Looking at a scraper tractor, it currently has a 903 cummins in it that blows oil out breather on one side. Runs good other than that. Dealer will re-ring and put rods and bearings in it for 2700. I have heard good and bad about these motors. Option 2 is to put a 855 big cam 3 in it. Have to stretch front frame and hood 11" other wise fairly straight forward . Should I fix and run the 903 or spend some time and put the 855 in it?
If I had a choice it would be the 855 Big Cam 3.
Always been a big fan of the 855 in line 6 cylinder engine be it small or big cam .:thumbsup My cost on in frame rebuild kit with pump & injectors is around $ 2,500.00 plus labor . What kind of tractor are you looking at treemover ? If it checks out $ 2,700 don't sound bad on re ring & new bearings .
Massey 4880
That looks like it would make a nice scraper tractor . Just looking at asking prices on tractor house and if the dealer would roll in rods , mains & rings for $ 2,700 I would be inclined to stay with the 903 and give it a chance . http://www.tractorhouse.com/list/li...8&Manu=MASSEY-FERGUSON&Mdltxt=4880&mdlx=exact Truly , I never really heard much bad about the 903 . They just weren't as popular as the 855's . Would see a few in trucks . Steiger & Ford articulated 4 X 4 tractors used the 903 as well .
At the risk of being that guy, a 6v92 will fit in with no frame extension needed. The cool factor is also increased by huge amounts
Can't say I would not like that option! Nothing like the screaming of a Detroit to wake up the neighbors! The biggest advantage of the 855 over the 903 in what ever version is there are way more out there both in the over the road versions or off-highway. So if you needed to find some used parts you would have a better chance.
I am not a Detroit guy at all! Thought about 8.3 cummins but not sure if I can get the power I want out of it
His loss huh? Repowerguy!
What can I say, there are two kinds of people in this world, screamtroit guys(and gals) and everyone else! If you are serious about a repower(woohoo) and Cummins, forget the 8.3. These engines will be short on power and you will regret it. The L10 engines are pretty cheap and a torque modified model like a 671 CPL run around 310 hp and pull nice. The other benefit is it is shorter and lighter than a 855. That particular CPL pays homage to a great engine
Good point kshansen . I equate the 855 cummins & Detroit diesels to the small block Chevy gas engine . Make good power for the cubic inch , cheap to work on , and most important they make money for the operator .
Well said repowerguy ! Two cycle diesels are the best ....... Then there is just the rest . Jon Kinzenbaw's Big Blue twin 8V71 powered 4 X 4 . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIbV0K33nxE
All kidding aside, a turbocharged 92 series with a proper muffler and the proper air filter assembly isn't all that loud and you don't need to twist the tach needle off either. So guys just have to straight pipe them at 2500 rpm though
LOL ! My uncle thought it would be cool to strait pipe a 6 71 in his grain truck ....... It was cool for about 30 seconds in to the first trip to the grain elevator . Everyone has to learn somehow . After that trip he was installing a muffler on the rig . LOL !
It would pay to check on what the rated RPM of the 903 is compared to the proposed 855 conversion. The 903 is generally a higher revver, (2800 RPM max comes to mind), than the 855 in trucks, although it may be rated lower in industrial and agricultural applications. Keep the 903 would be my vote.
IH had a similar situation in their tractors with a 800 ci v8 that guys repowed with 855 Cummins, when all was said and done the operators said they could run a gear higher so the top rpm isn't really a issue. If you do opt for the 855, you will need to have the inj. pump modded to a variable speed governor style. If you try to run it with just the speed limiting governor it will make you crazy. If you go with the 855 you will enjoy greater reserve torque and lugging capacity that the 903 never had. For the work you will be doing with it the inline is where it's at. In scraper work you will spend less than a minute in the cut at full power, then travel to the fill. When you are in the cut, that torque is the stuff, and you won't need a lot
of gear changing and that is a plus. Whatever you do keep us posted and how it goes, good or bad.
Could go crazy and find a KTA1150 (AKA K19)! A few more cubes than the 903 and the torque of the 6 cylinder! Might need to stock up on drive train parts if you go that route!
Crazy, pbbbt! 16v92 with quad turbos, now that's something that you will need therapy for.
Actually an 8V92 with a variable speed governor, not a limiting speed truck style governor makes a nearly perfect replacement for a 903. Physical size is about the same and a good 92 has more low end power than a 903. The 430Hp Big Bud with the Industrial 8v-92 was actually pretty quiet compared to 903 powered Versatile tractors. Most of those sounded like overjetted gassers.
Bet Treemover is glad we are not running his show we'd have all his money spent by the end of the week!
Why stop there? Banks have thousands too, and maybe get a government bailout!!
That's a fair point. Less issue going to a slow revver than the other way round. I knew of a Cat D7 that was repowered with a 6-71 GM of substantially higher horsepower than the original Cat motor. Useless would be far too kind of a description as the Cat's maximum of 1000 RPM wasn't that far off the GM's idle speed and the machine just wouldn't push at all due to having a powerplant with the wrong Rev range for the gearing.