51 v-8 water pump shaft bushing problems
 

Ok,so the weather turned nice,my chemo isn't kicking my butt or destroying my memory quite as bad,so I start driving the non-power steering 51 Ford Vicky again. Then one day I notice the fan seems to have been kissing the radiator on the passenger side.


My first thought was,"no problem. I will just shim the radiator further away from the fan on that side when I get a chance." A couple of days later the chemo mind cleared of some fog,and I realized all that would do would be to delay how long it is before the fan sailed through the radiator,and I needed a new plan.


Am having no luck at all finding a fan shaft,bushing.bearings,or a rebuilt generator stand/fan stand. Every one of the old Ford parts suppliers I call tell me to find a old one and use that. The problem is I already have a old one on the engine,and that's why it is kissing the radiator. They sit somewhere for a couple of decades without spinning,and corrosion develops on the inside and the shaft and housing "marry" each other. Sure,you can un-stick them when you un-stick the engine and get them working,but the problem is they are now worn and/or grooved,and it is now just a matter of (a short) time before it goes bad,too.


Someone on the phone from Dennis Carpenters suggested using a shaft from a water pump rebuild kit to rebuild the fan/generator mount housing,but couldn't remember which years had the right size bearings and shafts.


Anyone have any suggestions on this other than converting the car to 12 volts and using a electric fan,or just putting a 302 in it? I really don't want to do either. I could probably live with a 6 volt radiator fan if I had to,but would rather keep the car as close to original as possible.

Re: 51 v-8 water pump shaft bushing problems
 

Post pictures of your setup, someone here may be able to point you in the right direction. I might even have a spare, is it wide pulley, or narrow? I’m guessing sealed bearing. I put one of the wide belt 46-48 oiled hubs in my 8ba, they can be serviced, and parts are available. There is also someone making them in a sealed bearing style.

Re: 51 v-8 water pump shaft bushing problems
 

Speedway sells flathead water pumps with seal bearings and improved impeller.

Re: 51 v-8 water pump shaft bushing problems
 

Re: 51 v-8 water pump shaft bushing problems
 

I believe he’s looking for a fan, or a way to repair his.

Re: 51 v-8 water pump shaft bushing problems
 

Oops. Sorry about that. I guess I needed more coffee.

Re: 51 v-8 water pump shaft bushing problems
 

Would it be possible to [post a photo and a part # of what you need?

Re: 51 v-8 water pump shaft bushing problems
 

If it´s the non oiled fan hub...it is a waterpump bearing in it...

Re: 51 v-8 water pump shaft bushing problems
 

See post #2 at the link. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ight=fan%2Ahub


Ebay link https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw...pg=50&_fosrp=1


Bob

Re: 51 v-8 water pump shaft bushing problems
 

Thanks. Bob Drake makes new ones with aluminum hubs,but they are for the 48 and earlier,or for pu's. I am trying to keep my car as original as possible if I can.

Re: 51 v-8 water pump shaft bushing problems
 

Thanks,but the water pumps have nothing to do with the fan blade in 51 cars. Uses a separate belt.

Re: 51 v-8 water pump shaft bushing problems
 

Thanks,Ralph. Actually look for the fan shaft and bushing. Checked all the usual suspects with no luck so far,was hoping maybe someone here would know of a local machine shop that makes and installs them in original housings.

Re: 51 v-8 water pump shaft bushing problems
 

According to Dennis Carpenter and Van Pelt,nobody,including Ford ever made them available as separate parts. You had to buy the whole housings to get the shaft. Kinda sounds like a country song,doesn't it? :)

Re: 51 v-8 water pump shaft bushing problems
 

Thanks,Bob. Just found the same bearing for 12 bucks on ebay,and ordered one. Also asked the buyer about a shaft. If I can make it work,I will be buying the other bearing and having my shaft welded up and ground down,or just buy a new one if I can find it.


Guess I will be riding around without a fan for the time being while waiting for this to come in. Good thing I don't have to drive in city traffic.

Re: 51 v-8 water pump shaft bushing problems
 

Listen to "flatheadmurre". There is a water pump bearing that you can use to replace the fan bearing. I did it on my '51. The only thing I had to do was cut off the shaft on the bearing because it was too long. After trimming the shaft it fit perfectly. I don't think it's a bearing from a flathead, but something else. I'll try to find my post about it (I think it was "Ross-F1" who gave me the number.) Maybe he remembers and will jump in here.

Please be aware that you will need a press in press the bearing in. I tried a vise and a BFH, and I just couldn't get it to go the last 1/16".

Re: 51 v-8 water pump shaft bushing problems
 

Thanks!



As I wrote above I found the recommended shaft for 12 bucks after using the parts number to look around,and will be working on doing this fix once I get feeling better. The cancer and the chemo have me too confused and weak to do much right now.


To get by in the meantime I ordered a 6 volt fan with the relay to use behind my radiator,and am having a friend with a resto shop do it for me. I figure I can always pull the electric fan off to use on something else later if need be after I get the original back on again. I will most likely have the resto shop guy grind the rivets off the fan blade to reduce stress on the shaft in the car now. Once I get able to fix it,I will just rivet it back on again.


I am determined to try to avoid any modifications I don't have to make on this car. I had to use the wrong material for the seat covers because I just didn't have the money for original material,and I will use the same material for the door panels. It kinda looks original and nice,but a lot cheaper. My plan is/was to keep the car as close to original as possible,while still making it attractive enough to tempt someone into buying it and not hotrodding or customizing it. I like rods and some customs,but original cars with the original drive trains in them are getting hard to find,and not everything needs to be modified. It runs and drives like a dream,so if it ain't broke I ain't going to try to fix it.



Plus,this beats the hell out of driving down the road while sitting in a hole with a spring poking me in the butt.

Re: 51 v-8 water pump shaft bushing problems
 

I like that seat!!.... Mark

Re: 51 v-8 water pump shaft bushing problems
 

Thanks! I had the front and back,along with the parcel shelf done with it,and it only cost me 500 bucks!


Not a bad price given that the front seat had to be stripped down to the springs and everything had to be added new.


This was a untouched original car with 72 K miles on it when I bought it. It had probably been sitting for 10 + years. The gas tank had a rust hole in the top big enough for me to stick my fist in,the master cylinder was missing,and the brake line was rusted out. Replaced all that with new,put new shocks on it,new whitewall radial tires,new water pumps,new radiator,radiator hoses,new fan belts,found,bought,and rebuilt the right carb with the dash pot,new plug wires,etc,etc,etc. Even have new chrome to replace most of the old rusty stuff. I will still be short the trim piece that goes over the steering column in FOM cars,the chrome "spears" on the rear quarters,and a new front bumper,but that's about it. Hope to drive it around this summer and enjoy it for a while with a For Sale sign in the window,and eventually find a new home for it and enough money to redo my 6 cylinder coupe the way I want it done.

Re: 51 v-8 water pump shaft bushing problems
 

Bearing exact match is NDH 885106, obsolete

Best match is universal water pump bearing NSK 885586, shaft is just longer but easy to trim.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=232230

Re: 51 v-8 water pump shaft bushing problems
 

Is this for a 51 passenger car fan spindle,or a water pump? I ask because I need to replace the bearing,and maybe the shaft in my fan housing,not either of my water pumps.


I mentioned water pump in an earlier post because someone told me SOME model water pump shafts and bearings were easily converted to work in the fan housing.