Figured I should finally make a thread about my tractor restoration project…..a little background first.

I have a 1951 8N that first belonged to my great grandfather, then my grandfather and then it became mine about ten years ago. This tractor looks like it has been to hell and back. Both great grandpa and grandpa were thrifty men. If it couldn’t be fixed with some grease and bailing wire, they did without. Unfortunately, I did not have a lot of extra funds when I first acquired it so I had to do the best I could. Changed the battery, hydraulic fluid, oil, put new plugs, points and wires on and use it occasionally to drive around with. Never really did much work with it other than some snow plowing. Also unfortunately, I did not have any place to store it indoors all these years until just recently. Tractor starts right up and drives around without complaint, albeit with a lot of blowby coming out the oil breather.

After moving to a home with a four-car garage, I have space to keep the tractor indoors, thankfully. I also finally have the income to support trying to put this tractor back to the way it should be. I am generally a strict originalist when it comes to any kind of restoration. I want things to look exactly like they did when they came off the factory floor. I know I will spend 4-5x what the tractor is worth as a whole to do this, but I am committed to doing it, because that’s the way I like it.

I may have let things go a bit longer, but the rear tires and rims really forced my hand to start the process. I had both an original hat rim on one side and an aftermarket loop rim on the other. Being filled with CaCl, the hat rim, unfortunately, was rotten too badly to save. Astonishingly, the tubes still held air just fine, but the tires were very badly weather cracked and dry rotten. So, that’s where it all started.

I commenced with trying to find tires that were somewhat correct for the tractor and ended up with a set of Firestone Road&Field tires for the rear and some Firestone repops for the front. My tractor originally came with 16” wheels, so my only option for a Firestone tire was the one commonly used on the Jubilees and later. With the tires and tubes acquired, I decided to hunt down a set of original hat rims that I could restore. Bought one set that ended up being not so nice condition. Then travelled about five hours on way to get a nicer set from a couple states away. Yes, I am that crazy. With some minor straightening, I had them stripped and powdercoated to resemble the original finish.

Since job creep is a real thing, I decided, well, I’ve got the rear wheels off, let’s rebuild the brakes, put new axle bearings and seals in. So, those parts are on order awaiting arrival. I figure at least then I can get the rear-end completely buttoned down so I don’t have to tear anything apart again before stripping and painting the chassis.

So, this is where I am right now. I love doing this kind of work. In fact, I wish I could find a way to monetize it full time in a way that would support my family..
Here is the tractor as it currently sits….

Since I can't seem to get the photos to link, see URL attached.

• 8N photos

Couple photos of the restored hat rims, new rubber and the centers getting shot with primer.

Some questions for the gurus here. My desire is to get the nicest, most durable topcoat of paint on all parts. My plan was to get an HVLP gun and try my hand at that. I've got reducer as well as hardener from VanSickle where I picked up the TP240 8N grey enamel. One issue I see with the wheel discs is that I am going to have to mix paint four different times. Since these discs are so heavy, I have no where to put them so that I can spray both sides at the same time. So, if I want two coats, I have to do each side twice. Any ideas? Also, wondering about the second coat.....do I wait a while before respraying? How long? Do I lightly sand to give the second coat some bite? What are you recommendations?

You don't have a beam to hang it from? Or, an engine hoist? Anything to get it up in the air so you can hit all sides of them? I've used both of those, and the metal track for the garage door to hang items like this to paint. Just put a drop cloth down and cover whatever you need to catch any overspray.

The wheels in my head started to turn a little last night.....I ended up buying one of those rolling clothing hangers from Amazon. Has a 525 lbs. weight limit, so nice and heavy duty. Will be nice having casters on it too so I can wheel it into and out of the garage. Should get the job done.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082V56R78?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

Nice!! Thanks for the updates!

Enjoy that 1951 8N! Those memories are precious.
My father bought our '51 8N, used, in 1953 from a local dealer. I don't know for sure, but I suspect that it was traded in on a 1953 NAA, Jubilee. It has the Sherman combination step up/step down tranny, also.
Anyways, we farmed with that 8N. I started learning to drive on the 8N. I was 10 when dad bought it and he had me cultivating corn and soybeans that summer.
Over the years, it pulled the Dearborn 2-14 Economy plow and a 3 point double gang disc.
It also pulled the 4 section, spring tooth harrow (drag). We also had the Dearborn 3 point, 2 row cultivator. It then pulled a Woods Bros, Dearborn one row corn picker and a 6' cut Woods Bros. combine with a mounted industrial engine.
A year later dad added a used Farmall H to handle some of the heavier work and to lease additional land.
A few years later dad bought a Wagner Loader and a backhoe attachment to clean various ditches in and near fields.
Dad died in 1968 at age 53. My mother was selling all the equipment except the 8N and the 3 point, equipment which she gave to me, the only son (I had 3 sisters).
That tractor currently sits in my barn. By the way, HER name is Nellybelle (the 'e' at the end of the name is silent) I'll explain the name source later.
Up until about 1990, I worked it pretty hard as my family grew and we built a new house in 1985. It was/is always reliable. Each of our 3 kids (2 boys, one girl) learned to drive on it.
She is basically retired now. Her hardest work is carry me around the yard. We have downsized our land (10 miles from the original farm) from 17 acres to 3 acres.
During our 39 years on this property, we had many hayrides, and Nellybelle was in her finest hours.
In all the years, she has had the engine rebuilt 3 times and has been painted twice. Not show quality, maybe but pretty to our family.
We now have a 3 year old great granddaughter. I gave her one of my 1/16 scale Ford 8Ns. She loves it!
Nellybelle's future was decided years ago. She will go to my oldest son who has just completed a 40x64 barn for his family toys. Our younger son will get my 1944 2N which he helped me restore and paint. Our daughter lives in DC and really not interested in a tractor. Any other tractors I may have will get sold.
Nellybelle's name: in the early 50's, there was a TV show, Roy Rogers. He had a sidekick, Pat Brady, who drove a WW2 Jeep named Nellybelle. I spent many hours in the fields imagining I was driving Nellybelle.

Wow John, you have MANY great memories with your family tractor! My son is only 1 currently, so he doesn't really have the appreciation yet for these tractors, but I suspect it may take me several years to get it fully restored so hopefully he will take a liking to it. He is already expressing interest in using tools and helping me with various tasks.

I really miss my grandparents' 29 acres. It was a sanctuary for me as a kid. It wasn't a farm per se, just back in the woods in peace and tranquility. The fields out along the road is where the bush hog would earn its keep with the 8N huffing along compliantly.

Hopefully my tractor will be nice enough for parades some day.

A tractor w/family history and a 3 speed aux tranny!

Yes indeed! The family history part is what really gets me. As a young kid, I can remember my grandpa using this tractor on his property for all kinds of things. I probably wouldn't be so attached to it otherwise. It's a keeper for sure!

The sheet metal looks great for a worker that spent so much time outdoors. No rot along those ridges on the hood, and the fenders look good.

Come back and share more photos as you progress.

I haven't tore into the hood or front yet, so hoping that holds true. I think there is a slight amount of bubbling at the top of one of the sides of the hood, otherwise, nothing apparently rusty.

The rear fenders are another story. They are badly rusted at the bottom right where the fender meets the top of the mount. Not salvageable because they've had other makeshift repairs over the years. I have an original used set in much nicer condition, but looking at those the other day realized they too will need worked on. Not a ton, but still going to require effort. Usually I am not for aftermarket replacements and like original equipment, but I see all the usual suspects offer replacements with Ford script punched in them. Don't know if that route is better or spend money to try to fix the used set that I have.

I will definitely try to keep things updated.

I believe you are on the right track. Because it has family history which is important to you, choosing to restore is the correct track. It would be nice if you could update occasionally. Best of luck. Dave

Thanks Dave. Definitely plan to share my progress as I go. The family history is what really has me. I really have little use for the tractor otherwise, but I can remember as a young kid my grandpa using this on his property for various tasks. It has now been retired and lives life easy indoors.