It is very common for one of these tractors to have parts with casting date codes that don't exactly match. Tractor assembly would probably have been several days or longer after the engine passed QC and was stamped with a serial number. In the case of an engine block, final assembly and testing had to take place before the hand-stamped serial number was added. What all that means is the casting date code on any part must be at least 30 days prior to the part being machined. Wnen each engine passed QC Inspection/Testing, the hand stamped serial number was applied, and the engine was placed in another holding area. Machined blocks were then taken to the engine assembly area where they were fully assembled and then placed in another holding area.Īssembled engines then went to the QC Test Area. The date code F262 indicates June 26,1959.Īgain, the fresh 'green' castings are too brittle for machine work, so they were placed in a holding area for at least 30 days.Įngine blocks were then pulled from the holding area to be fully machined, cleaned, and then set in another holding area.

The next two numbers indicate day of the month, a final number indicates year. Date codes varied but the most common code found on the 9N, 2N, 8N tractors is a letter indicating the month A=Jan, B=Feb, C=MAR. The tag and screws are visible on the casting. Casting date codes will have raised or recessed numbers and letters on a tag that was attached to the mold with screws. Fresh 'green' castings are brittle and will break tools or the casting if machine work is attempted too soon. There are no identifying marks to indicate the exact date a tractor was assembled.Ĭast parts were have date codes that the factory used to make sure parts were properly cured before being machined. These hand-stamped numbers were the last identifying mark added before final assembly of a tractor. The hand-stamped engine serial numbers for 9N,2N,8N tractors only indicate approximately when a tractor was built. The N-Tractors used an odd font with lowercase 'b' substuted for '6', flipped upside down for '9' and the capital 'I' substituted for '1'. Hand-stamped means the numbers may be difficult to read if the hammer didn't get a really good whack on each character.

The exact location changed and is described below for each model. Model and serial numbers for all Ford tractors were hand-stamped into the cast iron engine or transmission housing. FORD N-TRACTOR SERIAL NUMBERS AND CASTING DATE CODES

Ford Tractor Serial Number C5nn