Retired Engineer Became A Ford Tractor Expert
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“I’ve lived in Michigan my entire life on the farm my ancestors settled in 1845, and I’ve always enjoyed Ford tractors,” says retired La-Z-Boy engineer Marvin Baumann. “After retirement, I became interested in restoring Ford tractors. I had an 8N on my farm, and when I attended shows, I realized people really liked the Funk Ford V-8 flathead conversion kit. That’s what got me started.”
Baumann couldn’t find a Funk conversion kit to work on, so he put a 350-cu. in. Chevy V-8 into an 8N. Showgoers praised his work but wondered why he didn’t use a Ford V-8. He solved that the next winter by retrofitting an 8N with a Ford 351-cu. in. Windsor engine followed by another one powered by a 318 Chrysler V-8. From 1993 to 2003, he restored or rebuilt 23 tractors, and all but three were Ford 8N’s. His last rebuild was an 8N with serial number 275, the earliest production 8N known in existence from more than 500,000 built.
While working on tractors, Baumann visited swap meets, tool shows, flea markets and other events to collect Ford manuals, books, and automobile, truck and tractor hand tools. That hobby evolved into compiling and selling original tool kits to fellow Ford collectors.
Now 30 years into retirement in 2022, Baumann has liquidated his Ford tractors, parts and memorabilia. He’s currently working on a Farmall Cub, and possibly other small tractors are ahead.
“I had accomplished everything I wanted with Fords, so it was time for something different,” says Baumann.
Baumann’s website has extensive writeups and technical information along with pictures of his work on Ford 8N tractors.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Marvin Baumann, Monroe, Mich. (www.marvinbaumann.com).
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Retired Engineer Became A Ford Tractor Expert TRACTORS Antiques “I’ve lived in Michigan my entire life on the farm my ancestors settled in 1845 and I’ve always enjoyed Ford tractors ” says retired La-Z-Boy engineer Marvin Baumann “After retirement I became interested in restoring Ford tractors I had an 8N on my farm and when I attended shows I realized people really liked the Funk Ford V-8 flathead conversion kit That’s what got me started ” Baumann couldn’t find a Funk conversion kit to work on so he put a 350-cu in Chevy V-8 into an 8N Showgoers praised his work but wondered why he didn’t use a Ford V-8 He solved that the next winter by retrofitting an 8N with a Ford 351-cu in Windsor engine followed by another one powered by a 318 Chrysler V-8 From 1993 to 2003 he restored or rebuilt 23 tractors and all but three were Ford 8N’s His last rebuild was an 8N with serial number 275 the earliest production 8N known in existence from more than 500 000 built While working on tractors Baumann visited swap meets tool shows flea markets and other events to collect Ford manuals books and automobile truck and tractor hand tools That hobby evolved into compiling and selling original tool kits to fellow Ford collectors Now 30 years into retirement in 2022 Baumann has liquidated his Ford tractors parts and memorabilia He’s currently working on a Farmall Cub and possibly other small tractors are ahead “I had accomplished everything I wanted with Fords so it was time for something different ” says Baumann Baumann’s website has extensive writeups and technical information along with pictures of his work on Ford 8N tractors Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Marvin Baumann Monroe Mich www marvinbaumann com
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