Drag tube lengths

[BodaciousGaming]

So I took some measurements on what is out on my machine and referenced them against the clear as mud chart in the parts manual. They might as well have been written in cuneiform for as helpful as they are.

I have a side mount 8N with 28.5” drag tubes. I’ve successfully retrofitted the front links, but I was smart enough to not take a grinder to the clapped out rear links just yet. The wisdom of the oracles told me not to make any irreparable commitments without dry fitting and sizing up. The new NAA33271A links are quite a bit shorter like I’m reading is typical for most folks. What I’m not finding from the parts manual is a 28.5” tube being a factory option.

I think that I’ll be fine to get some 32.5”-ers and it’ll let me get by. I’m mostly curious if the 28.5” length was common or if I got “Farmer Browned” by a spendthrift previous owner that went to the Ford tractor version of Pull-a-Part.

 

[soaked]

Hi Boda,
I have 5 8n sidemounts with the 28.5 tubes, on both sides. And, darn it, the 6th one has the 11"tube on the starboard side. Has the super long rear tie rod end.
Its a late 51, early 8n-C. December 51. Maybe not original...

 

[BodaciousGaming]

Hi Boda,
I have 5 8n sidemounts with the 28.5 tubes, on both sides. And, darn it, the 6th one has the 11"tube on the starboard side. Has the super long rear tie rod end.
Its a late 51, early 8n-C. December 51. Maybe not original...

So it sounds like I got OEM and you might have got one that’s been “Farmer Browned” lol.

What I’m seeing from the chart is that with the NAA rear links I need to get one 8N3314D (32-3/4”) and one 8N33315 (34-1/2”).

I can’t fathom why that extra 2” makes the 8N33315 so much more expensive.