520-8, 3 cylinder diesel conversion finished!

[John Voss 76]

I've been working on this project off and on for just short of 4 years. This tractor has all my favorite tractor components. Diesel, 8 speed, 3 point, and gear reduction steering. The engine is a 3 cylinder Shibuara from a Ford LGT14d.  As you can guess, it was not easy to find room for everything under the hood. But with the help of some skilled welding friends we made it all work. The 3 point is winch operated, and works very well. I plan to put a loader on the tractor down the road when I am able to find one. I was only able to post a few pictures in the thread, but if you want to see images from the every step in the build I included a google photos album. 

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/3Hoxk1nWrTwBiJP37

 

 

The start of the project

 

 

Final Mock Up

 

 

Paint

 

 

 

 

Edited May 2, 2020 by John Voss

[tom2p 2,394]

yowzah - outstanding!

 

 

[Pullstart 62,906]

@John Voss  that looks amazing!  Well done!

[Guest 88vic]

Pullstart I guess it's time for us to step up our game.  I have a kubota 3 cylinder diesel that's been waiting for it's new home in a wheel horse. This just feeds the fire dont it ???  😂

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,320]

That is a great build.

[PeacemakerJack 10,738]

Great to see another diesel horse on here! If they didn’t make what you wanted to start with, build it.  I love your tenacity to see such a long project through to completion.  I wish you many hours of happy use.

 

well done sir.

[Tractorhead 9,064]

Great work 👍

 

You fit that Engine so smooth smacking into the horseframe, that it looks as it be done in Factory .

Beautiful Work on the whole Tractor.

[ebinmaine 67,596]

1 hour ago, Tractorhead said:

 

You fit that Engine so smooth smacking into the horseframe, that it looks as it be done in Factory .

Beautiful Work on the whole Tractor

 

 

VERY nicely done!!!

 

 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,600]

Nice job!

 

[Herder 2,354]

Wow!!! Beautiful job.  

[19richie66 17,508]

Outstanding job on that one.

[Pullstart 62,906]

11 hours ago, PeacemakerJack said:

Great to see another diesel horse on here! If they didn’t make what you wanted to start with, build it.  I love your tenacity to see such a long project through to completion.  I wish you many hours of happy use.

 

well done sir.

 

there’s your favorite word again...  

[lynnmor 7,308]

Red paint and decals would have saved a ton of work. 

[Tractorhead 9,064]

Just an important issue is missing, 

 

Short Vid to hear it bark.

[Anthony Wendover 124]

Awesome work! 

[tom2p 2,394]

3 hours ago, Tractorhead said:

Just an important issue is missing, 

 

Short Vid to hear it bark.

videos (tractor/engine running)  are on the posted google site link - with and without muffler installed 

 

outstanding 

 

[Tractorhead 9,064]

Found it thanks.

 

 Sounds Great👍

[PeacemakerJack 10,738]

Just looked at the pics from the build and watched the videos...what a neat process. I really like how you made the plywood template to science out the 3-point lift system!  Smart.   

 

That would be a fun tractor to furrow plow with someday...

[Sparky1984 29]

Great job, looks soooo factory! I want one!

[19richie66 17,508]

What a fantastic job on this one. Just went back and looked at al the build pictures. Very nice.

[Pullstart 62,906]

4 hours ago, 19richie66 said:

What a fantastic job on this one. Just went back and looked at al the build pictures. Very nice.

wow, that build sure was busy in the pictures huh!?  Awesome job again John!

[John Voss 76]

Thank you all for the kind words. To me the biggest compliment has been that my non Wheel Horse friends think the project was simply a restoration. My intention was to make it look as "factory" as possible, and to at least the non Wheel Horse crowd it seems to pass that test. 

[John Voss 76]

On 5/2/2020 at 1:06 PM, PeacemakerJack said:

Just looked at the pics from the build and watched the videos...what a neat process. I really like how you made the plywood template to science out the 3-point lift system!  Smart.   

 

That would be a fun tractor to furrow plow with someday...

Fitting the 3 point was as challenging or even harder than the engine. The tractors with the fuel tank in the rear just do not have much room back there. I probably went through about 4 designs over the course of 2 years trying to find something that would work. I wasn't willing to give up the factory fuel tank, although that would have made it much easier. 

[Rob R 966]

ME LIKEY Super Craftsmen Ship...……      Only problem I see with that beauty is if you have two sons..... your goner have to build another one!

Edited May 4, 2020 by Rob R

[ebinmaine 67,596]

38 minutes ago, John Voss said:

Thank you all for the kind words. To me the biggest compliment has been that my non Wheel Horse friends think the project was simply a restoration. My intention was to make it look as "factory" as possible, and to at least the non Wheel Horse crowd it seems to pass that test. 

Some would say that's the ultimate definition of a fine build right there.