What is needed to swap a gas engine into a diesel tractor?

the_workmaster · Nov 15, 2017

After a discouraging year of researching my options for rebuilding the 144 diesel in my 1959 641, I'm now seriously considering swapping in a gas engine. I have available a 640 donor tractor, if I want to pay for it. It's a (short) generation earlier than my tractor, and obviously gas vs diesel. I have a loader to think about too that mounts partially to my current diesel engine block, via the yoke on the front, along with the hydraulic pump that powers the loader. I'm not afraid of the swap, I drive a 79 F150 that is currently powered by a 4 cylinder turbo diesel, but I need to learn about how much would be involved in the potential swap. Flywheel, clutch disk and pressure plate, pilot bearing, bellhousing, mount plate, electrical system, mounting of the loader/front end yoke and hydraulic pump, fuel tank, etc etc etc. It can easily get to a point where I'm not saving myself anything, so help me learn. Thankyou, Alex

shaun wallace · Nov 15, 2017

Battery box and throttle linkage along with air cleaner. Every thing else is basically the same. The plate between engine is different thickness on XX0 and XX1.

Ultradog MN · Nov 16, 2017

I'm not an authority on the Hundreds but
it seems I've read that fuel tank mounts
are different too.
I don't know where you are located or if
this guy would be convenient for you but
A friend of mine had a 144D rebuilt about
8 years ago by a guy in Princeton, MN who
has done a lot of engine work for us.
I don't know what all was done to it.
I hate to just throw his number out here
but if you email me I would give it to you
privately.

riveroadrat · Nov 16, 2017

I have the impression that 144 diesels are rare. You might want to at least keep the engine. On another note I bought a used set of diesel pistons and rods off fleabay and they are 10 thousands UNDER of 172". Has anyone any idea whats up with that?

Tracy Brown · Nov 16, 2017

im thinking if you get a donor tractor, you will have everything you will need

the_workmaster · Nov 17, 2017

What about the whole electrical system? The 641 diesel is 12 volt, the 640 runs six. I don't know a thing about electronics.. what's involved in switching those out?

Roadrat, the 144's aren't so much rare as just uncommon. It's still a Ford tractor, they made tons of them. I've read that it was more expensive, but not a significant jump in power like the 172, so it didn't sell well, then people didn't like them in some cases because they were tough to start in the cold, so they used lots of ether like on mine and blew them up, and I certainly see that the aftermarket support is terrible, so we're losing them all the time to people who don't rebuild. That said, I'm a pack rat, I save everything, so not to worry!

Destroked 450 · Nov 17, 2017

Just use the 12 volt starter and gen off the diesel on the gas engine and use a resister to cut down the voltage to the dist, or put electronic ignition on it.

souNdguy · Nov 20, 2017

why buy a resistor? it costs nearly as much as a REAL 12v coil, and introduces 2 more electrical connections to corrode and
fail. best bet is to get a Napa IC14SB 15$ coil...

What is needed to swap a gas engine into a diesel tractor?

the_workmaster

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shaun wallace

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Ultradog MN

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riveroadrat

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Tracy Brown

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the_workmaster

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Destroked 450

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souNdguy

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