Engine Block "SPECIAL" Casting

[RaymondDurban]

"dgrapes" sent me a couple photos of one of his tractors. This one is a bit different than any other I've seen because of it has "SPECIAL" cast on the engine block behind the HYD lines, in front if the carb inlet.
The tractor is 1951 vintage, SN 142635, block PN of 251341R5, with a casting date of "9-27-W". If anyone out there has a tractor close to this one I'd appreciate it if you could see if your engine has the same information on it as well.
Here are a couple pics:


Here you can see the "SPECIAL" casting, upside down on the block.


Thanks for looking!

[Eugene]

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=76641&hilit=engine+date+code

[RaymondDurban]

Thanks Eugene, that one in that post is from 1973 though. I did get the information captured in the database though!

[Clark Thompson]

I have seen a few of those say special on the engine. what means is that It was cast for marine use. The one i saw in a scrap yard was in a old wood boat.. Unfortunatly the engine removal jaws crushed the block.

[Xperimental]

I have wondered what the word SPECIAL on some IH blocks indicates. I remember seeing a bare C-123 block on eBay that was marked this way. I did not realize the tractor engines were also used in boats. I wonder what the differences are between the tractor block and the marine block.

[Boss Hog]

I have wondered what the word SPECIAL on some IH blocks indicates. I remember seeing a bare C-123 block on eBay that was marked this way. I did not realize the tractor engines were also used in boats. I wonder what the differences are between the tractor block and the marine block.

I am not sure , but it is special

[pickerandsinger]

Curious as to what brand boats....Have to check on it....

[RaymondDurban]

For those interested in the marine use of the IH C-60, check out this link: http://www.oldmarineengine.com/discus/m ... /3430.html

The blocks are the same for the Palmer marine conversions as what was used in the tractors and power units, and the one in question above is not a replacement block that was installed in an older tractor, it is the original 1951 engine that came with the tractor.
Palmer didn't start using the C-60 engines for their conversions until 1955, four years after this particular engine was cast. I believe it's safe to say this was not a marine engine, and the SPECIAL casting has nothing to do with marine use.

[Rudi]

Curious as to what brand boats....Have to check on it....

Dave:

Been working on researching the Palmer conversions for a while. Have a couple good pieces of info on it. Check this thread : Farmall Cub C-60 Palmer Marine P-60 Variants.

Raymond:

I think it might be useful to include the Palmer variants in the Database as we acquire information .. yes I may have a couple serial numbers and casting codes. Will check.

[RaymondDurban]

... I think it might be useful to include the Palmer variants in the Database as we acquire information .. yes I may have a couple serial numbers and casting codes. Will check.

Absolutely! I'll be more than happy to include them in the Power Unit section if you have any numbers to provide.
That also would include any other C-60 engines out there, what ever they might be "powering".

[Cdn Country Bumkin]

I have wondered what the word SPECIAL on some IH blocks indicates. I remember seeing a bare C-123 block on eBay that was marked this way. I did not realize the tractor engines were also used in boats. I wonder what the differences are between the tractor block and the marine block.

I know that automotive engines cast for marine use have a higher nickel content, maybe that what the special means

[RaymondDurban]

I have wondered what the word SPECIAL on some IH blocks indicates. I remember seeing a bare C-123 block on eBay that was marked this way. I did not realize the tractor engines were also used in boats. I wonder what the differences are between the tractor block and the marine block.

I know that automotive engines cast for marine use have a higher nickel content, maybe that what the special means

This might make sense if the C-123 engine was used by Palmer (or any other company for that matter) for marine applications, but it wasn't.
The SPECIAL is there for some reason other than marine use.