549 Gasser Into a 66 or 68 Series

NTP · Sep 16, 2009

Let me first say that this is not something I have the time, money, or inclination to do anytime soon. But I had an interesting (to me) thought inspired by the 549 gas power unit in the photo adds - would it be feasible/how hard would it be to take a 66 or 68 series tractor and use the parts from a 1468 or 1568 to install a 549 gas engine? I think it would be a very interesting conversation piece (though obviously very thirsty).

Hugh MacKay · Sep 17, 2009

NTP: I had an opportunity to try a 14 or 15 68 (forgoten which) back when they were new. I already owned a 1066. I came home thinking what a gutless wonder this V8 was.

So your proposing a gutless wonder that is also a fuel hog. I doubt if that 549 would keep pace with a 766 or an 886.

pete 23 · Sep 17, 2009

The 1468 was a gutless wonder, neighboring dealer would get into the injection pump(strictly against IH warranty policy) before even taking it out on a demo so as the 1466 would not run over it. Thing is , they had no turbo so the turbo'd engines could walk all over them even with a few less cubes. Company rep told me, they are for the guy who has everything. Some of customers would have the injection pump rebuilt so as all 8 cyl's would fire at all speeds and loads, this made them sound like a v-8 engine should.

NTP · Sep 17, 2009

Well, I would question whether the gas motor might run stronger than the V-8 diesels you guys drove for at least two reasons:

1. The gas motor would presumably turn quite a few more RPMs (putting the transmission down a gear or two for a given groundspeed).

2. The factory setting for the fueling on the V-8 diesels you guys drove was probably fairly conservative, whereas the gasser provides fuel for all the air it can ingest.

In any event, I realize that there are good reasons IH used the big 6-cylinder turbodiesels in these tractors, and that those engines have more power potential than a 549 gas engine. It was just an interesting thought experiment. I guess you could say that the tractor would be for the guy who thought he had everything when he got a 1468 and 1568.

Hugh MacKay · Sep 17, 2009

NTP: My dad and brothers were in the dump truck business 35 years ago, back when there were still a few gassers around. Dump truck in our area hauled by ton/miles, thus few you passed another dump truck few times per day you had an extra load.

The stories I heard back then was a 549 turning 3,000 rpm and 60 mph would hold a candle to a 466 turning 2,300 at 60 mph.

NTP · Sep 17, 2009

I guess I could believe that. I'm not that familiar with the 549. Is 3,000 RPM all a 549 will muster? I would have expected it could do at least 3,500, perhaps 4,000. And any respectable engine of that size should make 200 hp easily. Now, I know one can probably crank a 466 up to 500 hp with ease, but 200 hp at the flywheel ought to make a respectable tractor out of any 66 or 68 series (I would think).

Looking at it from another angle, it strikes me that the world would be a pretty boring place if every machine in the world simply had the optimal configuration. Different ways of going about it spice things up a bit.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 17, 2009

The V-549 engine was originally configured as a large truck engine, and back when gas was 18 cents a gallon, fuel economy wasn't that big of a deal. The original 549 was rated at 250 hp and 500 lb/ft of torque at something like 2850 rpm [I have the IH Sales Eningeering Bulletins here in the house somewhere, but apparently my wife has decided HER filing system on MY stuff is much better than my own...so now I can't find them to save my azz]. But spinning a 549 much over 3000 isn't highly recommended. [Again,if I could find my IH literature that my wife "filed," I could quote from it.]

Later versions of the 549 were rated as high as 285 HP...so like you, I think 250+ hp at the flywheel ought to translate to something decent at the drawbar.

Owen Aaland · Sep 17, 2009

Getting back to your original question, the block should fit where the DV550 was before. I think the bolt pattern on the crankshaft is the same too so you can use the diesel flywheel and clutch. There was some discussion about this on the Red Power board a couple months back.

NTP · Sep 17, 2009

Thanks for the info. I suspected it should bolt in pretty easily.

NTP · Sep 17, 2009

Yea, I love it when someone "organizes" my stuff for me! I am surprised they are suspect at over 3,000 RPM, but 285 hp at the flywheel is very respectable, anyway. I think it would probably pull more than a 2 bottom plow. Thanks for the input.

Neil

NTP · Sep 17, 2009

I took a look over there at Red Power and found the discussion. The way I read it, there is someone over there making a plate that allows attaching a 605 gasser (which I'd never even heard of) in place of the diesel 550. They said that the plate also works for the 549. However, the tractor flywheel bolts right to the 605 crank, whereas some flywheel/clutch work is necessary to bolt to the 549 crank. In any event, it sounds like it's a pretty manageable project. They also mentioned somewhere around 300 horsepower from the 605, which should be reasonably competitive with a stock 1566.

549 Gasser Into a 66 or 68 Series

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