Would you like to get more horsepower out of your Farmall H?
These classic Farmall tractors are rated for 19 horsepower at the drawbar, 24 at the belt. With a quality restoration job, you can get this same horsepower or better on your Farmall H. But for those of you who want to increase the horsepower of your Farmall H beyond factory standards, here are some tips.
If you can only make one change, start with replacing the intake manifold and carburetor. Replace these parts with ones from a Farmall 300. The Farmall H bore is big enough to handle the increased fuel from the larger manifold and carburetor – out of all the swaps you could do, this one will give you the most bang for your buck.
If you’re up for some bigger changes, consider replacing the head. The regular Farmall H head can be swapped for one from a Farmall 300. You could also put in different pistons and sleeves. You can get more horsepower out of a Farmall 300 or 350 piston and sleeve kit, but it won’t fit in the Farmall H block the same way. You’ll need to either replace the block with one from a 300/350 or you can put in an overbore piston and sleeve kit in your standard H block.
No matter what changes you make to your tractor’s engine, don’t forget to think about how you will transfer that power to the drawbar. If you are pulling, pay special attention to the hitch height and tire specifications. These small details are easy to overlook, but they make a big difference too. Read more of my best tips for setting up your pulling tractor here.
