Hoover Dam IH Truck/subsequent tractor

Juicybusa2 · Oct 22, 2015

My uncle has an extensive IH collection. Years ago during a visit he was telling me about one of his tractors that had the same engine as the huge IH trucks utilized to build the Hoover Dam. He raved about the torque and pulling power. Anyone know about the details of this engine and or tractor?

fastfarmall · Oct 22, 2015

I am sure you know this, but there was a nice write up, and pictures etc, in Red Power magazine, a while back,I think there was one or two trucks that survived.

Nebraska Kirk · Oct 22, 2015

He would be talking about the 10-20 McCormick-Deering tractor, the same 4-1/4x5 bore and stroke engine was used in several of the biggest trucks. Models 54, 54C, 63, 74, 74C, 94, & 103.

fastfarmall · Oct 22, 2015

Yea, but the 10-20 was a 4 cylinder, that truck engine would of been a 6 cylinder or not?

Nebraska Kirk · Oct 22, 2015

(quoted from post at 20:57:07 10/22/15) Yea, but the 10-20 was a 4 cylinder, that truck engine would of been a 6 cylinder or not?

While the truck models I listed all use the same 4-cylinder engine as the 10-20, I think you are right. I dug out the Nov/Dec 2014 issue of Red Power Magazine that has the article "IH trucks and the construction of the Hoover Dam" written by Roger Amato and Tom Clark* (*Navistar corporate historian)

The article states that the IH dump trucks on the job were chain-driven HS-series with Hall-Scott engines and W- and A-series trucks with Hall-Scott and IH engines. The Hall-Scott engines were large overhead cam 4-cylinder engines and were not used in any IH tractors. BUT, the A4, A5 and A6 trucks all used the 6-cylinder C279 IH engine, which is the same one that was used in the International W40 and T40 wheeled and tracked tractors. I bet THAT is the tractor and engine the original poster's uncle is talking about.

According to the article, none of the truck models I previously listed were used on the Hoover Dam project.

Tom Fleming · Oct 23, 2015

Nebraska Kirk is spot on. The IHC Red diamond engine was used both in the IH trucks and in the WK 40. For the time, it was a big, high torque engine.

fastfarmall · Oct 23, 2015

That would of been 426 cu in, gas engine, that should haul the mail !!

farmalldanny · Oct 23, 2015

the true truck engine were in the wa-40 279cu with a block part# 48444ha 3 5/8 X 4 1/2 then went to a 298cu with a block pt# 54610ha that was the wk-40 3 3/4 X 4 1/2

Nebraska Kirk · Oct 23, 2015

(quoted from post at 04:18:57 10/23/15) Nebraska Kirk is spot on. The IHC Red diamond engine was used both in the IH trucks and in the WK 40. For the time, it was a big, high torque engine.

No, that was not the Red Diamond engine that was used in those trucks and the WA/WK40. The engine is the FBB279 & FBB298, which are actually predecessors to the Red Diamond family of engines.

rustred · Oct 23, 2015

the red diamond engine was never installed from factory in the WK40 tractors. i have seen red diamonds in those
tractors but its a conversion thing. the factory engine is the FBB model which was also in the D series of ih
trucks from the 1930's. the red diamond replaced the FBB engine years later and was a totally beefy er engine as
the FBB was just too light and did not stand up very well if it was worked hard in the tractor. this was also a big goof up for ihc trying to put out a stronger gas tractor in a hurry.

Hoover Dam IH Truck/subsequent tractor

Juicybusa2

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fastfarmall

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Nebraska Kirk

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fastfarmall

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Nebraska Kirk

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Tom Fleming

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fastfarmall

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farmalldanny

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Nebraska Kirk

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rustred

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