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Farmall & IHC Tractors Discussion Forum
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Farmall M Pistons

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Paul Mockenstur

12-02-2007 07:32:59




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I have a Farmall M 1946 serial # 122648. Am going to rebuild the engine and wonder if there is a difference between Fire Crater and Stephead pistons? Will one give you more compression than the other? I have heard of several manufacturers, high capacity, red power, seal power, tisco, true power, and fire power. I"m looking for a reccommendation.




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D Slater

12-02-2007 16:19:43




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 Re: Farmall M Pistons in reply to Paul Mockensturm, 12-02-2007 07:32:59  
Most step head pistons have part of the top on the side toward spark plugs raised above rest of piston and the top of raise is flat and exstends all the way across the raise. IH fire crator pistons for a M used 2 raised humps with a crator or dip between. M&W turbo dome pistons for M used 2 raised areas with a slot between. IH and M&W sold several different compression pistons acording to altitude wanted or cylinder head used. IH sold several power improvement packages for M tractors. One gave about 4 1/2 HP improvement with 3 7/8 pistons, then they went to 4 inch overbore packages then fire crator. Some complete fire crator kits for M contained distributor advance parts and different metering for carburetor along with P&S set. If flat part of pistons have the same deck height the step head pistons can be made to give more compression that may or may not mean the most power compared to M&W or IH fire crator type if flame front is blocked by the step. Different heights of raises or steps could give both types a advantage over the other when compared in different engine set ups ups. Sealed power and perfect circle used to sell pistons that almost matched the fire crator ones IH sold. Not sure if either company is still around myself. IH used to sell for M fire crator kit 374260 R91 standard alt. and 374506 R91 high alt. Not sure but think they only have some pistons and sleeves now with no complete kits. M&W used to claim 53.8 horse power for a standard alt. gasoline M with there 4 inch bore kit.

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RustyFarmall

12-02-2007 13:43:03




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 Re: Farmall M Pistons in reply to Paul Mockensturm, 12-02-2007 07:32:59  
If your M came from the factory as a distillate, or kerosene fuel burner, it had the flat top pistons. The optional high compression gasoline version had the step head pistons. The "firecraters" were an aftermarket performance improvement package sold by M&W. If your M has the high compression gasoline head, the step head pistons are what you want. If you have the distillate head, there might be a clearance issue with anything but the flat tops. I'm not sure of that. Someone on these boards was having a real quality issue just recently with "red power" brand. I'd recommend the Tisco brand.

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georgeky

12-02-2007 15:59:05




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 Re: Farmall M Pistons in reply to RustyFarmall, 12-02-2007 13:43:03  
Rusty, are sure about that. My M&W pistons have M&W addpowr and a registered trade mark on them. My Fire Craters have IH Fire Crater a trademark and IH part number on them. Pretty sure Fire crater is a IH trademark.



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randy hall

12-02-2007 13:57:35




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 Re: Farmall M Pistons in reply to RustyFarmall, 12-02-2007 13:43:03  
rusty, the gas m's came from ih with flat top pistons. the step head pistons from the factory were for the hi altitude option. the gas tractors compression was raised from the factory with a smaller chambered head than the low compression distillate models or the lower compression yet kerosine models



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randy hall

12-02-2007 11:22:47




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 Re: Farmall M Pistons in reply to Paul Mockensturm, 12-02-2007 07:32:59  
when new your gasoline m had a compression ratio of 6 to 1. so anything to raise the compression to a more modern higher compression ratio will give you more power. old m+w literature shows a two horssepower increase with their turbo-dome pistons over stephead pistons in a farmall m. if you want the most power get a 450 lp head and domed pistons and you will have a fifteen horse increase and be able to use 93 octane pump gas.

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WonderingAl

12-02-2007 11:42:11




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 Re: Farmall M Pistons in reply to randy hall, 12-02-2007 11:22:47  
If ypou do go to the dome piston or the other you mentioned do you have to use the higher octane gasoline? Or is regular gasoline just as good? What is the standard horsepower of the M with the factory type pistons? What does it become with the domed pistons? And what does it become with the highest compression pistons possible for that engine? thanks.



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RustyFarmall

12-02-2007 13:59:55




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 Re: Farmall M Pistons in reply to WonderingAl, 12-02-2007 11:42:11  
The M was rated at 36 horsepower from the factory. The 4 inch overbore kit with the step head pistons will usually gain 10 horsepower for a total of 46. A little more tweaking and some easy mods and you will be getting close to 50 to 55 horses. Any increases in power after that start to get a bit more pricey, and the results are limited only by how much money you want to throw at it.



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MN Rick

12-02-2007 09:17:16




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 Re: Farmall M Pistons in reply to Paul Mockensturm, 12-02-2007 07:32:59  
Search the archives over on the pullers forum. Lots of interesting exchanges. Those guys frequent this board as well and I'm sure will provide some help. Personally, bought a set of high altitude right from my IH dealer.



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tmonton

12-02-2007 08:15:16




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 Re: Farmall M Pistons in reply to Paul Mockensturm, 12-02-2007 07:32:59  
Yes very good question and so am I.

I am about to rebuild a c-164 engine and had wondered the same things.



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