tractor plus engine

I know this has been discussed to some extant before but I am looking for some advice-- I'm thinking of putting a truck/car engine in a tractor to make an economical machine while having a project to do with my kids who like to tinker. I'm shooting for about 60 hp-- something to run my M&W round baler and my 6' cutditioner. I currently do those things with a 52hp oliver 770. Does anyone have suggestions for a good tractor /engine match. I want something heavier than an 8n or a farmall h... I'm thinking maybe an Oliver 77 with a 305 chevy v6. Would that be a good fit and get me over the 60hp mark? Any other relatively easy suggestions?

(quoted from post at 06:34:27 08/01/17) I know this has been discussed to some extant before but I am looking for some advice-- I'm thinking of putting a truck/car engine in a tractor to make an economical machine while having a project to do with my kids who like to tinker. I'm shooting for about 60 hp-- something to run my M&W round baler and my 6' cutditioner. I currently do those things with a 52hp oliver 770. Does anyone have suggestions for a good tractor /engine match. I want something heavier than an 8n or a farmall h... I'm thinking maybe an Oliver 77 with a 305 chevy v6. Would that be a good fit and get me over the 60hp mark? Any other relatively easy suggestions?

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The 305 Chevy will produce more than 60 horsepower, but to do so the RPMs will be much higher than what you want for safe operation of the tractor. Also, making that 305 work hard for extended periods will greatly reduce the life of that engine. Dropping a 305, or even a 350 into an Oliver 77 would be a very fun project, but the tractor would need to be used for tractor rides, etc.

just about any engine thatfits the 'hole' will work.So use whatever you come up with.The possibilities are endless. A 350Chevy is a common transplant.However,an automotivre engine (V8)will not have much torque. You will need to keep it wound up to get much power. That plus lack of governor makes it kind of unhandy to 'farm' with. The Oliver 6 turns at about 1500rpm,the V8 can easily exceed 4000....However,that would be a fun project for you and the kids.Back in the day,there were quite a few conversions done to just get by.I myselfhave an F12 with a 2.8L V6 from a Bronco II.it has tires from a Jd55 combine on homemaderims;a 'lowered' wide front from a superC;Twinn stacks..... It's a real 'hoot' at the antique tractor pulls..Also working on putting an old GMC 305V6 into a Farmall m.Go fot it.Have fun!

The antique tractor pullers now have a class that allows such engines, but the RPMs are limited with the use of an electronic governor, which basically causes the engine to miss when the rpm limit is reached. That rev limiter would be a recommended addition if the kids will be driving it.

4bt cummins in a 77 or 88,you can also use a pierce belt drive governor to control rpms.60 horse is very easy.a Chrysler flathead would be good

An IH 345 or 390 will bolt right up to most farmals like the M, 400, 450. Not sure about the 4/560's. Just takes some minor alterations of the side rails. Hoods fit right too.

Ford 300 or Chevy 292 six in Oliver, Massey or most any brand that has a shaft between bell housing and transmission

Get a GM six cylinder out of a Gleaner combine, preferably the 292 Cid. It will have a governor on it and will make the right hp at usable rpms Lot easier to fit in as well. Ben

Hurry up and get that GMC 305 V-6 into that M and get it Running! I've been interested in that combination since the mid-1960's! We need pictures! The little 2.8L V-6 Ford in the F-12 sounds interesting. We need pictures of it too! I test drove a 2.8L V-6 powered Bronco II the day they became available back in '83. MY buddy I was with bought one and a month or so later I ordered a 2wd Bronco II which they never made. But that Bronco II was the second fastest vehicle I ever drove up my test track. Two lane city street up a steep block long hill. BRONCO II did about 52 mph in 3rd gear. My Mustang GT 5.0L 5-speed did 55+. My '79 White Road Boss II with 903 Cummins, 320 hp, 6-speed Spicer trans, 4.44 gears did about 50-51, against the governor in 5th. Everything else I drove was slower, WAY slower. Like my '78 300-6 powered F-150 4wd, NP-435 and NP-205 t-case, 3.50 geared 9 inch would do about 35 in 3rd, would not pull 4th gear. My '87 F-150 with same trans, axle ratio, but EFI for a couple more HP would do about 36-37 mph.

I do believe they sell brand new flathead Ford engines made in France.

For that kind of work I had rather have the Oliver 770 than any of the passenger/light truck engine replacements. You have a great tractor

Some food for thought (not my tractor) a Massey Harris 33 with a 13hp Harbor Freight engine with a centrifugal clutch like a go kart, or mini bike would use.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAfG339_o3I

A Farmall 20 with a Chrysler 392 Hemi.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiRNRs0dvKk

A Oliver 70 with a Dodge 318 V8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8Ck-hITg54

Put a 3 3/4" bore kit in the 770 and it should be pretty close to 60hp and a lot easier to do than an engine swap. Chuck

Twenty years ago my son sold his '79 (I think) Toyota Jeep-style Landcruiser 4-cylinder diesel. About two years later I ran into the guy that bought it. He had transplanted a 350 Chevy v8 into it and he told me that was a BIG mistake. Not only did it lack the low end grunt that the much smaller diesel engine had but it's value dropped considerably in the marketplace. Not that the resale issue would be your concern but I ask myself, why are you considering the swap? If you want to give your kid some experience, pick up another tractor or an old truck and he can fiddle to his hearts content and learn at the same time.

For maximum fuel economy on PTO work you will want peak engine torque at a little lower than the tractor's rated PTO speed so the tractor has some lugging ability. You may need a gear reduction or use the car's transmission to accomplish that.

Your Oliver 770 has a 216 cubic inch engine turning at 1750 RPM to make it's peak horse power at 540 PTO RPM. PTO speed on an Oliver 77 is even lower at what, about 1600 engine RPM? A car engine could have peak HP at over 4000 RPM and peak torque at 3200 RPM or higher. Slow that car engine down to only 1750 RPM to spin the tractor's PTO at standard 540 RPM and that car engine will be an under powered, gas guzzling disappointment compared to the original tractor engine. Install a 2:1 gear reduction behind that same car engine and the engine will run at 3500 RPM when the tractor's PTO speed is 540 RPM. Your will get a lot more power from the engine and it will still have some lugging ability.

To retain your live PTO, you may need to use the tractor's clutch instead of the car engine's clutch. The radiator's cooling capacity and and an engine governor are are other things to consider.

IMHO, I think you could trade the 77 or 770 for a nice 880, 1650 or larger tractor for less cost than installing a car engine in a tractor. Would overhauling the engine or replacing the clutch in a 1650 gas tractor still be a suitable project for you and the kids?

My advice is redo the motor in the 770,probably 19 out of 20 projects like you described end up not getting done for various reasons,I've bought a lot of them partly done for parts over the years.

Any old Vortec 350 Chev will make 60-70HP at 1800 rpm and have as much or more torque than the natural aspirated diesels of that era.
As previously stated add a Pierce Govenor.
Don't be a Luddit and tear off the fuel injection and electronic ignition.
http://phxgrp.com/engine-auxiliary/transmission-adapters/