Raw power
As a Nuffield and Leyland fan it is always good to see something a little different. I have previously written about Nuffield tractors that have been re-powered using six-cylinder engines, which I find fascinating, but this time the conversion is a Perkins V8 – which makes for a very interesting tractor!
The tractors in this feature belong to Osbert Whyte from Innishrush, near Portglenone in Co. Antrim. Both are fitted with Perkins V8 engines, with the 4/65 being the most recent project, but first up is a 10/60, built by David McCord in 2004.
This uses a Perkins V8.510 from a Ford Cargo truck and to improve idling and drivability, David replaced the original injector pump with one from a Muir-Hill 171. David also built Osbert’s V8-powered 4/65 and, as you can see from the photographs, the engineering on both tractors is superb.
Based on a standard Nuffield 10/60, which had a 3.8-litre BMC engine rated at 60hp, this modification now produces 180hp and is a significant upgrade in terms of power.
The chassis for both tractors was designed and built by David. It utilises an 8mm-thick plate which has been folded and welded together to
