Farmall 400 serial #'s??

What are the starting serial #"s for each year? I have the tractor data book and it shows for 54...501-4731 or 501-2587
55...4732-29064 or 2588-29063
56...29065-41484 or 29068-41485

Why is there two different types of numbers? I have two tractors with #"s starting with 39xx and 34xx. I thought those are 1954"s Which set of numbers do I go by??

What "tractor data book" are you talking about?

The only numbers I've ever seen for the 400 are the "501-2587" set.

The International Data book

The problem, as I see it, is that you are failing to differentiate from the Farmall 400 and the International W-400. The serial number for the Farmall 400 began in 1954 with 501 thru 2587. 1955 production of the Farmall 400 ran through serial numbers 2588-29064; and 1956 production began with 29065 and up.

The W-400 wasn't produced in 1954; production began in 1955 with serial number 501, and ran through 2186. 1956 production began with serial number 2187 and up.

The International W-400 and the Farmall 400 were separate series of tractors; therefore, they BOTH began with serial number 501. But one was a Farmall, and the other was an International...same manufacturer, different model line...even though the major mechanicals were the same.

Ok, my tractor pictured above serial number starts with 39XX and has Z casting codes which the z code is 54. My wheatland starts with 34, not sure what the casting code is on that one?

Just because the cast iron was MADE at the foundry in '54, doesn't mean the tractor was ASSEMBLED in '54. Serial numbers are about the date the tractor was assembled. Casting dates are about when the PART was cast.

And sometimes,over 50+ years, on some tractors, cast parts get broken and replaced...so the casting date may actually be LATER than when the tractor was first assembled. So unless you've owned the tractor since new, there's no way to be absolutely 100% sure that it's all original.

Case in point: a local farmer owned land on both sides of a busy highway, with a series of hills on the road bordering his property. One day in 1964, a car he hadn't seen when he started across the highway popped up over one of the hills and broke his Super C in two, right behind the bellhousing. We ordered him in a new torque tube casting and a new cast wheel to replace the one that was broken in the collision. We never checked the date codes on the castings, but the odds are they probably didn't match the production date of the tractor.

Funny thing: when that old man got out of the hospital and got healed up from his broken ribs and such, he never expressed any concerns about casting codes matching the original ones on his tractor. But cases like his would explain why the casting numbers just MIGHT be later than the original production date of the tractor.

Oh man what a story! I understand parts can be replaced, however the tractor above, I purchased that tractor from the original owner"s son. This tractor is a true original and never has been repainted, but has been overhauled at one time. I have the original manual and on the inside shows when they had purchased it new in march of 55 and that they traded an M for it. I have checked all the codes and they are all Z codes. I figured it was built in late 54 and sold new in 55? But if wheatlands were not built in 54, then why is there two sets of serial numbers?

There are two sets of serial numbers BECAUSE...the FARMALL 400 was considered a SEPARATE and DIFFERENT tractor than the INTERNATIONAL 400.

Therefore...the sequence of serial numbers that begins in 1954 applies ONLY to FARMALL 400's. Like the I- and W-series tractors that came before them were considered separate tractors from the H and the M, the (Wheatland)INTERNATIONAL 400's were considered a separate tractor from the FARMALL 400. So the International 400 got its own beginning serial number of 501, because to IH, it was a separate series from the FARMALL 400.

I don't know how I could explain it any more clearly. If your tractor is a Wheatland 400, you look up the serial number as an INTERNATIONAL. If your tractor is a FARMALL 400, you look up the serial number as a FARMALL.

Look, I'm not trying to get into a wizzin' contest here; I'm just trying to help. I apologize if I haven't helped you understand the difference. Maybe someone else can succeed where I apparently failed.

(quoted from post at 12:27:49 03/18/12) Oh man what a story! I understand parts can be replaced, however the tractor above, I purchased that tractor from the original owner"s son. This tractor is a true original and never has been repainted, but has been overhauled at one time. I have the original manual and on the inside shows when they had purchased it new in march of 55 and that they traded an M for it. I have checked all the codes and they are all Z codes. I figured it was built in late 54 and sold new in 55? But if wheatlands were not built in 54, then why is there two sets of serial numbers?

Click to expand...

IH monthly serial number report for a regular gas farmall 400 lists serial numbers assembeled as follows. 501 up to 2455 in 11-54. 2455 up to 4732 in 12-54. 4732 first F-400 assembeled in 55. Tractor in question falls in 12-54 as month built.
Some F-400 tractors have some Z codes even over serial 8000.
Have tractor serial # 8xx thats all Z codes. Oldest is june 54 and newest is october. Had one # 80xx that the engine block was 12-54. Human error or poor records is whats up with the serial lists.
Low serial # break for 54 is for a F-400 HC, first one of those in 55 was serial 2588. Any W-400 serial 510 or over is a 55 or 56 if high enough.
Does this help?

Thanks for the info. Where did you find the IH monthly serial
records? Thats awesome that you have a 3 digit serial # in
54. I had a big IH collector tell me they didn"t build those in
54, but I proved him wrong, and then he wanted to buy it!

Since we have that one figured out, I have a wheatland with
serial# starting with 34XX. Does that make it a 55? I guess
these weren"t built in 54 from what I have seen on here.
Thanks for the info guys, I appreciate it!

(quoted from post at 17:32:08 03/18/12) Thanks for the info. Where did you find the IH monthly serial
records? Thats awesome that you have a 3 digit serial # in
54. I had a big IH collector tell me they didn"t build those in
54, but I proved him wrong, and then he wanted to buy it!

Since we have that one figured out, I have a wheatland with
serial# starting with 34XX. Does that make it a 55? I guess
these weren"t built in 54 from what I have seen on here.
Thanks for the info guys, I appreciate it!

Click to expand...

If the international is a gas, 3478 or higher was built in june 56. lower than 3478 with first 2 numbers 34 was built in may 56 unless its a diesel. First diesel built in june was 3476.
You can find the montly build serial records on line. Go to wisconsin historical society then look for international harvester serial # records.