Finally got my WC, some assembly required......

Well, I've been looking for an unstyled WC all summer, for my next restoration project. I met a lot of nice people, at tractor shows, and tractor pulls, and on this site, who had a WC or knew someone who did. So I went and checked out quite a few, and learned a lot about the small differences in WC's through the years. Unfortunately, they were all out of my price range. Then forum member macvette told me he knew a guy who has an unstyled WC basket case. This sounds right up my alley. Gave the guy a call, turns out someone gave him the tractor, they started to restore it but gave up halfway through. They gave it to Jerry because he is a scrapper and figured he would get rid of it, that was about 8 years ago. Being a scrapper with some sand, he has a pretty good collection of stuff that he says is "too good to scrap".

So, I went over to his house to take a look a few weeks ago.





Isn't it a beaut?

The engine is out, and completely torn apart. He says the block is in here...



And most of the parts should be in here somewhere...



We looked around for quite some time, couldn't find the air cleaner, manifold, steering wheel, hood, fuel tank, or radiator. But, it does have good round spoke rims, fenders in good shape, six bolt front rims, and four brand new cylinder kits still in the boxes. He said the guy had some engine work done, the crank is wrapped in shrink wrap from the engine shop.

So, the long drawn out bargaining process went something like this:

"How much?"

"Give me good scrap price."

"Scrap ain't worth squat right now."

"Then it can sit until scrap goes back up."

Boy, he's got me over a barrel!

"O.K."

There. Its settled. He said I cold come back, we will dig the tractor out, search for parts, and anything Allis goes with the tractor.

As I was driving out there this morning, I was thinking I must be nuts. Buying a basket case with no tires, barely over half the engine, no radiator, I'm going to be so far into this tractor just to get it running. Oh well, this is my hobby....

So, we took all the trailer axles off and stacked them neatly nearby,





Then the fun part, wiggling it out of the back 40,







While we were towing it, I popped it into a gear or two, the input shaft started turning, and the straight cut gears made the familiar groaning sound, so at least I know that much about the trans and finals.

I dug the block out of the junk pile, he made me put the pile back together. I thought that was pretty funny.



We hauled everything out of the shed we could find, and laid it out. As we were working, he says "You know, there is a hood over there, it's orange, but I don't know what it fits. Its got a distillate tank on it, want to take a look?" YES.



SCORE.

Little while later he says "You know, there is a manifold in the shed over there but I don't know what it fits. Want to take a look?" YES.



SCORE.

Then we went and stripped the parts off the WD I thought I could use. Head, rockers, push tubes, side cover, fan blade, belt pulley, and PTO. He threw in some shutters that he doesn't know what they fit, another valve cover and set of rockers, and some other stuff. Made for a pretty good load.



Scrambled back to town in time to pick the boy up from school, he made me promise to bring the tractor to school. He needed to help unload it.





Tagged and bagged everything I took apart today, so I know where it goes.



So there. Got my project, and made a new friend to boot. He wants me to do a little work on his WD, and he has a jig for welding rims on spoke wheels, which I have been meaning to make to convert my steel wheeled plow to rubber. He is a pretty funny guy, same age as my dad, and acts and thinks just like him. Glad I got to spend the day with him, and I think he had a good time too. I gave him an Allis Connection calendar, and some venison snack sticks, I think he was more pleased with those than with the money!

My plan is to clean up the block and see if its been line bored, then build the engine over the winter, then next spring, get started on the tractor, maybe ready for paint next fall?

Thanks for looking!








Edited by littlemarv - 25 Aug 2017 at 9:40pm

GOOD FIND

Edited by Chalmersbob - 16 Oct 2015 at 9:36pm

Well, how bout that. Man and machine finally meet. Quite a project. Thank goodness you are a mechanic!

littlemarv   I have two extra gas tanks for the unstyled wc's you are welcome to one of them your choice       FREE !! Anyone who will take on a challenge like you are doing should get some help from those of us with miss. parts collecting dust. BTW I'm just north of Grand Rapids MN 100 miles from Duluth. May have other small items if I look around.    Mark

I love it!  AND, more importantly, I'm glad others are as nuts as I am about this hobby.  Sometimes I wonder if I'm crazy for working on old tractors all weekend long--but I simply LOVE the hobby and relax while doing it.  Thank you for the post and keep us updated.

I have the correct seat and a few other parts if you need them. And, you know where I live! 

Great project and a good story!  As Steve mentioned, old tractor guys and hot rodders can usually see treasure where others see only junk!! 

and when you get the tractor going you will be a 'grinner'
pickin and grinnin

Littlemarv, i see you have a WD flywheel and ring gear... now do yourself a favor, go back and get the starter bell housing and be able to electric start the tractor when you decide cranking isn't as much fun, and far safer using a switch.  good luck on your project.

Hey littlemarv. I could tell last summer you were hot for a WC when you and your son went by on this borrowed WC. If you remember, it wasn't to long after I took the picture, that electric start would have been nice to have. Its going to be a lot of work, but you've got help. Tim

We have seen the before picture, and I'm sure we all will be looking forward to the "after" picture. Glad to hear it is going back together and not to China! Good luck with the tractor!

Great plan but I agree with the guys staying to look for the way to add a starter. Those hand cranks scare me. I love the old tractors but my grandfather always said if it doesn't have a starter pull it with one that does.

I still have some bits and pieces left over from a parted WC and need to post more pics of the other small parts.  So, you can keep that in mind, if needed.

great story,  those projects are the  best  those fenders look cherry 

I put the front end up on a stand I made for splitting a WD awhile back. Put the back up on blocks to keep the rims off the ground. I think I will crack the drain plugs on the trans and rear end to drain off any water, and cover up the shift tower somehow as the boot is junk. Then I will consider this chassis winterized.



Is this hitch a common aftermarket thing, or a different Allis hitch, or a really good homemade one?



I will probably start a new post on the engine build, thanks for all the help so far!

Edited by littlemarv - 25 Aug 2017 at 9:43pm