How to tell a WD45 engine from a WD
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=39389
Printed Date: 18 Jul 2025 at 9:17pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: How to tell a WD45 engine from a WD
Posted By: Boyd Little
Subject: How to tell a WD45 engine from a WD
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2011 at 10:59am
In researching the difference between the engines of these two tractors I found lots of technical data and verbal descriptions, but was a little frustrated in looking for concise photos or videos on the subject. After purchasing a WD45, I recorded and uploaded the follow video on Youtube: How to Tell an Allis Chalmers WD from a WD45.
Here is a link:
http://www.youtube.com/user/boydslittlefactory#p/a/u/0/MaOe2M-mawQ
Please feel free to check it out.
Boyd
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Replies:
Posted By: dewn81
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2011 at 11:14am
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The WD engine has a plate that is bolted on the top right side of block and the WD45 does not.
Nathan
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Posted By: Steve M C/IL
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2011 at 1:29pm
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You can tell a 45 block from a WD block because of the plate on the right side of the WD.You can't tell anything else from a "visual". Lot's of WD's had 45 guts put in them and measuring the stroke is the only way to tell the difference.You could put WD guts in a 45 block...but who would? Tall or short head will work on either.
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Posted By: Boyd Little
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2011 at 3:13pm
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Good point Steve. If you wanted to verify if a WD had been upgraded, how would you do that - could the stroke length be checked through a spark plug hole, or would you have to tear further into it?
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Posted By: deereequipment1
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2011 at 3:20pm
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Not completely accurate!!!
There is also a LeRoi engine out there.
I bought a WD45, but it ended up having at 201 engine block.
Though it wasn't the Allis Chalmers with the large plate on the right side, it still had the 3" head, and when dynoed, put out about 26 hp.
201 block, with no plate.
The LeRoi engine has a little canister for the oil filter (like a FORD 8N).
the Allis engine has a spin on oil filter.
Some times people also put the 4" head on the 201 block, thinking it's got wd45 power.
Look over the head, the right side of the block (with or without plate), what style oil filter.
take all the above and try to figure which engine.
There is also a serial number on the Allis blocks (not on the LeRoi's), that might also tell you for sure what engine it is.
good luck.
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Raised on a CA,WD,D10 & D15.
Now, proudly own and pull a WD45 high crop, WD45, WC,
also own a D-10, D-12, G and a CA.
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Posted By: TedBuiskerN.IL.
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2011 at 3:55pm
Actually Allis started using the "tall" head in mid 1951 on the WD.
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Most problems can be solved with the proper application of high explosives.
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Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2011 at 4:39pm
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A ""WD" tractor that had a block split open from no antifreeze, could have easily had a WD45 block installed, because the WD style block would have been discontinued in the late 1950's and replaced by the WD45 block. The innards of the engine in that case, could still be "WD" and not "WD45" even tho the block was the newer one.
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Posted By: Gary in da UP
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2011 at 4:51pm
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As the Dr. points out, I have a very nice WD45 block that had WD internals, The WD's
original block probably freeze cracked , there is no serial number that I can find on this block.
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Posted By: deereequipment1
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2011 at 6:12pm
when they went to the tall head, was it still the 201 block, or did they put the 226 block out there with it?
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Raised on a CA,WD,D10 & D15.
Now, proudly own and pull a WD45 high crop, WD45, WC,
also own a D-10, D-12, G and a CA.
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Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2011 at 6:25pm
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Late WD's (201) had the tall cyl head.
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Posted By: B26240
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2011 at 6:32pm
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Yup after 50+ years you can find most any combo-- i had a WD45 with a 6 spring preasure plate instead of the 9 spring one it should of had !!
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Posted By: deereequipment1
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2011 at 6:35pm
what did the 201 with tall head have for horsepower, anyone know?
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Raised on a CA,WD,D10 & D15.
Now, proudly own and pull a WD45 high crop, WD45, WC,
also own a D-10, D-12, G and a CA.
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Posted By: mlpankey
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2011 at 6:42pm
I don't think the tall head would make any power over the 3 inch from what I have seen on the flow bench in stock form of coarse there is two versions of the 3 inch head the latter is better which is the one I am comparing. jmho
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people if they don't already know it you can't tell them. quote yogi berra
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Posted By: Steve M C/IL
Date Posted: 24 Oct 2011 at 12:28am
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I agree with ML on the 3in VS 4in head in stock form on stock engine.
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Posted By: Boyd Little
Date Posted: 24 Oct 2011 at 7:10am
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Appreciate the additional information - I will add a comment to update the video about that. Boyd
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Posted By: Sheridan-Utah
Date Posted: 24 Oct 2011 at 10:46am
I bought a 1941 WC which had a WD45 block. It had WC internals in the engine. The block was obviously replaced some time.
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HANSEN'S OLD ORANGE IRON
We show, pull, & go!
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Posted By: ThatXJGuy
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2020 at 9:13am
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Is it true that the WD pistons were flat topped and the WD45 were cupped? I have a WD with a WD45 block but when I had the head off the pistons were flat. I'm wondering if it's a true WD 45 engine or just the block that may have been replaced when the original cracked or something.
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Posted By: MikeKroupa
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2020 at 10:21am
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My 37 WC has a 45 replacement block, no id stampings anywhere. All 201 WC parts inside. I bought it that way some thirty years ago.
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Posted By: Gary
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2020 at 10:50am
Back in 1953 when the WD-45 came out, it had a unique Engine Cylinder Block with no flat plate covering the push rods and lifters.
The difference in displacement came from the Crankshaft.
WD-45 had a 4 1/2" stroke, WD had 4" stroke.
Some time after that the WD block was discontinued, and the 45 block was used as a Service Replacement for WD's and Power Units.
A WD crank, pistons etc. were installed in a 45 block giving 201 cu.in.
G
............................................................
See Michael Crowe's Post in 'Farm Equipment Knowledge Base'
Follow up on WD WD-45 Pistons
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Posted By: john(MI)
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2020 at 2:58pm
Yep. I was looking over the neighbors WD and when I went around to the other side it didn't have the plate on the engine. He was real happy when he found out he had a 45. The S/N made it a WD, and the straight gear shift. This is the tractor that had a magneto on it and it had a coil attached to the side of it and a wire running into the mag.
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D14, D17, 5020, 612H, CASE 446
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Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2020 at 3:22pm
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A legit WD-45 block in a WD chassis sure doesn't mean it is a real WD-45 engine, especially if there isn't an engine serial number stamped on that block behind the carburetor air hose. As said before, there was a point in time after 1953 where AC quit casting WC/WD blocks for parts replacement and forced you to purchase a new WD-45 BLOCK instead. Part number supercession is what it's called. Even if that WD-45 block has a serial number, it could have been a used block from a salvage yard and the engine still is 100% all WD inside.
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Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2020 at 6:13pm
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I have been through just enough of these to agree. I bought a WD not running that had a WD 45 block. But had the old WD crank and pistons. So no additional power. That block was used as a replacement for my WD45 project tractor that had a cracked non serviceable block. I installed the now standard over sized dished pistons. So as mentioned looks can be deceiving. Its whats inside that counts! Several other things too a WD45 carb and air cleaner are larger too.
I also bought a WD that have a gray engine in it which was a Z code engine from a Gleaner. Its all out there! Good luck ThatXJguy and welcome! Regards, Chris
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D17 1958 (NFE), WD45 1954 (NFE), WD 1952 (NFE), WD 1950 (WFE), Allis F-40 forklift, Allis CA, Allis D14, Ford Jubilee, Many IH Cub Cadets, 32 Ford Dump, 65 Comet.
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Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2020 at 6:53pm
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It's not only the crankshaft stroke and the pistons/sleeves in a WD-45 engine, it also had a different manifold, muffler, carburetor and air cleaner assembly. It takes everything to make the total extra HP.
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