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1939 Farmall M with Detroit diesel at auction

R

ryanwheelock

Member
theres a auction next weekend here in northern michigan and the guy has had a 1939 Farmall M that has the factory Detroit turbo diesel in it, been told he was offered $10,000 before but you know how talk is. Wonder what it will go for and what the reserve is. I think it is one of 6 or one of 10 made,something like that.
Ryan
 
IH never installed Detroit's at the factory. It was a kit from an aftermarket manufacturer or some enterprising mechanic to install a Detroit in a M. I've seen several over the years.
 
Just wanted to add the reason I know its a true factory IH is they didnt want to let him pull with it at local pulls because it wasnt factory, until he showed them the factory papers from IH then they had to let him pull because it is a factory built M. I think it didnt have the turbo, he added it I think.
 
It seems unlikely that a 2-71 Farmall M rolled out the factory door in 1939. Or for that matter, rolled out an experimental shop door that year.

The 71 series began with the 6-71 in 1938. The production capacity of the GM plant was probably stressed just building enough engines for their busses. And were they actually developing the smaller displacement engines along side the 6-71 at that time? If one could find the intro date of the 2-71, this question might be settled.
 
(quoted from post at 15:42:17 05/11/10) Just wanted to add the reason I know its a true factory IH is they didnt want to let him pull with it at local pulls because it wasnt factory, until he showed them the factory papers from IH then they had to let him pull because it is a factory built M. I think it didnt have the turbo, he added it I think.
Click to expand...

International harvester also built at least 2 Super Hs equipped with the TA, but both of those were dismantled and NOT sold to the public.
 

I own an M with a 2-71 in it. It was installed by Peninsular Diesel in the 50's from the DD supplied kit. I also have a photocopy of original instructions that came with the "kit".

Many of them you see now are home made installations - not the original kit from DD.

I know of an MD with a 2-71 in it in Cheboygen that is not an original DD kit.

Shepard Diesel also made a kit for the M and I've seen two M's with them installed.
 
(quoted from post at 08:48:37 05/11/10) It seems unlikely that a 2-71 Farmall M rolled out the factory door in 1939. Or for that matter, rolled out an experimental shop door that year.

The 71 series began with the 6-71 in 1938. The production capacity of the GM plant was probably stressed just building enough engines for their busses. And were they actually developing the smaller displacement engines along side the 6-71 at that time? If one could find the intro date of the 2-71, this question might be settled.
Click to expand...

I would say it is not settled quite so easy. Engineering pre-production units are always available, especially to large potential customers. The modular concept was certainly in testing prior to actual release of the 6-71, meaning other configurations would have been built, even if only by hand. And there is no doubt that early mounting specs would have been established. All that stuff happens during the early stages while doing general layout work.
 
It was IHC's strict policy to destroy test tractors, that being said a few did survive, two examples being the A and B Frameall's. I find it hard to believe IH was installing Detroit's that early. I have also seen SHTA's with "factory" papers, but we know the test mules were destroyed. Buyer beware I guess.
 
There's no doubt that you can get a picture of an M with a Detroit Diesel in it, and you can probably get a copy of the paperwork. It's the "factory" and "authenticity" parts that people are doubting. I have only seen pictures of one or two, so I have no opinion on it.
 

A good way to separate old installations vs newer installations is by the block casting. At the time these were available there was no Detroit Diesel... DD was GM at that time and an engine of that era would have GM cast into the side of the block.

Not that old engines aren't still around and someone wishing to be historically correct would find an old block.
 
Thought for sure it was the real factory set-up. I know people say they seen or have a white demo farmall H or H with a TA and so on but I thought for sure this was legit. I want to read his papers and find out for sure. When he had the problem at tractor pulls, he showed the papers and they had to let him pull because it was a factory set-up. But if it was a kit like Roosty said I dont think they would have let him pull in the factory class after that. Now its really bugging me.
Ryan
 
Detroit Diesel engines were labeled as General Motors Diesel cast in the block and I"ve seen some stamped in the rocker covers as well. Those engines were developed for buses and marine use,as well. Almost every landing craft used in WWII used at least one of them,depending on size. Charles Kettering was instrumental in their design as well as the Allison V-12 used in aircraft.
GM was looking to get in on upcoming defense work with those engines and other projects.
Having said that the chances are the conversion very probably was made after the war because the government was buying those as fast as they were being made before the war.
A good way to check would be to get with someone from Detroit Diesel and have them do a serial number search on the engine in question. They have a data base for that. Should settle the question.

Regards-

Craig
 
IHC never built a Farmall M in 1939 with a GM Detroit diesel engine. It was a conversion. Several companies offered packages to install both the GM Detroit diesel and the Shepard diesel and individuals have converted others.

Harold H
 
The detroit GM diesel was not built untill the 1950's. Massey Ferguson and Oliver used them in a couple of tractors. I don't think they around in 1939.
 
Hes a puller! Of course he is going to have factory papers on an aftermarlet conversion, he wants to win a 10 dollar trophy in increase the size of his ego!
 

http://ytforums.ytmag.com/photos/137.jpg
137.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 06:43:52 05/11/10) theres a auction next weekend here in northern michigan and the guy has had a 1939 Farmall M that has the factory Detroit turbo diesel in it, been told he was offered $10,000 before but you know how talk is. Wonder what it will go for and what the reserve is. I think it is one of 6 or one of 10 made,something like that.

Ryan
Click to expand...

I would like to more about this Farmall M with a Detroit Diesel. I know the guy you mentioned. Were do I look for a serial no. on this engine. Did this come with a blower and turbo and inner cooler, or was it all added on. Any information on the Farmall M would be appreciated. Should this tractor also have a serial no? What yr was a Farmall M made?
 
I am in the middle of repairing leaks, etc on my 49 M with a DD conversion. I can lend a bit of information. The conversion on my M was done by the Earle Equipment Co in Detroit. S/n for engine will be stamped into pad on block just below head on blower side of engine. Original tag is rivited to same side of engine below blower. My engine s/n puts tbe engine at a 1949 or 1950. I can take detailed photos as i have the front end disassembled at the moment.

BTW, GM introduced the 2 cycle 71 series in 1938
 
(quoted from post at 19:57:25 07/16/12)
(quoted from post at 06:43:52 05/11/10) theres a auction next weekend here in northern michigan and the guy has had a 1939 Farmall M that has the factory Detroit turbo diesel in it, been told he was offered $10,000 before but you know how talk is. Wonder what it will go for and what the reserve is. I think it is one of 6 or one of 10 made,something like that.

Ryan
Click to expand...

I would like to more about this Farmall M with a Detroit Diesel. I know the guy you mentioned. Were do I look for a serial no. on this engine. Did this come with a blower and turbo and inner cooler, or was it all added on. Any information on the Farmall M would be appreciated. Should this tractor also have a serial no? What yr was a Farmall M made?
Click to expand...

DD didn't come with turbos and intercoolers until the late 80's or so. Every DD came with a blower to evacuate the exhaust out of the cylinders, not to enhance power.
 
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