Engine Swapping and Frame Stretching?

[Tristan Jordan 5]

hey guys, i'm back and still on the look for a replacement engine for my 312-8, i'm not sure if i have previously said this but im trying to make it bigger badder and even more heavy duty than it a;ready is, now 1st question is, i found a kohler k582 on the market for $150 and i thought it would be a steal, and if it needed a rebuild, isavetractors.com has tons of rebuild kits for k series engines, so would it fit in a 312? if not, i planned on stretching the frame anyways, 2nd question may sound dumb but what material is the frame itself, i figured it would be iron but just to make sure, i came here. once i know the material of the frame, then i planned to make it 10-15 inches longer and make the wheels roughly 4 inches more spaced apart. if any of yall got answers for the questions or comments and recommendation for making the horse larger, then please say it!! all comments are appreciated.

[wallfish 17,017]

Many refer to it as "angle iron" but it's angle steel so you can find that material at any good hardware store etc. etc.and easily weld it. There are different grades of steel but someone more knowledgeable can help with that.

 My thoughts are, if you can stretch and weld the frame longer then you can figure the rest out too. Best to get the engine first and set it up on the frame to get your measurements first before cutting and you might be able to make it fit without stretching the frame. You'll probably need to make a steel plate to bolt the engine on so that's not a bad place to cut and weld the frame if you need to since the plate will reinforce it as well.

Those engines are HEAVY too

[WHX?? 48,834]

44 minutes ago, Tristan Jordan said:

 so would it fit in a 312? if not, i planned on stretching the frame 

It will if you make it fit.! 

[Handy Don 12,249]

29 minutes ago, wallfish said:

Those engines are HEAVY too

Moving an Onan p218 into a new horse. I knew it would not be wise to try to manhandle it even with two people (hey, the engineers put those lifting rings on top for a reason, right?) so I set up a come-along hoist.  In between chassis I put it down on a scale.  Was more than a little surprised to see 135 lbs. And this is an aluminum block! No wonder these horses are designed so sturdily.

[wallfish 17,017]

7 minutes ago, WHX24 said:

It will if you make it fit.! 

With a magic wand that sparks metal together, anything is possible

[ebinmaine 67,703]

Sounds like a project in familiar with...

A K582. Slightly larger frame. .... Hmmm. 

 

I like it in a Colossus project way!

[Tristan Jordan 5]

thank yall for the comments, i appreciate yalls feedback

[Pullstart 62,922]

I tagged you in another post to help see the size.

[JoeM 7,874]

That angle iron arrangenment makes adapting pretty much possible. The pics are from my WH truck project when I decided to use a predator 13 in place of a Kohler 8. I had the 8 fit and a lot of fab work done when I decided to make the change and of course I wanted to leave the fuel tank on the 13 so I channeled the frame a bit. Just a example of the work. Oh also, I used another piece of angle to box the from where it was made 14 inches longer.

 

[Pullstart 62,922]

1 minute ago, JoeM said:

That angle iron arrangenment makes adapting pretty much possible. The pics are from my WH truck project when I decided to use a predator 13 in place of a Kohler 8. I had the 8 fit and a lot of fab work done when I decided to make the change and of course I wanted to leave the fuel tank on the 13 so I channeled the frame a bit. Just a example of the work. Oh also, I used another piece of angle to box the from where it was made 14 inches longer.

 

Thanks again, for some more insider pictures of that truck!