Well, we might as well start this forum off with one of the more controversial topics - serial numbers for each year. The following info is from an April 11, 1955 Technical Service Bulletin:

This page is from a 1962 Ford Tractor Service Specifications handbook:

Ed ...........I guess you know by putting out all these TSB's with conflicting info,is screwing my damn old head up. don b

Ed, I've never noticed 9N showing up as 1942/1943 production numbers as this chart shows. What gives?

I don't have any idea either but I know a lot of folks at Ford Tractor HQ never refered to a 2N as the S/N was their designator.

Have no clue, Kelly. That's just what was printed on that particular TSB.

Regards............Ed
'52 8N475798

It looks like the 600 series was originally referred to as "NCA". I've read things that indicate the proper prefix for 600 part numbers is NCA and the proper prefix for 800 part numbers is NDA.

This bulletin is also interesting because Ford issued an owner's manual in 1954 for the 600 series only (form SE-6024). There is also a 1954 edition of the owner's manual that covers both 600 and 800 series (form SE-6085) and every subsequent edition covers both series. I have never seen a manual dedicated solely to the 800 series. So, was the initial intention to offer only the 600 series? Was the bigger engine in a separate series (800 series with 172 engine) an afterthought? Things that make you go "hmmmm....."

It was common in those days to use existing models for preliminary parts numbering. Example would be some prelim or development parts for the NAA carried 8N prefix prior to production and during the time the new parts numbering system was being set up. No FMC part could be ordered till a part number was assigned so it was a necessity to have a prelim number especially where vendors could be suppling the part and bids went out early in the development stages. I presume the NCA and NDC were just that, prelim designator for the 600, 800 and would primarily involve parts that were unique and new. The 800 was out at about the same time as the 600 but the early ones could have been 840's which shared many 600 components.

Here's a July 9, 1951 Technical Services Bulletin that gives starting/ending serial numbers for 1949 and 1950 8N's:

Ed would you look at this web site and see if you think its accurate . It seemed like they had a lot of imformation .

Ed, my tractor has a casting date of 12-13-50 and my serial number is 348067. Maybe the 3 should be an 8 in the 343xxx number?OR....the casting was held for curing until Jan. 51.This would lean toward 4 to 5 weeks curing for the engine blocks or at least on mine.Both your posts indicate the 343xxx serial numbers for 1950 don b

Ed.....it is a 348xxx for sure.So,this means my tractor would have been built around the third week in Jan.1951.So,I'm saying that most tractors engine blocks were cured for about 4 weeks before they actually made the production line. don b

Don, just posted another source of serial numbers from 1962. Check that out when you get a chance - sounds like your s/n is 343xxx, instead of 348xxx.

Regards............Ed
'52 8N475798

I OCR'ed this one in, rather than scan it to an image file, and I've created a MS Word document that contains serial numbers from 1939 through 1961. You can download it by clicking on the link below and save on your PC if you have MS Word:

Click here to download document.

So the April '55 TBS is not as accurate as this '61 TSB?

Thanks,
Tyman

It agrees with the N sheet I have until the end of 51, #442034, mine says 442033. Our data disagrees by one unit, Not bad in nearly 1/2 million units! I vote to go with your signed and dated sheet. Its likely on the NAA's you will get real conflicting data. Also on them I was told more than once that there were actually a few hundred Jubilees built in 1954 to fill back ordered requests.