JD 450/550?

15+ years ago I bought a small JD dozer with a 6-way blade to clear some trails in the woods and do a little dirt smoothing. It replaced a Cat D4-7U with a straight blade. The JD was badged as a 450 C. Changed all the fluids and fixed some little stuff when I got it and then put maybe 20-30 hrs a year on it. Not much time but there was nothing else on the place that would do what it would.

Long story short, last month I put it in one of the shop bays and began doing some major maintenance [wiring, some gauges, new hydralic lines, etc.] Of course changing the engine oil was on the list and that's what I'd like some advice on. I know the 450 takes 9 qts and I know I have the right numbered dipstick but the oil level seems to read low
Trying to figure out why, I started reading block casting numbers and think I may actually have a 550 block in the unit. It has 550 on the block and numbers like R55011 and R55034 on the block. Could a 550 engine fit in a 450 frame? The Ser # comes out as a 1975 450C so...
Anyone seen a hybrid 450/550 out there? Engine seems externally the same, but sump capacity would be 6 qts more if it were a 550 block.

Wrong dipstick tube ? I don't remember them taking anything but 9 qts. on the 4 cylinder engines.

(quoted from post at 13:14:43 03/27/22) Wrong dipstick tube ? I don't remember them taking anything but 9 qts. on the 4 cylinder engines.

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Is the engine ID tag on the engine? It should be located between the transfer pump and end of the starter. The 450C used a 4219 turbocharged engine. The 550 used a 4276 turbocharged engine.

I would not say the 4219 and 4276 are externally the same, based on the 4219 in my 2030 and the 4276T in my 450E. How about posting pictures of both sides of your engine?

I've been to a number of internet sites to ferret out serial number info and I've concluded in all likelihood I have the original engine in there. The 55011 , etc., reference on the engine doesn't connect it to a JD 550 engine.

I'll resolve my oil capacity concern by adding 9Qts, marking the dipstick at that level and just watch the level so I know I have a couple gallons in the sump to keep it lubricated. It doesn't seem there is going to be a path to closure by trying to figure out what engine might be in there and then backtracking on that to figure out the sump quantity.

Thanks again for your thoughts and information

I posted this in a reply above. If you call Lavory he might be able to help..
One of the members here runs a web site, he can help you with all your questions and parts .
http://www.jd crawlers.com
Lavoy Wilcox | Horace, ND | 701-361-1006, Days