which head?

CumminsMan · Dec 13, 2015

Have a 53 WD. Original engine had short head, dropped a valve and took out a piston. Local Allis man had complete engine which we slid in,
has tall head. This engine needs rings bad, so I wonder when rebuilding which head to use?

4wdtom · Dec 13, 2015

I don't think it matters much. The tall head is an "update" but I have plenty of power in my WD and the only thing non stock is the 1/8" over bore kit which is sort of standard now. I would use the tall head if it was in good shape, but I wouldn't worry much if you need to use the other one.

DrAllis · Dec 13, 2015

If it really is a 53 WD, it had the tall head on it from the Factory. Makes no difference in HP output. Carb size, which manifold it has, pistons/sleeves/crankshaft are what makes the HP numbers change.

Brian G. NY · Dec 13, 2015

(quoted from post at 16:29:00 12/13/15) If it really is a 53 WD, it had the tall head on it from the Factory. Makes no difference in HP output. Carb size, which manifold it has, pistons/sleeves/crankshaft are what makes the HP numbers change.

Yep, the tall head was introduced in 1951 with "Engine" serial number WD289001.

Although, it is said there is no performance difference between the two, A-C must have had a reason to go to the trouble of redesigning the head.
Better cooling, maybe?

DrAllis · Dec 13, 2015

Better cooling and working towards the "center-fire" located spark plug which worked well with the Power Crater piston in the future model WD-45 engine.

Brian G. NY · Dec 13, 2015

(quoted from post at 17:36:57 12/13/15) Better cooling and working towards the "center-fire" located spark plug which worked well with the Power Crater piston in the future model WD-45 engine.

Thanks, I knew there had to be reasons.

jr1983 · Dec 14, 2015

How do you tell tall head or short head? My 45 has a head off my WD on it. (It has a combine engine in it.) My 45 tends to run hot under load. Im wondering if the head and this symptom are related.

DrAllis · Dec 14, 2015

I think the old short head is 3 inches tall and the newer tall head is 4 inches tall. Your overheating problem isn't related to the head. I'd guess your problem is from a 63 flywheel HP engine being cooled with a radiator made for 43 PTO HP.

jr1983 · Dec 15, 2015

The d17 engine which has been tampered with and
dynoed at 72 is in my wd and you can pull its guts
out and it won't get close to over heating. My old wd
45 that has had at least three one piston overhauls.
Two crater pistons and two flat and pretty worn. I
bought it without a head. I used the head off my wd's
old engine on it. It tends to run hot. I put a radiator in
it that helped a lot but if I pull it half as hard as I do
the other one it gets to the red.

which head?

CumminsMan

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4wdtom

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DrAllis

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Brian G. NY

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DrAllis

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Brian G. NY

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jr1983

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DrAllis

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jr1983

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