John deere 5020

doug62

New User
I have a 1970 john deere 5020. The 531 engine is locked up and I am considering up grading to a 619 from a 8640. I have read many forums
that have stated that this is a drop it swap with no issues but a gentleman from a salvage yard told me the fram rails will NOT fit the 619 engine
but he could not be sure as he was only going off from some other persons story. Can some one verify this with solid experience. Will a 619 fit
in the 5020 chassis!
 
I have not swapped one out personally but have owned a 6030 with a 619 already in it, and have talked to a couple guys that have done the swap over. Bolting to the frame should not give you any trouble. Should be the same there. As I recall there is a trouble spot up front, possibly where the hyd. pump bolts up or possibly the radiator alignment, and or alternator. I don't recall exact details, but nothing that can't be engineered around. Also if the 8640 motor has the long bypass filter on the left side, I have seen where the frame was notched to go around it. Although I think it would be better to make a different bracket and avoid that if possible. Among other things, you will need to lengthen the throttle cable and add a pull-cable for the fuel shut off.

Also, I'm curious how you plan to do the intake/exhaust plumbing. Do you plan to keep all or most of the 5020 piping? Reason I ask is because the muffler holes are not going to line up with your 5020 hood. The 619 muffler is pushed forward a bit compared to NA 531. You can swap it over to 6030 plumbing and hood but that presents a few other challenges that I can explain later. If you were swapping this into a 6030 it would be a lot easier and cheaper than a 5020 because of the parts you will need.
 
(quoted from post at 19:00:20 10/06/16) While in the subject would a 531T be an easier swap?

Nope, basically the same.

Although one difference is that the 531T does have a shorter exhaust so it would fit under the hood. The 619 has a taller pedistal where the turbo mounts and therefore if you want to run the 6030 style airbox/air filter, you will need to either cut a hole in the hood around the airbox or find a 6030 exhaust manifold and intercooler. Finding the exhaust manifold is no easy task either, I have looked before.

It migh be possible to run the 5020's intake piping around into the turbo housing but the 5020's pipes are very small diameter and I am not sure if either of them would allow it to breathe properly.
 
I feel if I'm going to swap the 619 is worth the extra effort for what it is as an engine and hp gain. The 619 is way more engine for durability. It's going to be my toy but I still want to do some field work with. As far as the sheet metal goes I may have to do some body work and custom modify the hood. I'm still wondering why the salvage yard guy said he had a customer that tried to do it and said the frame rails wouldn't fit. Maybe it's that filter assembly?
 
Also what year 619 is the best to swap with? I know the 30 series had problems, does any body know what was up dated on them ? I have an option on two different engines one is out of a 8640 and the other out of 8630. How do you know if the 30 series is been up graded ?
 
50 series would be ideal. The 30 series and early 40 series had a cam driven oil pump. Late 40 series and 50 series used the crank driven oil pump. Although anything is better than the 5020 motor. There is a procedure for checking the wear on the oil pump drive gears if it's an early version.
 
Local guy did one years back. I worked in Deere parts then and remember of a lot of little items he had to purchase. I'm betting he had to do some fab too. They also installed a soundgard body. Now afterall of that you start working it and then the rear end craps out ! So plan on updating the rear end too.
 

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