of old Ford tractors. I paid just $17 for the antique conversion kit at an auction to put in my '52 Ford. Conversion kits were designed to boost tractor horsepower but installed easily without any modification to engine mounts or transmission.
It made a big tractor out of a small one. I've been offered $10,000 for this rare tractor. The conversion kits were made by Funks Aircraft Co., Coffeyville, Kan., and were designed to fit 1939 to 1952 Ford tractors. About 200 8Ns were converted to V-8's, but only 20 or 25 are still known to be in existence although I'm sure there are more out there. They were made because there was a shortage of labor after World War II. The original 4-cyl. engine had 119 cu. in. but the replacement engine has 239 cu. in. with horsepower doubled from 17 to 34. It allowed the tractor to be used as a portable power unit for operating irrigation pumps, generators, backhoes, etc.
When I first converted the tractor it had two mufflers that curved down under the tractor on each side. I replaced them with a pair of 2-in. dia., stainless steel vertical straight pipes that make it more attractive and give it a smoother sound.
I use it mainly as a show tractor, but I also used it last year to pull a 6-ft. lawn mower. It did a beautiful job. My conversion tractor could also be used to pull a 7-ft. brush mower or 5-ft. Rotovator. It'll pull a 3-bottom, 16-in. moldboard plow about 20% faster than the 4-cyl. tractor pulling a 2-bottom, 14-in. plow. The replacement engine uses the same pistons, valves, and rings as the original 4-cyl. engine. However, it has a heavy duty clutch designed for a pickup and a heavy duty differential, ring and pinion gear designed for a 1 1/2-ton truck. (Rufus M. Roberts, 3845 Bradley Rd., Cortland, Ohio 44410 ph 216 638-4834)
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