Turbo'd WD-9

[putsie]

Wish I had more pics of this but maybe I'll track him down again next year and collect some more. A local young guy restored this tractor must be almost 2 years ago now. I had the privledge of doing the engine work for him and getting it running. The engine had one stuck cylinder and needed sleeves and such. I went right through it and got it running like a top. He picked it up and took it off to finish up the paint. Later that summer I had heard rumors that he had figured out a way to put a turbo on without blowing it up. So I had to track him down during a local threshing bee/pioneer days weekend. He wound up finding me and took me over to show me what he'd done. I forget where the turbo came off of but he'd also put changed the pump to one from the next model newer that apparently is turned up from a wd-9. I'm not really an IH guy so can't recall which one, maybe a 400? Anyways it looked/sounded awesome, He took 2nd place both days at the tractor pull. Every time he started loosing traction he'd back the throttle off a bit more and chew away a few more feet. Amazing power, and I had a little hand in it. Gave me the warm and fuzzy's knowing that as I watched with big smile.

The turbo sits under the home-made top hat formed into the hood. He did a really clean job on the body work, I expect decals have probably been put on since this.



I've done a lot of engine jobs over the years but this was new teritory for me at the time. Since then I've been building a W-6 for the wife's grandfather along with keeping a 2nd one tuned up and lookin good. so this IH thing is getting a little carried away, being that my dad, uncle and grandfather were 2 cyl John Deere guys that is still my default setting on old tractors.

[farmallman]

Man I love them old 9s. Prolly my favorite tractor of all time. We own a regular 9 and a super WD 9. Both have straight pipes on em. My dad is a tractor mechanic so he bored out the pistons on the regular 9 and ground off the governor weights in both tractors.

One of these days Im gonna do a full restoration of em.

[farmallman]

Problem with running 9's in pulling is that they run in the same weight class as 4020's and 4020's can walk circles around them old 9's.

I hate to say it but it is what it is.

[putsie]

Forgot to mention that the tractor pull wasn't really a sanctioned event by any means. It was kind of a run "what ya brung" for anyone who was there with they're collector tractors. The sled is owned by the local pioneer village club, and they have tractor pull events for fun a couple times a year. It's more to display various tractors ability's rather than true competion. It is a legit pulling sled they use though.

[70ds]

That is really cool. I would like to see how he has that turbo rigged up. I would like to hear it run too. Thanks for posting.

[Brad Conley]

cool tractor, now I'm going to turbo my cousin's 44 massey harris, he dosn't know it yet! ;D ;D

[putsie]

This guy is a welder by trade so he just made an adapting flange to mount the turbo right on top the manifold and fabricated a new intake air system as needed. He actually built a grill on the front of that turbo cover that matches the tractors grille pretty good too. He's a pretty smart kid when it comes to fabricating, and does nice work. With the straight pipe and turbo whistle, it sounds pretty awesome to say the least!!

[magnum 7240]

me and my dad turboed a farmall 560 desiel this summer