Farm Equipment - WD45 copper head gasket

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WD45 copper head gasket

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=193538
Printed Date: 24 Aug 2025 at 1:10pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: WD45 copper head gasket

Posted By: ACmutt
Subject: WD45 copper head gasket
Date Posted: 15 Feb 2023 at 6:22pm

Does anyone know the best place to purchase a copper overbore head gasket?

Replies:

Posted By: Kevin in WA
Date Posted: 16 Feb 2023 at 10:01am

I would check with Clark Copper Gasket

Posted By: PaulB
Date Posted: 16 Feb 2023 at 10:16am

I've always made my own for engines needing them. Get a piece of copper and cut some holes. no big deal.

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If it was fun to pull in LOW gear, I could have a John Deere.
Real pullers don't have speed limits.
If you can't make it GO... make it SHINY

Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 16 Feb 2023 at 10:31am

WHY do we need a copper head gasket for a WD45 ?? Thy don't hold back coolant very well.....like not at all.

Posted By: ACmutt
Date Posted: 16 Feb 2023 at 12:47pm

Dr Allis, what would you recommend for a 4.40 bore, high compression engine?

Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 16 Feb 2023 at 5:12pm

Copper gaskets don't belong on farm tractors and this is the section you are in. Yeah, I've used cooper gaskets over the years and like I say, there is often times water control issues, so use something on it to try and keep the water where it belongs. For years I had to drain my blocks after the last pull of the day and refill with water at the next event to keep the engine oil water free. Disable the radiator cap so it doesn't build pressure. Maybe you'll be lucky and the block won't split down the middle, which forces me to run no coolant, but my bore is bigger. Copper gaskets work best controlling compression when a groove is machined into the top of the block for a wire, which then crushes into the copper gasket for a positive seal. I locate my wire groove on the O.D. of the sleeves edge to the block deck.

Posted By: PaulB
Date Posted: 17 Feb 2023 at 6:31am

When I make a copper head gasket I use O-Rings for all the water and oil holes: NO leaks. I agree, a farm tractor should do just fine with a stock head gasket and not need a copper one.

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If it was fun to pull in LOW gear, I could have a John Deere.
Real pullers don't have speed limits.
If you can't make it GO... make it SHINY

Posted By: Oldwrench
Date Posted: 17 Feb 2023 at 6:42am

If for any reason you or anyone else does need a copper gasket, this looks like the place to go:

https://coppergaskets.us/" rel="nofollow - https://coppergaskets.us/

Posted By: MACK
Date Posted: 17 Feb 2023 at 9:00pm

Use original gasket cut to edge of sleeve. Then make steel orings .010 -.015 thicker than head gasket. Use silicon or gasket eliminator around all oil and water holes. Forger the copper. MACK

Posted By: ACmutt
Date Posted: 18 Feb 2023 at 5:49am

👍Will do. Thanks for your help MACK.

Posted By: BigGuy1000
Date Posted: 19 Feb 2023 at 4:29pm

Dr Allis is right, but you may be interested in the reason why, which he does not explain!!!

Copper and iron(steel) are quite far apart in the electromotive series(a measurement of chemical and electrical activity-see Wikipedia) so that in the presence of water when the two metals touch the copper(or brass) is dissolved to copper oxides and sulfates(greenish-yellow). This is not instant, may take years to become obvious, but will eventually be a problem, as I found out when I installed a block heater on AC170 gas! I knew this but had forgotten my chemistry class, too long ago!!

This is why the smart plumber who properly installed your hot water heater to a copper line plumbing system installed a special pipe union(a dielectric union) which keeps the two metals from touching!