F-20 engine build

I am well into restoring the first of my twin F-20's. Both built Dec 38. I am fortunate in having one of my distributors being well equipt. I have use of their blast cabinet and spray booth. I have another friend that owns a machine shop. He builds motors for tractors, sprint cars and has a relationship with one of the top musclecar restorers in the midwest. There isn't a motor he can't rebuild. The issue is likely going to be cost. For years I restored cars and would typically do complete motor overhaul. I explained to him that with these tractors in particular are common and it usually does not make sense to spend large sums of money on rebuilds.

The head is not an issue. It is the cylinders and pistons. I have seen many a tactor dude hone the sleeves, slap a new set of rings and call it good. Even on stuck motors like the one I'm working on. Based on mine and his experience when I get the sleeves cleaned up either new sleeves and/or new pistons will be required.

1) I would like to find the sources for pistons(over-size), sleeves, and bearings. Also any advice is welcome. I am attempting to avoid going down the wrong road before I get in too deep.

2) I am checking into having over-sized pistons made. The problem is they are quantity sensative. I am going to price them so I am looking for anyone that is interested in a set of over-sized pistons. The more I buy the cheaper they will be for all of us. As part of this offer I would be willing to have your sleeves bored and honed to fit each sleeve. If you are in Eastern MO or Southern IL I might be able to pick up the parts and deliver. If not you will know shipping estimate before we begin. I am a rep for Parker Hannifin and travel that area regularly.

One of the prices I will be able to pin down in a few weeks is the cost to bore and hone the sleeves. If you are interested or know someone that might be......please let me know.

Thanks, Eric
St Louis, MO

Call Rice Equipment and talk with Gordon. They now sell the 4" oversized pistons, rings and wrist pins. Give Gordon a call (814) 226-9200.

i have a friend who is geeting ready to part out a 20 with 4 inch pistons and sleeves in it. tractor was running until he took the head from it a year ago and left the 20 sitting in the back of the shop. send me a PM or email and i will get you hooked up!!

Thanks,

PM is not working. you can email me

[email protected]

Thanks.

Get a set of used 44 massey harris pistons, have your original sleeves bored to match the pistons, they will fit, have the over bore and give hair more compression, I have done this before and worked on lots of f-20s and had good luck with out breaking the bank, email for more info

Visit www.aldersontractor.com or call 641-624-2275 we have all the F-20 parts you will need. New sleeves, gaskets, rings and used 4" high dome pistons.

(quoted from post at 21:32:25 08/08/08)
Thanks,

PM is not working. you can email me

[email protected]

Thanks.

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you've got mail

Thanks guys, once I get the details figured out I will post my findings. I hope this helps others in the future. My buddy suggested looking through the catalogs of piston mfgrs and look for one that would work with the wrist pin and deck height. Sounds like the MH44 idea mentioned above.

That brings up another thought. It seems like the compression of the originals is really low. I realize there are three set of originals but have never seen diminsions or compression ratios. what compression are the newly mfgd pistons? What compression ratio have you guys tried and what were the results? I am assuming everyone runs regular unleaded gas???

Not sure what happened on my last post. I show as a guest. Anyway for the benefit of future readers and the many who probably don't know.

Cubic inch displacement is figured

Bore x Bore x Stroke X .7854 x #cylinders
f-20 stock 3.75x3.75x5=70.3125 x .7854= 55.2234cu/in per cyl x 4 cylinders= 220.89 cu/in
4.00" bore 4x4x5=80 x .7854=62.832 cu/in per cyl x 4 = 251.328 cu/in or approx 13% increase in displacement.

Deck height is the centerline of the crank shaft to the top of the block.

Anybody know of someone with MH 44 pistons?

if u wanted to go oversized you could slap a set of Farmall M pistons in it...they really light a fire in her and sound great in them F-20s...its possible 2 to all youd need is a machine shop to bore it out and cut the head of the pistons down since ythe M pistons are taller then F20 pistons.i did that in my 39 F20 and versus my friends 39 F20 with stock pistons it nite and day between them

M pistons were going to be my next adventure..........That is until my M was stolen a few weeks ago before I get the engine taken down.

Does anyone have either exact dimensions of standard bore M pistons or a used piston they would care to donate??

(quoted from post at 19:20:08 08/19/08)
M pistons were going to be my next adventure..........That is until my M was stolen a few weeks ago before I get the engine taken down.

Does anyone have either exact dimensions of standard bore M pistons or a used piston they would care to donate??

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i got a set of 4 inch pistons and sleeves that would be a whole lot easier to put in then M pistons, plus you dont have to machine a single thing

Thanks for the offer of 4" pistons and sleeves. What I am attempting to do is figure out a reasonabe way to complete this and another F-20. It could be that in the end I will spend $500 give or take for the set of pistons and sleeves or machine work and parts, etc. I have figured out that new sleeves are about $125 a piece. I would guess L.A. Sleeve is the primary supplier for all the resellers. I know it's done everyday but I am not willing to spend that kind of money for somebody's used stuff.

If ever get any info on MH 44 pistons or M pistons and assuming they don't need a bunch of work I think including machine work it will be the least expensive way to go. The key to this seems to be finding the best fit of a piston for 3 7/8" bore. There is no substitute for boring the sleeves to fit each piston, regardless of their origin. I would like to hear other opinions or experiences. I am still in the discovery stage. I am very open to opinions and suggestions.