2-53 swap into a gas 440 worth it?

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dave55
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2-53 swap into a gas 440 worth it?

Post by dave55 » Tue Jan 05, 2021 11:39 am

I'm a new member, first post here. I bought a 440 crawler with a 6-way blade a couple years ago, good undercarriage and tracks. I was able to drive it home cross-country a mile or so. Someone put a F163 Contintental gas 4 cylinder in it which needs some work, probably a total overhaul, it's pretty weak. It also has a Twin-Disc hand operated clutch behind it which apparently is also not original. There is an open shaft between the clutch and the 4-speed transmission with a u-joint. My 440 is definitely a '58 or '59 model. My question is that I have an opportunity to buy a completely disassembled 440 with a diesel 2-53 engine, and it looks like it's a late '60 model with a 5-speed. I had a chance to look at it but I'm a complete novice at this type of thing. The engine has been recently painted, intake and exhaust manifolds, injectors, etc are all off of it but would be in the purchase. It's an estate auction and no one knows anything about the history of it. Is it worth it to even consider buying it to put the motor in my 440? I'm thinking the 2-53 has possibly been rebuilt but no one can promise that to me. Any thoughts? I'm thinking probably better to just overhaul the Continental in mine rather than bother with the switch-over to the 2-53 and worry about if it needs rebuilding or not.

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Lavoy
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Re: 2-53 swap into a gas 440 worth it?

Post by Lavoy » Tue Jan 05, 2021 5:29 pm

Worth is in the eye of the owner, so that is up to you.
If you have an early 440, the Detroit will eat the tranny in fairly short order. If to put the Continental in the crawler, they removed the center section, sooner or later, you are going to break something big. The center section is a structural part of the crawler, and there were issues to start with, there will be more if it has been weakened or removed.
I would look for a gas 440 to donor and complete yours. It will be more valuable in it's original configuration than with a different engine stuffed in there. Plus, Continentals are expensive to rebuild if you can even find some parts, depends on the engine.
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dave55
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Re: 2-53 swap into a gas 440 worth it?

Post by dave55 » Tue Jan 05, 2021 6:19 pm

Thanks for the reply, Lavoy. I looked up a video on engine removal, and by center section do you mean the framework that looks like it connects the clutch housing to the frame? I'll have to look at mine and see if they replaced that with anything. And thanks for the input on the Detroit, I don't want to tear anything up.

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Stan Disbrow
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Re: 2-53 swap into a gas 440 worth it?

Post by Stan Disbrow » Wed Jan 06, 2021 5:21 am

Hi,

Yes, the center frame goes between the engine and the transmission. Or, there is a direction reverser instead. Both are structural.

Stan
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Re: 2-53 swap into a gas 440 worth it?

Post by dtoots1 » Wed Jan 06, 2021 8:49 am

Dave55,
always a good idea to put location in your profile..access is in the drop down login box...someone may be nearby for help

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gregjo1948
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Re: 2-53 swap into a gas 440 worth it?

Post by gregjo1948 » Thu Jan 07, 2021 2:29 am

Lavoy-- why will the Detroit eat the transmission? Didn't the 440 use the 2-53 as an option originally? I personally like those noisy 2 stroke Detroits. Lot of power for their size.
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Re: 2-53 swap into a gas 440 worth it?

Post by B Town » Thu Jan 07, 2021 6:10 am

IC trans is different and weaker than ICD trans.

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Re: 2-53 swap into a gas 440 worth it?

Post by Jim B » Thu Jan 07, 2021 6:28 am

If all the parts for the 440ICD are there why not rebuild it? Is the reverser still with it? That goes between the engine and transmission. You would still have your 440IC running to use while you do that.

As noted the ICD used a heavier drive train, so to do it right, and expect it to last, you would need to swap the whole drive line to your IC.

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Re: 2-53 swap into a gas 440 worth it?

Post by Lavoy » Thu Jan 07, 2021 8:53 am

Early gas 440's used a different transmission. When the diesel crawlers came out, they use a heavier transmission. At the same time, the gassers got more compression and RPM that upped the gas engine power by 10% to more closely match the diesel. Once the diesels came out, all 440 crawlers used the same transmission.
The early transmission will just not stand the torque and power of the diesel long term.
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dave55
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Re: 2-53 swap into a gas 440 worth it?

Post by dave55 » Thu Jan 07, 2021 11:21 am

Thanks for all the input everyone. The 440 sold for $841 today, I decided to stick with my 440 and get it running, I'm not a collector and just want to use it to do some light trail work and other odds and ends on my farm and timber. Also they didn't guarantee that all the parts were there, some of it was outside covered with snow. I hope the buyer does reconstruct it.

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gregjo1948
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Re: 2-53 swap into a gas 440 worth it?

Post by gregjo1948 » Fri Jan 08, 2021 3:52 am

B Town wrote:
Thu Jan 07, 2021 6:10 am
IC trans is different and weaker than ICD trans.
Thanks B Town. Didn't know that.
JD 350B diesel 6way blade, Case 580B Loader/backhoe, Farmall 504 high crop w/ flail boom mower, International 404 , International 284 diesel w/belly mower, 1972 Ford F600 dump truck, Galion 3-5 roller, Allis Chalmers D17, 1620 Ford

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