There's an auction tomorrow in Spanish Fork, Utah. Included is this 8N:

241B carb

I don't know how to tell the difference between steering gears on early and late 8N's but I'm pretty confident that this is a '49 8N that has had an engine transplant (and an air cleaner transplant).

But then I realize the date code on the engine is really late in the year.

Depending on whether or not the letter I was used in date codes, this is either September or October 25, 1952. When did NAA production start?

At this point I become really interested in the invisible s/n. I want to know just how deep into the s/n range this engine is. I tried everything. Wire brush, carb cleaner, chalk, etc. The paint on this engine block is already pretty thin so it wasn't hard to get to bare metal. There is no hint of a number....not one digit.

Here's where the goofy theory comes in: Is it possible that 8N engines that were left over after 8N production ceased were used as replacement parts and therefore never received a s/n?

I can't see the pictures but a visible difference
between the early 8N steering box and the late 8N
is that the early 8N pitman arms are flat while
the late 8N pitman arms curve out slightly at the top.
You could probably look them up at an online parts site.

Pooh Bear

I wonder if your "mystery tractor" was put together from two or three parts tractors. You definitely have a combination that didn't come from the factory.

Jeff

I was not used in any Ford model year designations. Saw your posts on the other site, when you get time check all the date codes to decipher its pedigree. Likely you could have bought a block or an entire engine with no S/N, no leftovers they were built as required. These were replacement parts and not subject to US S/N marking requirements. My guess it was re-engined.

John....I have seen two 1948 tractors, that after very close examination,I almost believe,the letter "I" was used in 1947 built 8ns.At first I thought it was an eroded "L" but the "I"was very clear and the other numbers matched.I just don't know for sure because I thought like you.
Serial numbers: Seems like I read somplace that the engines were bench tested before installing and if they passed inspection,they were hand stamped with the serial number.This was to serve two purposes.One to give the tractor a serial number and the other was to insure the engine passed all tests.Any comments please. don b

As far as the "I" being used in 1947, it would not be FMC policy but anything is possible. If we are still talking replacement engines and parts its a whole different system. I doubt if any of them were test run but the Quality Control folks surely checked parts and assembly procedures and it would be tagged and marked as passing inspection. S/N's were required on vehicles, tractors included and complete industrial power engine packages. Replacement engine blocks and short block assys would not require numbers and since they were lacking many parts could not be run.

John.....I was talking about production engines.Tim Daley has posted a pic of a casting code with the "I".NOW...I would like to see one[1947] on a tractor in Dec. and see what letter they used. don b