My Flathead V8 tractor build story

[markdtn]

I have gotten a few interested comments when I show photos of my V8 tractor in my avatar. Here is the story if anyone is interested. The short version is that growing up my dad had an NAA tractor. We bought him a book with a Ford tractor history. Inside was an 8N Funk conversion. In the early 50s Funk aircraft company made kits to put 8BAs and inline 6s into N series tractors. They could get more power for plowing and belt work. Records were lost in a fire, but it is estimated that less than 200 V8 kits were made and closer to 5000 I6 kits. A real V8 Funk is very expensive today. There are 2 companies that make kits to convert N-series tractors now. (As a side note for those that don’t know Ford tractors, a 9N was made 1939-1941, a 2N was made 1942-1947, and 8Ns were made 1948-1953. To paint with a broad brush they are all similar, but the 8N has improved steering and and another forward gear. NAA/Jubilees began build in 1953 and have live hydraulics and a few other improvements over the N series). Red Rock (RR) make a kit that only includes the engine adapter/front axle support weldment. The builder is left with a blank canvas to build on. Awesome Henry (AH) makes a kit that does that plus has nice cast adapters to raise the hood and widen the radius arms. The RR kit uses car water pumps and will allow an engine driven fan. The AH kit uses truck water pumps and virtually forces you into an electric fan. I always wanted one so a proverbial little old widow lady had a 2N that the block froze and she was hauling it off for scrap. I bought it for more than scrap value and set it aside. Then I found a ’50 8BA from an F1 truck that had been pulled and unceremoniously plunked open on the ground to put in a 302. It sat outside uncovered for about 2 years. I got it unstuck and tore it down. To be honest I didn’t need a lot of performance, all I wanted was the look of a V8. I was going to do a rings and bearings overhaul but then I found that the block had a crack in 1 cylinder and needed a sleeve. So I went completely the other way. Took it to the machine shop and it needed to be .125 over and 2 sleeves. He found me a virgin block that only needed .030 bore. It cost dearly but I think it was worth it. Cooling is a huge issue with the available radiator size and I think .125 over would have made it even harder. He put the cam and valves in and I built the rest. So now I have a rebuilt 8BA that is bone stock. I decided on the AH kit as it was the most complete. I bought the kit and tore the tractor apart. There are some minor fitment differences from 2N to 8N but I overcame. I painted it in my driveway and put it together in late 2016. Went to it’s first tractor show in 2017 and I have been to 2-3 a year since. This site was instrumental in giving me good advice on various 8BA things from the start. I could not have done it without you. In 2024 I decided that I wanted a Sherman overdrive transmission so that on a road ride I could keep the RPMs down. That turned into putting the engine into an 8N with the overdrive and bigger tires.