The Ford 2N

[N84]

I've never had restored a tractor before. How would the Ford 2N be as far as the first tractor that I would restore?
Is there anything you need to look out for when looking at buying one?

 

[Bruce (VA)]

That's a pretty difficult question to answer w/o knowing your goal.

Is it a family tractor? Are you looking to buy it & restore it? Does the money & time invested critical to your "success"?

Tell us what you have in mind for the end game.

It's like this......

Unless it's a very, very rare aluminum hood 2N, a near perfect restoration may get you $5k from a collector when you're done.....and have at least that amount invested in it for parts alone. Depending on the condition of the tractor when you got it.

As to " Is there anything you need to look out for when looking at buying one? " check out the link below.
John Smiths Site

 

[L.B,]

Lot depends on, putting your heart into a long
term project. Cost, your ability or desire to
learn. An N is a simple machine that is why I like
them they are basic tractor 101,that said they do
have challenges. Ok, my advise is you want a
running tractor not a smoker. You want a good
drive train all gears work. The tin should be in
good shape dings and small dents ok surface rust
are normal, if its beat all to hell you dont want
it not only that it tells you what shape the rest
of the tractor is or is not and how it was
treated. 9-2-or 8N are all good for what you want.
If you take on a tractor that is really gone and
requires lot of money and time you could burn out
or get very discouraged and quit. But if your
first one is an easier job you will be hooked and
you will have tractor fever and then no challenge
will be to great. Go For it lots of free help
here. L.B, Master of the Obvious.

 

[Ultradog MN]

What are you going to do with it when you are done restoring it?
If you are going to work it at all - even to do a bit of snow plowing, lawn mowing, wood hauling, wildlife plotting, etc, then I suggest you skip the Ns completely and look for a Ford Hundred Series or Thousand series.
The cost of rebuilding, repainting, putting tires on a Hundred is not going to be much more than an N but you will have a Much better tractor when you are done. If you are going to just take it to shows or tool around in parades with it then an N would be fine. But get an 8N not a 2N or 9N. 8Ns had better 3 point lift mechanism, a real drawbar and the brake pedals aren't so goofy.
Bruce, where you seeing anyone get $5K for an N?
Half of that is more realistic for a "restored" N

 

[Bruce (VA)]

" Half of that is more realistic for a "restored" N "

I agree for a back-yard "restoration".

A true restoration like those at the link below go for more than $10k.
75 Tips

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Oooops..........

Wrong link.
N Complete

 

[N84]

No it would'nt be a family tractor. I would like one that doesn't look like it's beat to death. If it needs paint I would be more than willing to take it all apart and repaint it. If it needs minor cosmetic replacements that would be fine. I would get a manuals as well. After being done restoring it I would like to take it to tractor shows and go on parades with it. The only problem I have for right now I don't have a garage to work on it with. So this project might have to wait.

 

[Royse]

The N series tractors were the best selling tractors in the states.
(maybe the world, but I don't want to stretch it)
There are thousands of them out there, which is good and bad for you.
Parts are easily obtainable both new and used, so that's great,
but when you're done you have "just another N" so to speak.
There is a ton of knowledge here on this board and elsewhere
about the very popular N series also, yet another plus.
I really love my N's and they are fine for parades etc, but don't
expect it to be the tractor that turns heads at a show.
There are just too many of them, like a Farmall H.
Another great tractor, but very, very common.
For a first tractor to learn on? Sure! Great place to start!
Just remember, we like pictures!
Best of luck!

 

[Fuddy Duddy]

There are a lots of good deals on 'N's. All parts are available.
You can do the same thing with an 'N' as with a newer tractor.
May be a little slower. Newer tractors have some more desirable
features. But an "N' will get the job done. It really comes down
to what do you want out of a tractor. I prefer to buy a junkager
and bring it back to life. That way I know what I have. You can
find one that the seller claims has been rebuilt for $1800. Only
to find out a year latter it need to be rebuilt again. Some will tell
you, you can put $2800 into a tractor to only have a $1800
tractor when finished. That's true if you are looking to sell it. But
the valve of a tractor is what you plan to do with it and the work
you get out of it yourself. You rebuild it right and it can last your
life time. I think 'N's are great. But there are better tractors out
there.

 

[Mickey Christian]

I am only a couple of steps in front of you. I just bought the first tractor I could afford. Turned out to be a '41 9N which is sort of cool. But if I had looked into it for a time before I jumped I might have gone for a late 8N or one of the early blue model Fords...one with live hydraulics.

 

[Dr. Bert]

Try to buy one with decent rear tires--anymore, new ones are quite expensive. Even reworking the engine would probably be cheaper than 2 new rear tires!!

 

[William Fissell]

I rebuilt a 9N (note: I did not 'restore' it- I
rebuilt the engine and anything else that didn;'t
work). I didn't make anything especially pretty
but it starts and stops and all.

I bought it DOA for scrap price, sunk about $1000
-$1200in parts and machine shop and sold it for
2000. I got a ton of experience doing the
rebuild and the down side wasn't soooo down if I
screwed it all up.

I agree 100% with the other comments. A hundred
series is a ton more tractor and a ton more
useful. I now have two of them and a Jubilee.

That said, its an easy engine to work on, if
you've never done it before, everything is pretty
straightforward and people here are crazy helpful.

I think the best advice is find something between
a 9N and a hundred series that you can afford that
has ok tires and an OK tranny and don't worry so
much about 'is it the right model' ... cause you
can always do it again, better.

my $.002. And, oh, BTW... if I can.. anyone can

Bill in Nashville

 

[Fuddy Duddy]

I agree fully. The cost of tires these days can be your biggest expense. Find one with good tires and you'll be ahead of the game.

 

[47fivewindow]

Get it to run, paint it, buy a Zane thang so the
hydraulics will work, and try not to fall in love
with the old thing. Another proud 9N owner, Chip

 

[Ed Douglas]

I agree........Restoration is not a linear term....what one person thinks is 'Restored".....may not be.....well...you get the point

 

[W_B]

(quoted from post at 03:12:32 01/06/14) Get it to run, paint it, buy a Zane thang so the
hydraulics will work, and try not to fall in love
with the old thing. Another proud 9N owner, Chip

Same here. When we are done with the mini farm I'll probably keep the 9N as a resto project and let the 8N go. There's just something about it that's right. It's been a (mostly) reliable worker since I've had it these last 23 yrs. Always starts and runs at least, even if it needs a 12 V boost. It was my first tractor too, although we had newer Fords back on the farm.

 

[souNdguy]

true restoration can be a deep pockets thing.

first thing. get a book on fords. prips makes a good one.

that way you can pay attention to detail when buying a machine. many machines have parts changed around from other machines. for a resto. you want a 'correct' piece.

if you just want a work tractor.. go for it.

 

[arnold z]

I've known of a couple that had over $9000 put into them and sold for closer to $4000. They were as original as you could get them. They didn't really look any better and actually work much better than a good "overhauled" and painted mutt. The origianal#s and such made them more valuable as a collector piece, but not as a tractor. If you're careful and shop for used parts, and are capable of doing all of the work yourself, you can build a parade worthy, yet still workable, N for about what it's worth, possibly a few hundred less than you can sell it for. A true originally restored showpiece, is a matter of doing it just because you want to,and can afford it, only to take it to a show and line it up with 20 or more exactly like it.

 

[Ultradog MN]

Well said Arnold.
When I go to shows I will usually walk past the row of Ns that are all prettyfied up and looking exactly the same. The one or ones I will stop and look over are those in their work clothes - got mud on the tires, a few scrapes and dents, older paint, a couple of leaks, etc.

 

[Ed S.]

I put about $5,500 (including purchase price) into my '50 front-mount 8N, which included an engine rebuild, four new rims and tires (ouch$) and a complete disassemble, strip and paint. If you search the board for "Operation 8N" you'll likely find some of my posts documenting the rebuild.

I wanted a working tractor, so even though it wouldn't sell in our area for more than $2-3,000, I think it was a good investment. I'm coming up on my seventh season since the rebuild, and it continues to be one of the handiest tools I use on our small 15 acre farm. In fact, I just finished plowing out 2' of snow drifts from the driveway in -14°F temps (wind chill -40°) - my 12v AC 190 loader tractor wouldn't start even with the coolant heater on, but the 6v 8N did (reluctantly, to be sure!).

Ultimately, it's *your* tractor and *your* decision on how far to "restore" it. As already mentioned, you can clean one up fairly inexpensively and it will look great in a parade (what we call a "20-20" tractor - looks good at 20 feet or 20 mph), and you won't have any qualms about putting it in the dirt, either.

es

 

[Anonymous-0]

If this was my tractor in the picture I would buy a couple of cans of clear enamel and paint it over the red paint. You might be amazed how nice it will look. It makes the dull red shine like new. I've fixed up several tractors that had decent paint just dull. I've found by doing the clear instead of new paint buyers won't think your trying to cover up something. If you really want the paint to stay bright longer and you have a compressor, get a quart of clear and ad some hardener. You be more than pleased with the results.