Reviving Dad's 1948 Ford 8N Tractor - Part 1 - Valve Job and First Start

This was my dad's tractor. I have fond memories of riding on the back as a kid in the early '80s while he worked the fields or did various jobs around the farm. I liked to tinker with engines and became a self-taught farm mechanic by the time I was 12, keeping this and other equipment in working order till I moved away in my late teens.

Because it had been sitting outside in the rain for over 30 years, I figured this old tractor probably wasn't worth the effort to revive, but one day in Sept 2023, I got curious and put a wrench on the crankshaft and to my amazement it wasn't seized so I figured what the heck... let's give it a shot.

I could easily buy a working 8N of the same vintage as this for less than I will pay for parts to fix this one, and that's to say nothing of my time, but this has sentimental value. My hope is to turn it back into a functional tractor, complete with scars that tell its story but still able to put in a good days work and earn its keep on the farm. I plan on upgrading to a 12V system with electronic ignition and possibly adding live hydraulics to make it a little more capable. Like and subscribe if you're interested in seeing the journey.

Who knows? Maybe one day I'll be able to pass it along to my own kids.

If you're interested to know any of the tools or parts I used, leave a comment and I'll add a link below. Note these are Amazon Affiliate links. If you buy after following these links I'll get a small cut at no cost to you. It'll help me out and support making more videos like this. Thanks in advance.

Exact tools I used:
Valve spring compressor - https://amzn.to/3VnoLJO
Valve seat cutter set - https://amzn.to/49ZNdp8

Not exactly what I used but should work fine:
Valve grinding compound - https://amzn.to/491oCiy
Valve lapping tool - https://amzn.to/43o6uOA
Autolite 437 spark plugs - https://amzn.to/3II7l39
2N/8N/9N Starter motor - https://amzn.to/3vmDzOf
2N/8N/9N Carburetor - https://amzn.to/3TJSFXF
2N/8N/9N Distributor and 12V coil - https://amzn.to/43rYb4d
2N/8N/9N Gasket set - https://amzn.to/3VqAAir
2N/8N/9N Manifold and muffler - https://amzn.to/43ogjvQ