reviving an old Formal 560LP

Hey y'all this is my first post on this forum so heres a bit of back story on me and the tractor! I'm 16 and have been working on and building just about anything with wheels and a motor since I can't remember when. As for the tractor, I think his name is going to be Frank. Frank is a 1961 (or 62) Formal 560 LP wide front. I just got him from my neighbor after trading some work out with him on a little side by side that needed a motor. My end goal is to restore him back to his former glory at some point, but for right now, I just want to get him mechanically sound since I'm going to have to scrounge some missing parts (big shocker I know). My neighbor used to use Frank to compete in local tractor pulls as well as plow his fields, but I will only be using him as a learning tool and for fun more than anything. My main question is about the propane, I've done a lot of resurrections, but never on anything propane. That being said, there isn't a convenient place near where I live to have a tractor filled up so a gasoline conversion is going to be looked into heavily. To do so, it appears from the limited amount of research I have done that all I have to do to the engine is put a gasoline carburetor on it. (Please, correct me if I'm wrong on that) I'm going to try to keep the factory look of the LP so I'll probably convert the propane tank over to a gas tank. My first step is going to be straightening out the electrical, the old wires are brittle and cracked from the Texas heat so I'll be building a whole new harness. After that, I'll go through the fuel system and do whatever it is that needs to be done to convert it to gas. Hopefully, with that, he'll start and then I can start going through the rest of his systems. Like I said, someday I'd love to restore him, but for right now, I just want to get him running and functioning reliably. I'll try and post some pictures in the next few days and if anyone could confirm my question about the carb that would be great. Thank y'all!

Well if that's got a Insign brand regulator and carburetor, they are hard to find parts for, But maybe it's been updated, maybe not, so changing it to gas, might be plausible, but does create different considerations. The LP has a higher compression ratio from the factory, because there is less heat in LP than gasoline,so can u run it with gas with a Lp head, yea, maybe if you don't pull it all day long hard. IHC created the higher compression in the head, bye making the cavity smaller. But if u take that regulator apart, you got to have another person there to cut the gasket off the housing, and maybe you can salvage it, but first go to a art store and buy a sharp knife to do some delicate cutting,that gasket has got to stay in one piece,and pray the diaphragm is intact, that controls the needle and seat, if that's all good, maybe you can keep it on LP gas

Just a thought . Find a local L.P. gas company that runs L.P. in their trucks and maybe get some good help with that system . I have a Buddy who owns a L.P. gas company that has done his own work for over 40 years and he is very good with L.P. systems. The old guys will know .

well, in reply to both comments, I'm really really not wanting to keep it LP for right now. I'll obviously keep all the stuff to convert it back if I ever decide to, but there just isn't anywhere near where I live that does mobile propane fills. At least not for tractors. Besides that, the propane system needs a good bit of work to get back into decent shape. So with all that in mind, will a gas carb bolt onto the old LP intake manifold?

As noted, it will require higher octane gasoline than premium. Iowa Renewable Fuels Association titled "E85 Facts"[4] which cites a range of 100-
105, so E85 might be a solution. It will not last running regular, or even premium.
I would find a donor 560 gas and make it look like it should. Then put a sticker on it E85 only. Jim

I cant say for sure, But according to the Steiner book i would say not. You can order a Steiner book by calling1 800-link_disallowed

can you just throw a gas carb on that and run it? sure you can, but its not gonna last long. High compression pistons right off is gonna need at a minumum 91 octane and you're gonna have to know how to tune it to run good.


if you dont have a way to fill it, find a 560 gasser and go that route. you're gonna have a harder time trying to swap crap back and forth then its worth

In order to control "spark knock" you will very need to use a higher octane fuel because of the 8.75:1 LP compression over the 7.2:1 compression of the gasoline engine. Swap the carburetor onto it, it will bolt on.

Or, if you are concerned about the higher compression, swap the cylinder head too. Get one off of a gas engine to lower your compression down to 7.2:1.

I am curious to know what the part number of your LP head is if you don t mind. It is embossed on the top of the head under the valve cover.

(quoted from post at 17:01:10 12/25/19) Or, if you are concerned about the higher compression, swap the cylinder head too. Get one off of a gas engine to lower your compression down to 7.2:1.

I am curious to know what the part number of your LP head is if you don t mind. It is embossed on the top of the head under the valve cover.

Click to expand...

gas head and LP head are the same on the 60 series. they just used high done pistons to up the compression on them

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Around here ,SWI,propane is less than half the cost of gasoline and once you get a tank there is little problem with theft.

Alright so I talked to a couple propane places in the area and after talking with them, I'll just keep it propane. I need to get new valves for the tank since the reason the people before me parked it was because they were leaking. At that, I'll run all new wires since the old ones are really sketchy, clean up the points, chunk a battery in it, and see what happens.