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Ford 9N, 2N & 8N Discussion Forum
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N-Series Engine Casting Codes

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PloughNman

07-28-2003 14:58:16




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OK everybody, I have been thinking about this all day from an earlier post. Look at your casting codes and see if the letter "I" was used for the month [Sept] and the numeral "1" was used in any combination for the day. I know they hand-stamped the serial numbers with the letter "I" used for the numeral "1", but I suspect the casting codes were straight alpha-numeric coding. Now let's see all those casting codes...

Tim

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GHL in OK

07-29-2003 17:44:08




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 Re: N-Series Engine Casting Codes in reply to PloughNman, 07-28-2003 14:58:16  
PloughNman,

I am the one who replied to Zane's post about a 1947 8N (front mount). I was incorrect in the date code on the starter shroud. Using a 100W lamp to see better, the code I should have reported was I127. Between my eyes and dark barn, I did not report correctly.

I also have a 9N, serial number *163695*, with G244 on the starter shroud. That code indicates the tractor is 7 months younger than me. This particular tractor has been in my wife's family since 1977 - I inhereted this one is 1999.

These interactions are good. I do not think Henry Ford could have imagined this much. Thanks to all and take care.

George

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PloughNman

07-30-2003 05:29:20




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 Re: Re: N-Series Engine Casting Codes in reply to GHL in OK, 07-29-2003 17:44:08  
Hi George-
Hey I knew there were more out there! That makes our tractors only 4 days apart! Could you send me a picture or post one here? What I should have specified in my original post was for people to verify if the day and/or year characters were nukmber 1's or letter I's. We all know that Ford did whatever the heck he wanted. Unless procedure is documented then anything is possible. Thanks.

Tim

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'Ole Henry' (Va)

07-29-2003 08:37:04




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 Re: N-Series Engine Casting Codes in reply to PloughNman, 07-28-2003 14:58:16  
Hey guys, I think we are confusing two numbers. What we are talking about is the date stamp that is cast (raised letters) on the boss that the starter is bolted to, NOT the engine serial number. The number in question is NOT hand stamped.

This is just another of those curiosity questions, that makes owning an N so much fun.

Respectifully.....John A



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DallasGa

07-28-2003 19:56:14




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 Re: N-Series Engine Casting Codes in reply to PloughNman, 07-28-2003 14:58:16  
Mine is 8N 34347 casting code J67, Don B. told me "I" wasn't used and that J was Sept.



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COLBY TX

07-28-2003 19:46:56




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 Re: N-Series Engine Casting Codes in reply to PloughNman, 07-28-2003 14:58:16  
48-8N
ser# *77949
cast# D288

Sorry, no "I" in mine!!!!

Colby
Tenaha, TX



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Hobo,NC

07-28-2003 16:44:23




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 Re: N-Series Engine Casting Codes in reply to PloughNman, 07-28-2003 14:58:16  
Here have at it.
47N (L26)
46N (J19146)got out of junk yard. just motor but in good condition
50N (E120)
52N (battery acid has wiped it out)



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Scott

07-28-2003 16:04:30




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 Re: N-Series Engine Casting Codes in reply to PloughNman, 07-28-2003 14:58:16  
Ford did not use I for the month of a casting or unit number.



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Jim.UT

07-28-2003 16:19:47




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 Re: Re: N-Series Engine Casting Codes in reply to Scott, 07-28-2003 16:04:30  
Sez you. However, there is a post in a thread from yesterday where someone claims to have an I on the block date code on his '47 8N. Also, I have seen M used on date codes. M is the 13th letter of the alphabet which would not make sense UNLESS the I was omitted from the date code series. The question I posed before and still want to know is: did Ford use the I in date codes early on, and then stop using it later?

I'm curious to see more responses, especially from anyone with a date code containing an I.

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PloughNman

07-28-2003 18:31:53




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 Re: Re: Re: N-Series Engine Casting Codes in reply to Jim.UT, 07-28-2003 16:19:47  
Hi JimUT---
Yes, that was me earlier with the 1948 8N; 5-digit serial number; AND the engine casting code is I167...no mistaking the I and the 1. BOTH on the engine casting date badge. It is possible they used the letter "I" early on, then stopped, but think about this. The hand stamping of serial numbers seems goofy-why didn't they have a numeral 1??? I've seen how a 9 looks like they took an I and used a small oval to complete the number. I've seen 2's look like upside down 5's. 7's look like upside down L's. Now, another theory: If you have ever used steel stamps, they do get dull after a while. To save a penny, Ford may have made the crew use whatever was handy to complete the sequence numbers.

I am familiar with foundry and casting operations and the date badge that is screwed into the casting is different than hand stamping. It must be on there when the iron is poured. The Rouge foundry poured the castings. The assembly building stamped the serial numbers as engines were built...

I don't buy into the "no I's in the casting code" statement because I have one!!! Serial numbers, yes, OK, hand stamped with whatever was handy. I have read several books on Ford and never came across any documentation on this, however the Henry Ford Museum Archives may have the answer.

Regards
Tim

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Salmoneye

07-29-2003 04:29:25




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: N-Series Engine Casting Codes in reply to PloughNman, 07-28-2003 18:31:53  
I do not get the confusion on the hand stamped serial numbers folks...

Maybe I am just old, but I remember when the stamping sets were not cheap and they only included the minimum number of stamping dies to cover the whole gamut effectively...My first set of metal stamps came with a set of instructions of what to use for each letter/number...I distinctly remember the 2 and the 7 were the same die, just upside down...I was 1, 6/9/lowercase b were all the same die depending on application...

Why is everyone confused that these dies were not cheap back in the day and that they would cost substantially more if you HAD to have an individual die for each situation?...Last time I checked, JC Whitney still sold sets like this, but that was a while back...

I have no idea about the casting use of the letter I...Mine is a C...

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PloughNman

07-29-2003 04:52:50




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: N-Series Engine Casting Codes in reply to Salmoneye, 07-29-2003 04:29:25  
Hey Salmoneye-
I'm not confused here...my point is the casting codes could not have been limited to the letter"I" for the numeral "1"...I know all about the hand stamps and have used them numerous times. Your point about the cost of the sets back then and the effectiveness of using I's, L's, b's; etc. is part of my message. The foundry was different though. The date badges had their own alpha-numeric system with actual letters and numerals. SO, does anyone have a date code with a lowercase "b" for a number "9"??? What about an "L" for a "7"??? We're talking casting codes, NOT serial numbers. I am not trying to start a peeing contest, just trying to get someone to come forward with actual documentation to verify all of this. Geez ain't this N-tractor stuff fun!!!???

Tim

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Jim.UT

07-28-2003 21:36:17




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: N-Series Engine Casting Codes in reply to PloughNman, 07-28-2003 18:31:53  
I have seen with my own eyes a serial number on an N block with clear numeral 1's rather than I's so I know both were used...probably just as you state, because one wore out and it was cheaper to substitute some thing else.



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don b

07-29-2003 07:20:55




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: N-Series Engine Casting Codes in reply to Jim.UT, 07-28-2003 21:36:17  
To the best of my knowledge..... when the engines were completed,they were put on a test stand and checked out.If they passed the testing,the serial number was hand stamped by an uneducated black man.The serial number was used for both an inspection number and the serial number for the tractor.It is possible they used the letter I in the first few casting numbers as Tim says he has it in his casting number,I don't know.My casting code on my 51 has the letter M.Does anyone have the letter M in their casting code for a tractor build in 1947?? don b

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