Cummins 5.9 Conversion

Bill VA · Aug 9, 2017

I've read a lot of posts on various forums regarding swapping a 5.9L Cummins into a tractor. The one that surprised me most were for Oliver and White tractors. There are a few 5.9's going into IH tractors. This peaked my interest as there is a rebuild in the future for my Farmall 756 gasser and doing my due dillegence (and I just like to read about this stuff), I've been boning up on a 5.9 (as well as a 3.9) Cummins swap.

One thing that puzzles me is there are several variants of the 5.9 Cummins engine, truck engine, industrial engine, probably fixed speed generator engine, 12 and 24 valve, intercooled, VE, 53 block (read cracks in the block) and on and on.....

For a tractor application, which 5.9 Cummins is the one to select and why?

Thanks!
Bill

Nick m · Aug 9, 2017

I can narrow it down to a 12 valve. No electronic fuel system. Many parts for those also. I've heard them called the chevy small block of the diesel world. Can't help you on which configuration.

JD Seller · Aug 9, 2017

Bill the reason you see the Cummins put into more Oliver tractor is that the later model Whites tractors used Cummins in them. So with the correct parts from salvage yards is it about a bolt in switch.

Lets say you would want to put a 5.9 into a JD 4230. You would have to make adaptor plates for the block and worry about the oil bath clutch and etc. Then you have to make the front drive for the hydraulic pump. So it would be a much harder conversion.

While I am sure that you could put a Cummins 5.9 into a IH 756 it would be much more cost effective to just find the diesel IH motor that would just bolt in.

Truthfully you really need a good shop and machine tools to do an engine conversion on any type of budget.

As for what motors to use??? I would go with the older 12 valve motors because they do not have the later electronic control on the injection pump. IF you use a later motor you not only would have mechanical adapting issues you now have electrical ones.

Brendon-KS · Aug 9, 2017

The B-Series Cummins/CDC engines, both 4- and 6-cylinder, were used in a variety of farm equipment - Hesston windrowers, White tractors, and CaseIH tractors are a few applications I can think of offhand. For this kind of use you'd need one with a variable-speed governor which the truck engines do not have. I'd second Nick's opinion that you'd want to look for a purely mechanical engine unless you're skilled in the art of serious electronic work.

430WLPG · Aug 9, 2017

A IH D310 or D358 German built will bolt right in

urbancase · Aug 9, 2017

my caseih 5230 has a 5.9 in it, it is I think 1994 tractor and is non turbo. my oldest son is building a 5.9 now and with the pump and what he done to the motor he is thinking he will get about 800 hp out of it and going to put this in a mid 70's chevy one ton pick up the will be redone top to bottom. I watch some of the tractor pulling sites that have a for sale page can find stuff that someone else does not need.

CDN 400 · Aug 9, 2017

Not in a gas it wont. Wrong frame rails. I know its the wrong engine but a 282 would bolt in because they are the same engine family as the gassers. He would be dollars ahead to rebuild his gas. I guarantee by the time you gather up all the parts needed and all the labour reworking throttle linkage,shutoff installing a return line in the tank and on and on. Its NOT a plug and play.

RichS · Aug 10, 2017

1996 White 6144 uses a 5.9 Cummins with CPL # = 0599 replaced by CPL 0834 147HP with intercooler.

Truckpuller83 · Aug 10, 2017

Bill, what little I know, I feel sure you want to find a 12 Valve motor(late 80's up to 96 or so truck, industrial, generators, etc.). The key to the swaps is the governor. A "truck" engine governor will not work correctly in an ag application.

BarnyardEngineering · Aug 10, 2017

CDN 400 is right. Pretty much everything between the bell housing and the front bolster is different between the gas and German diesel.

While a 282 would bolt in many would say that is a step backwards even from the gas engine.

You can get a kit from Leaman tractor parts that will let you bolt a 4BT or 6BT Cummins into a large frame IH tractor for about $1800. Adapter plate, front mounts, and flywheel.

The problem is in finding an engine. People literally fight over these things. You're looking at $5000-up for a good engine.

Now you're into it for almost $7000 and you haven't turned a wrench... That will easily rebuild the gasser and pay for a lot of gas, or buy a running 756 diesel.

The only way it makes economic sense is if you catch everyone else sleeping and pick up a clapped out old Cummins Dodge for $2000 and take a chance that the engine isn't also clapped out, which, it probably isn't, but still...

showcrop · Aug 10, 2017

My buddy put a 5.9 into a 460 a couple years ago. He has access to low-cost (brother) machine work.

dude91 · Aug 10, 2017

(quoted from post at 19:50:08 08/09/17) A IH D310 or D358 German built will bolt right in

I have an IH 3088 with blown engine. Would it be cost effective to be putting in a 5.9 cummins?

lee little · Aug 10, 2017

I did this swap putting a 5.9 in a gas 806. I used diesel frame rails and the plate from the back of an 806 diesel engine. The plate was redrilled by a shop in Tompkinsville,Ky. The reason for not using the gas plate is that some of the holes in it are too close to where holes would have to be drilled and would have to be filled before drilling so its simpler to use the diesel plate. I think the frame rails and plate cost me about $125 total from a junkyard. There are a couple of quirks in the swap but overall not too bad.I did have some help from a guy who lived and breathes cummins. The 5.9 I used came from a Blue Bird school bus. The pump does not have a governor and I was leery about that. The cummins guy told me it had enough power I didn't really have to have one. So far he is right. He also told me the early dodge with the round pump was more responsive in tractor use. I am absolutely no expert but I love this swap. J.D. Seller is right its to complicated to be practical in a deere. If not I have a 3020 that would have a 4bt in it!

buickanddeere · Aug 10, 2017

better to make a 2520 out of the 3020 with a 276 cu" Dubuque Diesel . Easy 75HP at pto Rpms .

MikeJM · Aug 10, 2017

(quoted from post at 13:36:46 08/10/17) better to make a 2520 out of the 3020 with a 276 cu" Dubuque Diesel . Easy 75HP at pto Rpms .

That's actually a fairly easy swap, modify the frame rails and flywheel and fab the adapter for the flywheel and it's a pretty much all Deere parts swap drop in. I would keep the 3020 center section. Been there done it, runs really good, would like to get time to dyno it.

Lee Little, have no fear your pump most certainly has a governor, but it is know as an automotive or min-max governor, which means it will maintain idle and max speed, in between its all up to the driver. You would be happier with a variable speed governor on your pump, good pump shop can fix you right up. The rotary pump used on early dodge pickups had a variable speed governor, but swapping one involves swapping the front cover and is not worth the work.

My choice for an engine swap on a small IH would be a DT360 out of a bus. Use the right adapter plates and frame rails and it's a drop in swap. Literally the same bore stroke as a 5.9 Cummins, same bore centers even, in fact if you need a turbo manifold it's easy to modify one off a Cummins to fit the DT360, medium duty or 2003 to 2007 dodge pickups flipped upside down and a spacer built will keep the turbo nicely under the hood.

ss55 · Aug 10, 2017

How many hundreds of hours do you put on this tractor each year? If your fuel savings is 0.5 to 1.0 gallons per hour it could take several thousand hours of use before you break even on a $5,000 plus engine swap. Crunch the numbers to be sure.

ss55 · Aug 10, 2017

Which IH tractors used the DT360 engine as their original engine: 766, and 786? Was there an 866 and 886?

rrlund · Aug 10, 2017

You need to talk to Lee Little on here. He put one in an 806. White used the 5.9 Cummins in the later tractors,so the parts for the conversion are readily available.

JMS/.MN · Aug 10, 2017

Cummins Repower- Cedar Rapids- Steve Mallicoat- 319-366-7537. Kinze- Jim Spaid- 319-668-1300.

Bill VA · Aug 10, 2017

Thanks everyone - great info!

T in NE · Aug 16, 2017

The 6bt with the ve44 came straight out of a case tractor. Difference being the governor spring.

BarnyardEngineering · Aug 16, 2017

(quoted from post at 06:44:57 08/10/17) Which IH tractors used the DT360 engine as their original engine: 766, and 786? Was there an 866 and 886?

No IH tractors used the DT360 (turbocharged model).

The 766 and first year production 886 are the only tractors to use the D360 (non-turbocharged).

Luckily the rear adapter plate from a 400 series engine is the same, and there are TONS of those. The front cover might even work, if I'm not mistaken.

Cummins 5.9 Conversion

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