N-SERIES FORD TRACTOR SERIAL NUMBERS AND MODEL IDENTIFICATION

Industrial machinery is not like automobiles. There is much less emphasis on a model YEAR. The designation "9N" stands for 1939 Model Tractor. The 9N model tractors were produced for several years with design changes introduced essentially at random. When an improvement was ready, it was simply brought into production as the older parts were used up. The factory designated a model change only when the changes were extensive, so "2N" stands for 1942 Model Tractor and "8N" stands for 1948 Model Tractor. Obviously, the newer your tractor is, the more incremental factory improvements it will have. That adds value for a working tractor.

We do normally refer to our tractors by year and model designation. The serial numbers stamped on the engine block are consecutive numbers that were hand-stamped on the assembly line. So, we can use the serial number to figure out not only the year the tractor was built, but about when it was built during the year. Knowing the serial number is important because we know when certain factory changes were introduced by serial number.

All N-Series Tractor Serial Numbers were hand-stamped on the engine block, up high, on the left rear side. Look for a flat spot in the casting a few inches back from the oil filter. The serial numbers are often very difficult to read. The only other identifying marks are casting codes which may include the date if you can decipher the code used for each part. The trick to reading those seems to vary from one part to another.

Many parts (including engines) are generally interchangeable. Any tractor that has been in service for over 50-years has had plenty of opportunities for parts to be swapped around. My first 8N tractor turned out to have a 1940-9N engine block. The transmission and axle castings were from 1948 and 1949. My 2N tractor had late 8N rear fenders. A song by Johnny Cash comes to mind, but wasn't that a Cadillac? Maybe he had a couple of tractors too?

The serial number information provided below has been updated using the best information I have been able to find. My primary source is a copy of a Ford Service Department Letter 5-T-13 dated April 11/55. This was a listing of Ford Tractor serial numbers issued to assist Dealers in determining the year of manufacture of model 9N, 2N, 8N, NAA, and NCA tractors. This letter indicates that the transition from 9N to the 2N model occurred in 1943 rather than 1942. However, there is no doubt that the "2" in "2N" stands for 1942 model.

You will find at least two other versions of this serial number list on the web. The other lists may also be based on official Ford documents. There is a list of serial numbers in the FO-4 manual that shows an overlap in 9N-2N production from 1942 to 1943??? Maybe they couldn't figure it out either?

BASIC SPECIFICATIONS

Ford 9N

28 H.P., 119.7 cubic inch displacement, 4 cylinder "flathead" engine with direct-driven, front-mounted, distributor, 3-speed transmission, 6V negative ground electrical system, generator, Ferguson hydraulic implement attachment and control system, Power takeoff, and 5-lug 19” front wheels.

Built from 1939-1943 at Dearborn, Michigan

Serial Numbers

1939 9N1 to 9N10275

1940 9N10276 to 9N46017

1941 9N46018 to 9N88933

1942 9N88934 to 9N105411

1943 9N105412 to 9N109500

Ford 2N

Due to war shortages, some had all steel wheels without rubber tires. Generator and battery were replaced by a magneto ignition. Hand crank was standard instead of an option. All other specifications are similar to Ford 9N. Many 2N's were returned to 9N specifications after the war, especially with regard to wheels and rubber tires.

Built from 1943 to 1947 at Dearborn, Michigan

Serial Numbers - (Note Prefix is still 9N)

1943 9N109501 to 9N126574

1944 9N126575 to 9N170017

1945 9N170018 to 9N198766

1946 9N198767 to 9N258539

1947 9N258540 to 9N306221

Ford 8N

I couldn't resist. This is of course not an original 8N, it is the picture of my 1952. The vertical exhaust is an aftermarket improvement, the original exhaust ran under the right floorboard.

The new 8N was a major redesign that went much further than the new "red belly" paint scheme. The front-distributor, 4 cylinder "flathead" engine got a slight increase in compression, and the transmission was now a 4-speed. Modifications to the hydraulic implement control system added a new position control lever under the seat. These changes may have been an attempt to avoid violating the Ferguson patents and the "Ferguson System" emblem was no longer displayed on the grill. Full-length running boards were added and both brake pedals were moved to the right side. Rear wheels were redesigned with smaller hubs and the front wheels were changed to 6-lug, 19” or 16”.

As in the past, improvements continued to show up on the 8N tractors, without regard to a particular model year. The steering gear was redesigned sometime in 1949, the new side distributor engine appeared in mid-1950, and headlight "wing" mounts changed to the round type. By the time production ended in 1952, a proof-meter had been added to the dash, the upper lift arms were improved, and the transmission housing was changed to allow for a future slower (larger) reverse grear.

Built from 1947-1952 at Dearborn, Michigan

Serial Numbers - (Note Change To 8N Prefix)

1947 8N1 to 8N37907

1948 8N37908 to 8N141369

1949 8N141370 to 8N245636

1950 8N245637 to 8N343592

1951 8N343593 to 8N442034

1952 8N442035 to 8N519146

The number 519146 may not have been the last 8N. There are individuals who claim to have 8N tractors with higher serial numbers. Would you believe 8N567420? I'm a bit skeptical of one that high. Serial number 8N524076 is the highest 8N number that seems to be verifiable. If anyone has documentation of a higher number with photo or some other way to document it, please send it to me.

Please remember, it has been well over 50 years since production of the 8N tractor ended. Many parts are interchangable. Older tractors may have been upgraded with newer parts or old parts may have replaced broken parts. Many tractors have had engines and other parts replaced due to things like cracked or broken castings. It can be difficult to determine if a tractor is all original or not. Many dealers took tractors in trade and reconditioned them to "like new" condition. This process often included a complete strip and painting the latest color scheme to match the new tractors on the lot at that time. Layers of paint and dirt can easily conceal mismatched parts. You may discover something like I did. There is nothing wrong with mis-matched parts if you are looking for a working tractor.

Ford made many changes nearly every year these tractors were produced. Based on those changes and casting date codes it is often possible to determine when a tractor was built even when the engine is a mismatch. The absolute best site for this type of ID search is John Smith's N-Tractor site. He has an awesome photographic record of production changes for each model year, including in many cases the serial number where a change was introduced. Check it out HERE.

VALUE

Low serial number tractors for each model are obviously worth more to many collectors. The earliest 9N's had cast aluminum hoods that are very rare and collectable today. An early, original 1939-9N might be the holy grail of collectable N-Series tractors. An early 2N on steel wheels with magneto ignition is another collectable. However, for a working tractor, the higher serial numbers for each model will have the most factory upgrades. Overall Condition has more bearing on value than anything else unless you are a collector. In that case I hope you already know more than I do, GRIN.

Even a complete basket case is not beyond redemption if you can get it cheap. Most parts are still readily available. These well designed, extremely durable machines continue to do real work while most other tractors of the same era collect dust in a museum.

That may be the only downside to becoming addicted to the Ford N-Series tractors. They may never be considered "rare". Value of antiques is usually in direct proportion to their rarity. There are about 3200 counties or equivalents (parrish, burrough, etc) in the USA. More if you include Alaska, Hawaii, and US possessions. The best information I have puts the number of "still running" 8N tractors at well over 200,000! The definition of "still running" varies widely but it is safe to say there are at least 20 actual running 8N tractors per county in the USA, plus at least another 40 or 50 per county that are lurking in barns and fields waiting to be parted out or restored! When looking for parts it's comforting to know that there may be as many as 500,000 9N, 2N, 8N, & NAA tractors still lurking out there in various stages of repair.