2N Paint Colors

I am preparing my 2N for paint. It is a 1947 model that my Grandfather bought used in 1958 and I even have the bill of sale from the purchase. It was the only tractor he ever owned and was given to me 20 years ago when he entered the nursing home. It has always been gray with a red belly from the time he owned it but I've been told all 9N's and 2N's were gray over gray. The serial number is in the 39,000's which leads me to believe it maybe one of the last 2N's made prior to the introduction of the 8N. My uncle has told me the tractor was not freshly painted when Papaw bought it nor did he remember the previous owner having re-painted it. Does anyone know if some of the later models of 2N's were red bellied from the factory? I like the red belly much better than the all gray but would like it to look authentic when done. Any information would be appreciated.

midway.........yeah, 9N's & 2N's were painted mono-chromatic gray, variously called industrial gray, battleship gray, forest gray. Gloss BLACK seat. Many like the lighter gray and vermilion red of the latter 8N's. I've seen one painted titty-pink. I say its yer tractor, paint it enny color that pleases you ...except... green'n'yellow .......the color blind Dell

As Dell said dark Grey. Color similar to my 2n in this photo. Many 9n/2n's were painted to look like the newer 8n
red belly models. Used tractors sold better with the newer style paint job. The serial number you have listed
39,000's would be in the 1940 9n range.

I would say that the original color was all dark gray and it was painted sometime in it's first 11 years before your granddad bought it. There was a lot of study done before switching the color of the 8n's to the red and lighter gray. I know of no history of 2N getting those colors early.

I would paint it dark gray if you want it to be factory restored.

All 9/2Ns should be painted medium gray -
or Empire Blue and light (almost white)
gray.

First, NO Ford 9N nor 2N ever came from the Rouge or Highland Park Plants painted with 8N colors. Secondly, if your serial number is in the 39K range, it is a 1940 model. Where did you find the serial number? It is stamped on the block, on a raised boss behind the oil filter housing, just under the head contact area. ALL 9N and 2N serial numbers began with the '9N' prefix with a star before and after which designated steel sleeves. Is the tractor a 3 speed or 4 speed? 3 speed is a 9N or 2N while a 4 speed is an 8N. Front wheel hubs on the 9N/2N have a 5-bolt hole pattern and 8Ns have a 6-bolt hole pattern. Finally, the original factory 9N & 2N paint was Ford Dark Grey Enamel, p/n M2888, still used and sold today but the shade will vary amongst makers and it takes a lot of research to find an almost exact match. As Kirk stated, when the 8N was introduced, dealers who had 2N inventory were told to paint them with 8N colors to help sell. Maybe a little deceiving on Fords' part to try and fool the customer into thinking he was getting a newer model. TISCO makes a close match but there are better ones out there. Forget trying a CASE/NEW HOLLAND dealer as they don't carry the early 9N Dark Grey paint any more. Heck, when I got my grandfather's early 9N, my uncle had painted it Ford Empire Blue and Off-White -the colors introduced in the early 60's when Ford changed from the Vermillion Red (M-2822)and Ford Medium Grey (M-13243) paint color scheme.

[i:654c4848f0][b:654c4848f0]<font size="4">Tim *PloughNman* Daley(MI)</font>[/b:654c4848f0][/i:654c4848f0]<table width="100" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bordercolor="#000000"><tr><td height="25" colspan="2" bgcolor="#CC0000"></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td></tr></table

I have a friend who bought a late 2 n which was painted blue and white, and when he stripped it down the only color he found on the belly was red. All of the reading and looking say the 2 n was never a red belly but findings like your story and my friends makes a person wonder.

Just painted this back in august, tisco enamel. Looks as original as any other correct 9/2 N ive seen at shows. Have seen more painted wrong than right.

Heres my 1945 2N. I went with all grey, and I think it is a sharp looking tractor. Throw on a few little black and silver accents here and there. And they clean up pretty darn nice...

OK, PloughNman you got me on my mid-night typing mistake. The serial number is in the 390,000's (392,441). I was going from serial number on the bill of sale when I was posting last night but I have checked it against tractor previously, and it matches. It has a 3 speed trans along with another 9N/2N difference from 8N you never mentioned; left brake pedal next to clutch pedal. I will say if this tractor was painted after it was built, whoever did it went to great pains to make sure it looked factory since I've found red paint on underside edges of parts that aren't normally disassembled for a quick paint job.

HI This is a picture of our 1947 2n. Pic. was taken in the mid 60s and tractor had never been
repainted

(quoted from post at 11:33:06 11/29/15) OK, PloughNman you got me on my mid-night typing mistake. The serial number is in the 390,000's (392,441). I was going from serial number on the bill of sale when I was posting last night but I have checked it against tractor previously, and it matches. It has a 3 speed trans along with another 9N/2N difference from 8N you never mentioned; left brake pedal next to clutch pedal. I will say if this tractor was painted after it was built, whoever did it went to great pains to make sure it looked factory since I've found red paint on underside edges of parts that aren't normally disassembled for a quick paint job.

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If the serial # is in the 390,000 range it has a 1951 8N engine block in it.

(quoted from post at 07:02:04 11/29/15) All 9/2Ns should be painted medium gray -
or Empire Blue and light (almost white)
gray.

Click to expand...

I've never before heard of blue and gray being a factory color -- although that is what my 2N is painted. Have any documents or other evidence for this? (Not saying you're wrong, just interested.)