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Fordson F “Project X”


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Sailor, I worked in the parts department of a Detroit shop for several years.   Those engines are amazing! They can be nearly worn out and still run well.  Parts availability on them is excellent as well.

I am enjoying your build very much!

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Working on the steering and radius rods today. The axle is flipped to front steer, we looked at keeping it rear steer but there’s just too much interference with the steering drag link, the tie rod and engine. Also the original radius rod setup was a wishbone which won’t work here. We’re going to use rubber mounted radius rods and with the play in the axle pivot pin there should be no binding. Also have to drill two holes in the axle so the rods clear everything. That will be one of the first parts that required altering from stock but they can always be filled and made to “go away”. 

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Brackets done and axle drilled. Just ran to a friends shop to score some bolts needed to put this together. Going to make the radius rods next. Might get them done this evening... have to make some rubber bushing too. Might see if a hole saw will cut this reinforced 1/2 belting. If not maybe try sharpening a pipe and using the press...

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you know i just thought of a good use for this unit. double those back rim width's  and the front and it will make a good packer. i dont think the diff will stand up to any field work. if that dont work make it walk on water.

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17 minutes ago, rustred said:

you know i just thought of a good use for this unit. double those back rim width's  and the front and it will make a good packer. i dont think the diff will stand up to any field work. if that dont work make it walk on water.

I don’t know what the weak link will be... we’ve been mulling that over. The worm wheel is bronze but it’s beefy asf. The trans and axles are way overkill too.  I think it might surprise us how much BS it can take. Until I get some lugs on the rears I think traction will be the limiting factor. Thinking to rubber wrap the wheels but going to have to try a sparky burnout first of course!  Obviously will film that!!! 

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Steering and radius rods all done and working nicely, no interference or binding even at axle maximum angularity. Pulled the heads of just now. Left bank smoked when I hadn’t running years ago. It’s pretty rusty, right bank looks better but it’s all got to come apart. I’ll Put the best pistons and liners in, probably start a valve job soon too. 

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Thanks! Looking forward to the first fire up for sure! Ordered gasket set and rings today, see how long they take to arrive as buddy said things are slow due to CoronAIDS. Had to do some real work today so not much progress on the Detroitson. Looked at an old CAT forklift got hydrostatic problems might be the centering spring or creep spool, and a John Deere 4230? With trans/hydraulic pressure issues. That’s probably clutch seals bypassing... not good, would need to be split and it’s too tall for my shop... also fighting with a fisher V plow, tested the valve block all functions work so it’s wiring/control issue, have to test the harness next. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll be back at it. Might start on the clutch and input or pull the pistons and liners... something will go down though!

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Been a bit busy last few days but back at the shop today. Spent the morning cleaning up and found an 11” Chevy clutch and pressure plate. Going to have to face the Detroit flywheel as the the step doesn’t allow the whole friction to make contact. No biggie, it’ll be “light weight”... pulling the motor off the tractor next and going to remove the pistons and liners hopefully this afternoon. 

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35 minutes ago, rustred said:

this is what i was wondering about, how the connection was going to made made.,.. from engine to trans. 

Dry clutch and I’m going to splice a Chevy spline to the Fordson input shaft. Then there will be a coaxial floating sleeve surrounding the input shaft which the Fordson fork will act on to push the Chevy diaphragm. 
 

got the pistons out of the second engine now. Just have to drive a friend to town then I’ll be pulling the liners. Parts are the n at the truck shop for the engine. Should be here Monday or Tuesday. Didn’t even ask how much and I should have... a set of rings was $80/hole and gasket set was around $300... ouch... 

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Been poking and vacuuming the water jackets on this thing. Left bank was plugged solid on the outboard side. Had to have been overheating. Got most of it cleaned up now. Ideally would pressure wash everything but I don’t want to disassemble the entire block to get the crank out. Trying to keep the bottom end bearings clean enough I can wash down with diesel then reassemble also want to leave the patina (dirt) on the outside as much as possible...

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