Farmalls / GM Diesels / pics below

Anybody know about them? What size GM engine and how many HP etc ? Know of anyone who farmed with one ? Sound like a Deere 435 Diesel ?

if you are referring to my Mackinac Bridge post the M's with the detroits in the photos both have 2-71's. The 435 should have a 53 series. They are both 2 cycle diesels and should sound vary similar... Here is a video of our 2-71 warming up on Friday morning..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoLSaX8W7uc

In the 40's and 50's GM (now Detroit Diesel) offered a retrofit kit for the Farmall M and a few other tractors (F20 being one). You got an engine with the proper bell housing, variable speed governor, flywheel adapter and I believe exhaust manifold. You also got a list of parts you needed to purchase or fabricate. I have a photocopy of the original instructions. The unrestored (at this time) M is my fathers.

Original retrofits are very rare. The Painted M in the photos is a fabricated installation from what I can tell. The bellhousing has been created and is not original from GM (Detroit Diesel). The adapter plate is welded onto the modified bellhousing. the adapter plate is also oversize and protrudes beyond the torque tube of the tractor.. Ours is a one piece cast / machined deal that fits the contour of the torque tube on the M and has the proper P/N as listed in the instructions.

I only know of 2 others (both fabricated) besides these two. The two in the photos I posted are the only two I have ever actually seen in person.

Peninsula Diesel did this installation originally on my father's M.

There was also a kit to put a 71 series in an LA Case. I have only seen one. Now I am trying to remember if it was a 3 or 4 - 71.

Sold a GM 2-53 diesel (from a 435 JD) to a fella in Illinois, nice older gentleman that planned on putting it into one of those red tractors. Dont know much more than that, but thought it was a neat concept.

3-71 I think.

Thanks guys. Yes , I saw them in the pics of the bridge drive.Pretty cool. Is that drive open to anyone from other states ?

(quoted from post at 00:35:42 09/22/09) Thanks guys. Yes , I saw them in the pics of the bridge drive.Pretty cool. Is that drive open to anyone from other states ?

Click to expand...

The drive is organized by Owosso Tractor Parts out of Owosso, Michigan. Everyone that participates (on a tractor) must belong to a club that is registered to participate. It is for liability and insurance purposes. So... If you join a participating club you can do the ride...

For us the club membership was $15 and the bridge crossing cost $25 on top of that... Cheaper than an evening at the county fair...

Well I saw a 6-71 inline in an LA case last winter in Saginaw MI he was doing a real good job of it too. What a screamer when they run.