How the Ford 8N was customized with non-tractor engines

[EdGooding]

The 1948-52 Ford 8N was intended for small-acreage farming. The 8N was a 2-plow tractor at best. In some soils, a single bottom plow needed to be used. To try to penetrate the midwestern, large farm markets and help the 8N pull a 3-bottom plow, the first customizer was the Funk Aircraft Company in Coffeyville, KS. They sold a kit that allowed the owner to swap in a 6-cylinder, flathead engine.

These modified 8Ns are instantly recognizable by the dash plate extension:

 

[EdGooding]

The Ford 60hp V8 flathead fits under the 8N hood without the hood extension or extended dash plate:

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[EdGooding]

Then the "go big or go home" crowd got involved. This 8N has a Ford 351 V8 installed:

This 8N has a Chrysler 318 V8 installed by a Michigan genius named Marvin Baumann:

Marvin put a Chevy 350 in this one:

 

[EdGooding]

The "go even bigger" models - an 8N with a 12-cylinder engine and stretched hood:

8N with Buick Straight-8 and stretched hood:

 

[EdGooding]

Marvin Baumann's Honda motorcycle Valkyrie engine in an 8N:

And if that isn't weird enough, this is an 8N with a gas-turbine-powered hydrostatic drive. Yet another creation from Marvin Baumann of Monroe, MI:

 

[EdGooding]

Not an engine conversion, but a conversion to 4x4 with a Ford Bronco front axle:

 

[EdGooding]

Crawler conversion:

 

[EdGooding]

Many owners added auxiliary transmissions to offset the fast gearing that many 8N owners don't like. Again, Marvin Bauman takes it even further with his “Fourtrans” 8N, the world’s slowest tractor that travels at 12 inches per hour in the lowest gear.

In addition to the 8N’s 4-speed factory transmission, it contains added working versions of the:

• Sherman “Special Purpose” Transmission.
  The tractor using this “Special Purpose” transmission along with the standard tractor transmission has eight forward speeds and two reverse speeds. It is mounted in front of the standard transmission. The shift handle is on the left side of the tractor, below the steering gear box.
• Everett Auburn Trencher Speed Reduction Transmission.
  This two-speed reduction transmission was used when a trencher was mounted on the tractor. It has a 98-to-1 gear reduction ratio to produce the slow speed required to operate a trenching machine attachment. This unit is mounted directly behind the standard transmission and lengthens the tractor by 9-3/4”. The shift handle is located on top of the gear reduction unit directly in front of the seat.
• Howard Rotavator Speed Reduction Transmission.
  This two-speed transmission has a 3.5 to 1 gear reduction to obtain the slow speed needed to operate the company’s Rotavator (roto-tiller). Howard Rotary Hoe, Ltd. made this unit in England. It uses a planetary gear system and is normally mounted directly to the rear of the standard transmission. In this tractor, it is mounted to the rear of the Everett Auburn trencher transmission. The shift handle extends out on the right side of the differential housing.

 

[airbiscuit]

I never cared for the 8n. Tires were too small, and engines needed frequent overhauls. Also geared way too high for work

Gears:
1-Fast
2- Very fast
3-WTF
4- You've got to be kidding

 

[mjonesnh]

Many owners added auxiliary transmissions to offset the fast gearing that many 8N owners don't like. Again, Marvin Bauman takes it even further with his “Fourtrans” 8N, the world’s slowest tractor that travels at 12 inches per hour in the lowest gear.

In addition to the 8N’s 4-speed factory transmission, it contains added working versions of the:

• Sherman “Special Purpose” Transmission.
  The tractor using this “Special Purpose” transmission along with the standard tractor transmission has eight forward speeds and two reverse speeds. It is mounted in front of the standard transmission. The shift handle is on the left side of the tractor, below the steering gear box.
• Everett Auburn Trencher Speed Reduction Transmission.
  This two-speed reduction transmission was used when a trencher was mounted on the tractor. It has a 98-to-1 gear reduction ratio to produce the slow speed required to operate a trenching machine attachment. This unit is mounted directly behind the standard transmission and lengthens the tractor by 9-3/4”. The shift handle is located on top of the gear reduction unit directly in front of the seat.
• Howard Rotavator Speed Reduction Transmission.
  This two-speed transmission has a 3.5 to 1 gear reduction to obtain the slow speed needed to operate the company’s Rotavator (roto-tiller). Howard Rotary Hoe, Ltd. made this unit in England. It uses a planetary gear system and is normally mounted directly to the rear of the standard transmission. In this tractor, it is mounted to the rear of the Everett Auburn trencher transmission. The shift handle extends out on the right side of the differential housing.

View attachment 4405099

View attachment 4405100

My dad had a 641 Workmaster with a Sherman Transmission. I think I remember the term 4 up, 4 down, 4 standard. I was only around 8 at that time but already driving tractors

 

[EdGooding]

My dad had a 641 Workmaster with a Sherman Transmission. I think I remember the term 4 up, 4 down, 4 standard. I was only around 8 at that time but already driving tractors

Yep - the Sherman combo. They are still in high demand today:

 

[John0829]

Not an engine conversion, but a conversion to 4x4 with a Ford Bronco front axle:

View attachment 4405095

I think that was actually an Elenco conversion from the late 40's, early 50's using a 3/4 ton truck axle. Later years some were modified to fit the hundred series tractors as well.

I had forgotten about Marvin Bauman's Fourtran and how incredibly slow it would go. He has done some wild and amazing things to the N tractors. Good post, thanks Ed.

 

[EdGooding]

I think you are right on the Elenco conversion. I think that was one of Rodney Mondor's projects.

Yep, Marvin is straight-up genius and a true gentleman. I did a fair amount of business with him back in the day, and you could not deal with a better person. Honest as the day is long.

 

[BossofBBQ]

That's really neat-thanks for sharing the photos and details Ed!
It's amazing how many accessories/options these 8N's had, and continue to have. I'm guessing the Sherman combo was the most common auxiliary transmission option?

 

[BossofBBQ]

I never cared for the 8n. Tires were too small, and engines needed frequent overhauls. Also geared way too high for work

Gears:
1-Fast
2- Very fast
3-WTF
4- You've got to be kidding

An 8N with the standard 4 speed does just fine for my uses. Mine has ~3500 hours on what I believe to be the original, never-rebuilt engine, and it's still going strong. When it does need an overhaul, parts and rebuild kits are cheap, instructional manuals are abundant, and detailed tutorial videos are even available online. 4th gear is pretty quick though.

 

[CalG]

I never cared for the 8n. Tires were too small, and engines needed frequent overhauls. Also geared way too high for work

Gears:
1-Fast
2- Very fast
3-WTF
4- You've got to be kidding

Sometimes the "chore tractor" was used to ride over to the mail box or down to the next place to do some courting. Travel time was important, and as a kid,miles from nothing, fun was where you found it.

 

[EdGooding]

That's really neat-thanks for sharing the photos and details Ed!
It's amazing how many accessories/options these 8N's had, and continue to have. I'm guessing the Sherman combo was the most common auxiliary transmission option?

Sherman produced like five different auxiliary transmissions. The combo was, and still is, the most desired and can often add about $500 to the sales price. Rebuild kits are still available for them, too.

 

[BossofBBQ]

Sherman produced like five different auxiliary transmissions. The combo was, and still is, the most desired and can often add about $500 to the sales price. Rebuild kits are still available for them, too.

There's another 8N in my area that is pretty optioned-out, it has a Dearborn 19-23 loader and a Sherman Power Digger backhoe unit, along with some sort of gear-reduction auxiliary transmission. If I recall correctly, it's just an underdrive unit, no overdrive. Every now and again the owner uses it to clean out irrigation ditches. It's a handy little machine, but not very effective until after a good rain softens the soil.

 

[EdGooding]

There's another 8N in my area that is pretty optioned-out, it has a Dearborn 19-23 loader and a Sherman Power Digger backhoe unit, along with some sort of gear-reduction auxiliary transmission. If I recall correctly, it's just an underdrive unit, no overdrive. Every now and again the owner uses it to clean out irrigation ditches. It's a handy little machine, but not very effective until after a good rain softens the soil.

The underdrive, or Sherman Low, was much more popular than the Sherman High. The Sherman High was nice if you did a lot of PTO work (cordwood saw, grain elevator, irrigation pump, etc.) because you could shift into the high range to achieve 540 PTO RPMs with lower engine RPMs to save on gas.