Bruce's 75 tips

[60Vette]

I am new to this forum and 8N ownership. The tractor has been sitting for a time under a tarp but I want to get it going and ready for brush hog work.

I loved Bruce's 75 tips. He's a maniac. I'm a mechanic and certainly appreciate the hard work and persistence he has done to learn this stuff.

I'm sure this subject has been beaten to death but I want to convert to a 12V starter and ignition system. Can someone turn me on to a previous post detailing the process?
Are there any electronic ignition (distributers) available?

Best Regards,

60Vette

 

[60Vette]

Guys:

Forget the 12volt conversion info request. My gosh the archives are loaded.
Thanks,

60Vette

 

[old]

Ya the archives are full of good stuff. When asking about the 8N it is best to tell people if it is front mount distributor or a side mount and if 6 or 12 volts. Just letting you know so that we can help you if and when you need

 

[60Vette]

Thanks OLD. Need to stick my head under the tarp and see the location of the distributer. It's an 8N but the engine S/N starts with 9. Wonder if it is a replacement?

I drove this tractor and brush hog a few years ago and it was fun knocking down the brush. It belonged to my Dad and he left it to me so I'm going to restore it as a driver. New paint, tin and 12V conversion. Then work it.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[01BIRDDOG]

Welcome to the forum and i can say there is a great amount of info here about our tractors and good people to advise you.

 

[old]

Well if the serial number starts with 9N then it will be a front mount distributor. As for being as an 8N if it has a 4 speed transmission but has that 9N serial number engine then it is a mutt as in made form 2 or more tractors to be one good one. Ns where made from 1939 to 1942 then the 2N came out and was made from 1942 to 1947 both the 9N and 2N serial numbers start with 9N. The 8N was made from 1948 to 1952. In mid early 1950 they switched from the front mount distributor to the side mount. Note that the year of the first one is also the model of the tractor

 

[Bruce (VA)]

You're welcome. Glad to help.

 

[60Vette]

Hi Old:

It is indeed a front mount distributor.

The brake pedals are located on the right hand side and it is a 3 speed. Has 9N at the beginning of the engine SN.

I have a 9N engine, 8N brake configuration and 9N transmission.

Wow a super rare collector's item. Not unlike the mythical "metal Corvette"...

60Vette

 

[oldtanker]

Welcome aboard.

Yes there are kits you can buy for mounting an alternator. Anything from just the brackets and correct sized pully to a complete kit with wiring and alternator. There is an IE kit available too. It's a simple install on the front mount. I have 2 8Ns. Both are 12 volt and I cenverted one to IE last summer.

The kits available for different places to include this site. Look over on the left side of the page and you will see "tractor parts".

Rick

 

[old]

Sounds very much like a mutt to me. As for the Corvette one of the first ones I ever saw had a straight 6 engine in it and boy was that thing fast in the 1/4 mile

 

[60Vette]

Gosh Old, what you saw must have been a '53, '54 or possibly a '55 Corvette. The '55 was offered with an optional 265 V8 but some had the Blue Flame 6 with 3 side drafts. They all had 2 spd. powerglides.
I suppose for the day it was fast. They might have used a calendar to time it in the quarter.

Before the moderator bounces me out of here I better say something about my Ford: regarding my 9N/8N regardless of the combination I plan on painting her up and using the brush hog down in back to keep my field and practice range growth under control. The front mounted distributor looks to be a pain to work on so I will probably go to a Pertronix unit which is pretty much fire and forget.
I am counting on you experienced guys to guide me through the nuances of these great little machines.

Regards,

60Vette

 

[old]

Well as for the 6 cylinder I am old school drag racing when the 6 and V-8 ran side by side and most of the time the 6 would win but back then you could get stuff to make a 6 bark where as now it is hard to find.
As for your tractor I had done more then one like that. I have a Farmall BA which is a B from the transmission forward and an A from the transmission back. Had an A that hit a tree very hard and was broke in more then 2 and a B with a locked up engine so I built my BA and did that real old school and did not use many new parts including using a used head gasket

 

[W_B]

(quoted from post at 13:38:01 04/13/13) Before the moderator bounces me out of here I better say something about my Ford: regarding my 9N/8N regardless of the combination I plan on painting her up and using the brush hog down in back to keep my field and practice range growth under control. The front mounted distributor looks to be a pain to work on so I will probably go to a Pertronix unit which is pretty much fire and forget.
60Vette

Not really a pain, two bolts hold it in, remove them with a 1/2 in. wrench, unhook the wires, ignition and the wire to the coil, and take it to the bench to work on. Easy to check out all the working parts that way and replace them if bad. Pretty simple, really. Also some advise I've read here, get it going and working well on 6V, THEN convert to 12V. You may not want to do the EI or 12V after that. If you do a conversion keep the old parts, you might want to return it to original or the next owner might want them so they can make it original again (or even sell them). But it's all your choice.

Good luck with it!