Basket case 2N Our journey begins.

Basket case is a 1946 2N serial # 235704, that I recently aquired on my way home, with the famous " FOR SALE" sign dangling from the grille. This poor tractor obviously had a rough,brutal lifetime by any standards. This was the perfect match, I was overtaken by tractor fever n basket case now had a new owner "along with a angry wife"! . I don't care for tractors that have been painted up to look pretty as this defeats my purpose, add the fact that most are done wrong to begin with. I like to find the old stuff, find used "original" parts and bring it back to life in its former glory.

Basket case starts,runs and operates fine "no load" and for the most part is still original. and is just a plain N2. Thinking of TRYING to find all/most of the "early early" 1942 "wartime parts any help, leads, comments are greatly appreciated.

I realize that basket case is to old to be a LEGITIMATE wartime, basket case doesn't care, I just bought him a full set of , original, nearly perfect, very expensive steel wheels. Tractor fever has set in...

No hope for you now! The fever done took
hold, I'm sure most of us will pray for
you.

Tell us about yourself a bit.
Is this your first tractor?
Maybe you have a dozen tractors already?
What will you use it for?
I ask this because I've been on this
board a good while and have seen a lot of
fellows buy an N as their very first
tractor and spend a whole Pile of money
restoring it.
Then, as they learn more about tractors
in general they begin to understand that
the Ford Ns, handy, fun and useful as
they are, lack desirable features that
models just a few years newer will have.
Things like live hydraulics, live or
independent PTO, power steering,
differential lock, loader capable, more
gears, more power, more reliability,
remote hydraulic capability, etc, etc are
all very desirable on a tractor and can
easily be had for much less than you'll
spend restoring an N.
Go to it. Have some fun.
But never forget that the market is
flooded with nicely restored N Fords that
the seller realized too late that those
tractors just aren't modern enough to do
the things he thought it could do.

Prayers gladly accepted.

This post is what most guys wish they would have read BEFORE they went all in, as it is very true. These tractors only bring what someone is willing to pay, regardless of how much you invested.

Basket case is actually tractor # 2 of 3.

I have a 1950 Harry Ferguson.
Also a 1951 Harry Ferguson.
Both are TO 20

Basket case is a low budget, find a few OLD used parts and move on project. I'm not pulling or even replacing the beat up rusty hood, much less anything internal. And sloppily painting up stuff is a major NO NO in my World. Best part is it's almost finished! Lol.

HOWEVER,

The WAR WHEELS are one of the nicest full sets I have seen, a true collector will be proud to own them. I want to find the other pieces if it's even possible, there are several.
Open to info n leads.

Basket case is not a everyday working "field" tractor, none of mine are although all are capable. My farm is less than a half acre. LOL.

On a side note, did a few 1948 8N have 9/2N style wheels, 3 speed trans, etc from the factory??? This one is serial# 8N47312 . A friend bought it in Michigan recently.


I loaded pics on my first post but they didn't post of basket case.

I'm glad you weren't "offended" by my
post.
As to the 8N/9,2N mix:
All 9/2s had the 3 speed, 1 brake on each
side and the big 6 lug rear lug pattern.
8s had small 6 on 8" rear lug pattern, 4
speeds and both brakes on the right.
But all N engines will interchange so
your friend has a mutt.
Mutts and frankentractors are actually
pretty common.

Not offended at all, glad you posted.
For the most part,these are money pits.

Basket case has some new goodies, aluminum parts galore, most everything but the hood.
Decided to make the ole girl a 11 N. Still looking for the handcrank, magneto and other pieces. Found and previously bought one of the best looking set of "war wheels" I have found.

Basket Case also has a new sister a 1940 9N w serial so close to being a 39 it's funny.
[

A few pics of basket case, before. Nothing fancy, paint job completed. Lol