wd45

John Scheie · Nov 11, 2011

I bought a wd45 allis chalmers tractor at an auction and plan on restoring it, as it is all there. Just wondering if anyone knows what I can do to the engine to increase the horsepower. I"ve read that it only has 6.45 to 1 compression. Maybe shaving the head????? or a different camshaft?

John

El Toro · Nov 11, 2011

If you jack up the compression you will probably have to use higher octane gas. You may be able to put an overbore sleeve kit in it to increase the cid. Hal
PS: A man in OH painted this tractor for a lady
as she was having it done for her dad as a Christmas present. He bought the tractor new in 1954. I was in the Army then.

60 acre hillside · Nov 11, 2011

The head is already flat so you could not help by planing the head. This engine came with 4" pistons. You can get a sleeve set to allow 4 1/8" pistons . And you can also install LP pistons. You may want to consider governor spring from a D-17

JD2ACWD · Nov 11, 2011

power crater pistons

Tony in Mass. · Nov 11, 2011

I have had 7 or 8 Allises, and never saw a 'not high compression'. I don't care about facts and figures, that is a very high compression fuel efficent engine in anyone's book, unless they are into telling stories. For a joke, I would leave the tin can on the vertical stack until someone was standing around to watch- then start it with the throttle half down- the cans would shoot 25 30 feet up. and I would try to catch it. tell my audience I had to do that everytime, or it would scratch the paint or diing the hood. Sometimes someone would believe me. If yours happens to have poor compression, it needs a valve job, and nothing else beyond that is needed.....

Bob Bancroft · Nov 11, 2011

That engine went through several versions- each one a little higher compression, up through the 175 tractor. I think there were "high altitude" pistons available for the D17, but they may not be any different than the ones used in the 170, or 175.
You probably won't run it continuously under full load, but be aware that engine can put out a lot more power than the bottom end can take long term- especially before the change to full flow filtering and higher oil pressure.

VicS · Nov 11, 2011

If you want it to really run, the cheapest thing to do is to stroke the crank a 1/2 in. It is 4.5 now with a 4 in bore. Aftermarket pistons are 4 1/8 this will make it 5 X 4 1/8 You can use your old rods. E 85 Gas is available almost everywhere, so 10 to 1 compression is not a problem. Yes they make better cams. This will give you 75 hp at stock rpm, and be a real ringer at plow days. Have fun! Vic

John Scheie · Nov 11, 2011

VicS
thanks for the info. Do you have any idea where I could find a better cam? John

Tramway Guy · Nov 11, 2011

More Power is ok. Just don't try to run it through the pto....it has a tendency to break gears inside.

chucksoliver77 · Nov 11, 2011

you can send your cam to a company called competition cams and have them regrind it. just tell them your cu.in. and the desired rpm range. l had them do my oliver 77cam and it picked up 10 hp on the dyno. if you go to the tractor pulling sdite and ask you will get the names of other cam grinders. chuck

Nebraska Cowman · Nov 12, 2011

A stock WD45 already has more power than traction.

John Scheie · Dec 13, 2011

Does anyone know where I could get a crankshaft for a AC wd45 gas tractor that would be stoked a half inch to give me a 5 inch stoke?

wd45

John Scheie

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El Toro

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60 acre hillside

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JD2ACWD

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Tony in Mass.

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Bob Bancroft

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VicS

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John Scheie

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