1952 WD Manifold & Muffler Swap to WD45 Style

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Thought I'd share a before and after sounds of my 1952 WD tractor.

My WD had the original style manifold that I believe started with the later styled-WCs. (image from the internet). No big box for the alternative fuels like I've seen some have. Just a long neck into a thin horizontal chamber.

Which I swapped for the 'Modern' WD45 style manifold. (image also from the Internet). I did have to scrounge up a pair of studs because the original AC carburetor flange bolts did not fit in the gap remaining above the carburetor flange (In case a future adventurer finds this and wonders what might work for them: Ace Hardware: "5/16 x 1-1/2 3/4 USS, 5/8 SAE" and a pair of 5/16th matching fine thread nuts).

My original manifold is in fairly good condition, I could have bought a manifold-to-head seal kit and fixed a lot of the noise, but this was one of the updated features they sold the WD45s on to get more power to the plow. So I figured if I was going to do all that work (kind of dreaded removing manifold nuts and bolts, so I made sure I could get the nuts free before I ordered the new manifold) I might as well have a new manifold to last a long time and give better performance (even if just marketing performance).

The original muffler is rusty and still serviceable but there was no fitment between the manifold and muffler so it just rattled around in there. I believe these used a threaded insert to the manifold. There were two intact cup seals and a partial one that came out when I removed the old manifold.

It's not a fancy video but it shows how much more quiet the update improved the tractor. Which is important since I'm surrounded by suburban lawns now (horse farm next door transformed to a housing development).

Comparison is with throttle set to the same 'fast' and then at the end just low idle. Recorded at the same position from the tire. The extra warbling sound effects are from the radiator fan 'wind' on the mic I didn't anticipate.

Since the manifold is not leaking inlet and exhaust both, the engine seems to run a lot smoother, which I hoped for.

Background: This WD was a new acquisition last December, I put it to work last week pulling out my other stuck tractor but otherwise have just driven it around the yard. I did replace the failing distributor rotor and cap on it already (I happened to have those parts on the shelf when I tried getting the correct parts for my 1955 Ferguson TO35, which seemed problematic for the parts store). So more projects for it now that the weather is improving to work on it outside, like adding the 3-point hitch parts I picked up. And maybe replacement AC decals for the hood after a good wash and scrub. Plus a general tune up. In amongst planting corn with it.

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