He Built A Fast Custom 8N
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Jack Bird spends winters in Florida to escape Canada’s cold weather. While there, he likes to attend Mecum auto and equipment auctions. In 2013, he saw three 8N Ford tractors repowered with V-8 engines at one of Mecum’s auctions and decided he’d like to build out an 8N just like those.
Bird bought a “very rough” 8N equipped with a Sherman two-speed overdrive transmission. Over two winters in Florida, he did all the repowering and restoration using a conversion kit from Awesome Henry.
The engine on his tractor is a ’53 Ford V-8, which he bought on eBay. It had been rebuilt in Ohio, with pistons bored out .060 over stock. The rebuilder installed Isky camshafts, high-compression pistons and Edelbrock high-compression heads. A final touch was adding an MSD distributor.
Bird says he wanted his 8N to be more unique than just a regular V-8 repower. He added unique features, starting with a high-output starter and an alternator rather than a generator. Putting disc brakes on the rear wheels required a lot of head scratching, and Bird eventually had to move both rear wheels 3/4 in. out from the main frame. He provided drawings to a local CNC shop to make the custom rotors and located the master cylinder under the right floorboard. Wildwood brake components from Summit Racing round out a system that Bird says is probably unlike any other 8N.
Other components include a Walker radiator and Speedway Autometer instruments. His speedometer has a GPS with an antenna. An Odyssey battery provides ignition, and the distinctive high-output exhaust system has glasspack mufflers. The gas and brake pedals are also custom-made. Custom painting and detailing round out the “Jimmy Red,” the name he gave it to honor one of his best friends.
Bird says he’s had no formal mechanical training to learn the skills needed to restore his immaculate 8N and rebuild old hit-and-miss engines. He’s also built two cars for oval track racing, a hobby he and his sons still enjoy.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jack Bird, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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He Built A Fast Custom 8N TRACTORS Antiques Jack Bird spends winters in Florida to escape Canada’s cold weather While there he likes to attend Mecum auto and equipment auctions In 2013 he saw three 8N Ford tractors repowered with V-8 engines at one of Mecum’s auctions and decided he’d like to build out an 8N just like those Bird bought a “very rough” 8N equipped with a Sherman two-speed overdrive transmission Over two winters in Florida he did all the repowering and restoration using a conversion kit from Awesome Henry The engine on his tractor is a ’53 Ford V-8 which he bought on eBay It had been rebuilt in Ohio with pistons bored out 060 over stock The rebuilder installed Isky camshafts high-compression pistons and Edelbrock high-compression heads A final touch was adding an MSD distributor Bird says he wanted his 8N to be more unique than just a regular V-8 repower He added unique features starting with a high-output starter and an alternator rather than a generator Putting disc brakes on the rear wheels required a lot of head scratching and Bird eventually had to move both rear wheels 3/4 in out from the main frame He provided drawings to a local CNC shop to make the custom rotors and located the master cylinder under the right floorboard Wildwood brake components from Summit Racing round out a system that Bird says is probably unlike any other 8N Other components include a Walker radiator and Speedway Autometer instruments His speedometer has a GPS with an antenna An Odyssey battery provides ignition and the distinctive high-output exhaust system has glasspack mufflers The gas and brake pedals are also custom-made Custom painting and detailing round out the “Jimmy Red ” the name he gave it to honor one of his best friends Bird says he’s had no formal mechanical training to learn the skills needed to restore his immaculate 8N and rebuild old hit-and-miss engines He’s also built two cars for oval track racing a hobby he and his sons still enjoy Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Jack Bird Toronto Ontario Canada
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