8N block with front distributor

OK. got an 8n block with the front distributor and I was wondering if this can be converted to the side distributor.
I am rebuilding the engine and wanted to see if I can just convert to the side distributor while I was in there.
Obviously the cam is wrong and the front housing will have to be changed??
Are the cranks the same in both engines?
Thanks, for any info on this question.
 
I have never tried it but that block would not have the bosses
on the left side to attach the generator/alternator brackets to.
Oil filler and filter would be in the way too.
 
I have a '47(built) 8n that was converted to side dizzy. More
trouble than it's worth.Converted to 12 volt also, Nowhere to
mount brackets. Buying a side dizzy block for rebuild and you
would be better off.

Kirk
 
Put a magneto on it, if you an find the magneto drive. better than a front or side mount distributor in my book.
 
(quoted from post at 16:51:15 12/03/16) OK. got an 8n block with the front distributor and I was wondering if this can be converted to the side distributor.
I am rebuilding the engine and wanted to see if I can just convert to the side distributor while I was in there.
Obviously the cam is wrong and the front housing will have to be changed??
Are the cranks the same in both engines?
Thanks, for any info on this question.

cranks are same.
converting front distr to side distr
1) cam shaft
2) timing cover
3) fabricate right side gen/alt mount, as block lacks mounting bosses
4) oil filler & filter interfere with normal side mount gen/alt location as they are more forward than side mount
5) you will have no timing mark viewing port, so drill bell housing, add marks to crank pulley, static time, etc.
6) no mounting holes in head fpr coil (fine a new location)

Not impossible, been done as Kirk said.
 
Not worth all the effort in my opinion.. Sure side distributors are nice but front mounts are not as bad as people make them out to be..
 
If a feller just can't live with removing the two bolts & distr every 4 - 5 years then he ought to find one of these rare little pieces.


 
(quoted from post at 09:26:06 12/04/16) If a feller just can't live with removing the two bolts & distr every 4 - 5 years then he ought to find one of these rare little pieces.




And then put a magneto on it! :wink:
 
43045.jpg


magneto on a 8n side mount block, actually an industrial engine.
 
What about us guys that actually USE our tractors enough where pulling that front dizzy is at least a yearly task? OH yea, EI! :shock: :lol:

Sounds like converting one to side mount would be a lot of trouble.

Rick
 
(quoted from post at 12:19:16 12/04/16) What about us guys that actually USE our tractors enough where pulling that front dizzy is at least a yearly task? OH yea, EI! :shock: :lol:

Sounds like converting one to side mount would be a lot of trouble.

Rick
hat yearly task is usually due to non use not regular & often use.
And for R.Geiger, thise drives I pictures are for distributors, not magnetos. Different drives.
 
In all the years I have had my 8N I have only had
the front mount off once. That time it was just
because I thought I should nose around in there
and check things. Granted, I probably only put 25
hours a year on it, but the old Farmall I grind with
gets about 75 hours a year and no gave never once
opened the distributor cap.

If something has the old parts in it just leave them.
They were better made than junk today.
 
I concur with the majority here - don't muck around with it! If you just have the block and your intent is to rebuild it to resell as a short block, then best to just leave it as a front-mount set up. That is unless you are that bored, and have extra $$$ to burn...it's been done before but why???

Tim *PloughNman* Daley(MI)
 
(quoted from post at 09:53:13 12/04/16) In all the years I have had my 8N I have only had
the front mount off once. That time it was just
because I thought I should nose around in there
and check things. Granted, I probably only put 25
hours a year on it, but the old Farmall I grind with
gets about 75 hours a year and no gave never once
opened the distributor cap.

If something has the old parts in it just leave them.
They were better made than junk today.


LOL even with having quit farming I'm still putting about 150 hours a year on mine. Funny part is that I was in to muscle cars back into the day. Was pretty common to do a tune up every 12K miles replacing points, condenser and plugs. Going back at 6K and checking the gaps on plugs and points for optimal performance. 6K miles translates to about 100 hours. So without EI to keep in top running conditions I'm still be checking the gap every year &1/2 and replacing the points every 3 years (while farming it would have been 1 and 2 respectively on 2 8Ns). I don't see this as a contest to see how long the points will last before they fail, at the worst possible time and in the worst possible place. I will freely admit that 12K was a little more often that was really needed but a cheap price to pay for the reliability factor.

Rick
 

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