The Ford Barn

The Ford Barn (https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/index.php)
-   Model A (1928-31) (https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=3)
-   -   Aluminum fans out of stock again (https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=348099)

400A 04-04-2025 05:58 PM

Aluminum fans out of stock again
 

Been waiting on an aluminum fan. I was on the waiting list. Got an email at 3 pm that they were back in stock. It was 6 pm before I saw the email and got on my computer. Gone. All gone. Wow. I wonder if there is any way to pre-order and pay for one in advance?

oldspert 04-04-2025 06:01 PM

Re: Aluminum fans out of stock again
 

Since the tariffs, we will have to pay more for a fan.
Ed

Sunny the Model A 04-04-2025 08:18 PM

Re: Aluminum fans out of stock again
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldspert (Post 2381364)
Since the Trump tariffs, we will have to pay more for a fan.
Ed

might want to rephrase that man, i don't want you to get a strike for politics, although i agree completely, ryan is hard on people who slip up

Hitman 04-04-2025 11:31 PM

Re: Aluminum fans out of stock again
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldspert (Post 2381364)
Since the tariffs, we will have to pay more for a fan.
Ed

Then don’t buy the fan. Simple problems often have simple solutions.

oldspert 04-05-2025 08:17 AM

Re: Aluminum fans out of stock again
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hitman (Post 2381431)
Then don’t buy the fan. Simple problems often have simple solutions.

And take the chance of yours coming apart and taking out the radiator or hood, no thanks.
Ed

ronn 04-05-2025 09:11 AM

Re: Aluminum fans out of stock again
 

just buy one at a car show and stop complainin! lol


bet a dealer grabbed them all..........


I have a spare on the shelf and will be there till I pass.

Sunny the Model A 04-05-2025 09:13 AM

Re: Aluminum fans out of stock again
 

get a 6 blade fan since they are easy to change into and cool great even at idle. I had to put a thermostat in my A since with the 6 blade fan it started overcooling.

motordr 04-05-2025 09:37 AM

Re: Aluminum fans out of stock again
 

Give Snyders a phone call. Actually get to speak with a human, you may be surprised at the results.

ronn 04-05-2025 09:59 AM

Re: Aluminum fans out of stock again
 

we dont need no stinkin 6 blade fans!


lol

Keith True 04-05-2025 10:13 AM

Re: Aluminum fans out of stock again
 

Yes,you actually have to use the phone and talk to somebody.A guy here is putting an A together,and was notified they were in.Then he saw,out of stock.He was a little miffed,and I asked what they said on the phone.He hadn't called,and this was during the day whan they were open,not a night or weekend.I gave him the number,and he still wanted to drag his feet to get out of talking.He called them while sitting on a milk crate in my cellar.They had a fan for him.

Jeff/Illinois 04-05-2025 10:30 AM

Re: Aluminum fans out of stock again
 

What we got her is... failure,,, to communicate.

Some men you just can't reach....

(Cool Hand Luke):)

Keith True 04-05-2025 11:05 AM

Re: Aluminum fans out of stock again
 

My friend sat here and came up with excuse after excuse about not actually talking to somebody.He just wanted to be a button pushing robot.He finally called just to shut me up.I've sold stull all my life,and in the last few years I have run into a lot of people that refuse to deal any way except by pushing buttons.I just don't deal with them.A two minute phone call gets more information than an hour of texting.I don't even have any way of texting.Same with emailing.Exchange info,then call and talk.I have had folks hard of hearing,or poor english speakers,but they tell me why they want to use the email right up front.Those are good reasons for not calling.I sold a Mack tractor to an exporter,it was going to central America.We talked by email,then he came here to inspect and pay for it.We translated through a 5 year old kid.I gave him his paperwork,he gave me a bag of cash,he hung a dealer plate on the truck and drove away.

AL in NY 04-05-2025 02:09 PM

Re: Aluminum fans out of stock again
 

Part of the problem is, many folks are buying more then they need, just to have a spare. I'm wondering, when was the last time you heard of an aluminum fan breaking????

Keith True 04-05-2025 02:36 PM

Re: Aluminum fans out of stock again
 

Yes,I think it's just human nature.Rumor goes aroud that something is not available,or will be hard to get,and everybody wants to jump on the bandwagon and buy one,whether they needed it or not.A few years ago I wanted to buy a set of 3.27 gears,when I called she said they were out of production,but she had two sets left.Then she asked if I wanted both sets,so I got piggy and said yes.I only needed one set,but took both just because I could.I'm just now getting around to using the second set after a few years of sitting on them.I've seen one aluminum fan fail,and it was mine.In 1998 I had one come apart in my pickup.I had bought it in the 70's from J.C. Whitney,and didn't use it until the 90's.It was not straight,and found it was full of voids after it came apart.It was nothing like the fans of today.

ModelA29 04-05-2025 05:28 PM

Re: Aluminum fans out of stock again
 

This is a collector induced shortage. They went out of stock. EVERYONE complained they were out of stock. Once they were in stock again people that needed 1 bought 2 and those that already had one decided to buy a spare. The result is the dealers had probably ordered a 6-12 supply that disappeared off the shelves in a month.

ModelA29 04-05-2025 05:36 PM

Re: Aluminum fans out of stock again
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronn (Post 2381535)
we dont need no stinkin 6 blade fans!

I won't part with mine. That along with a Brassworks pressure radiator, Vintage Precision thermostat housing & leakless water pump all add up to trouble free driving. My temp gauge is always stuck at 160 even in a July 4th parade on a 108 degree day.

alexiskai 04-05-2025 05:49 PM

Re: Aluminum fans out of stock again
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by ModelA29 (Post 2381635)
This is a collector induced shortage. They went out of stock. EVERYONE complained they were out of stock. Once they were in stock again people that needed 1 bought 2 and those that already had one decided to buy a spare. The result is the dealers had probably ordered a 6-12 supply that disappeared off the shelves in a month.

Yes and no. It's driven by "excess" demand, but that pattern of shortages is very normal when a critical part becomes unavailable, even temporarily. You saw very similar shortages during the COVID supply chain shocks. My guess is there will be more shortages in the future caused by tariff-related supply chain disruptions as manufacturers adjust their supply chains and pricing on short notice. People will stockpile items before the price goes up or before they stop making them.

47topless 04-05-2025 10:22 PM

Re: Aluminum fans out of stock again
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexiskai (Post 2381640)
Yes and no. It's driven by "excess" demand, but that pattern of shortages is very normal when a critical part becomes unavailable, even temporarily. You saw very similar shortages during the COVID supply chain shocks. My guess is there will be more shortages in the future caused by tariff-related supply chain disruptions as manufacturers adjust their supply chains and pricing on short notice. People will stockpile items before the price goes up or before they stop making them.

How true. But rather than "stockpile" I prefer to use the word, "hoarding" to more accurately define the practice.
Regarding the two-blade fan shortage, I wonder if it would be worth the effort, to take an original two-blade fan, down to a metal casting plant or forge and see what they would want, to make a mold from your original fan and then cast it in aluminum? You could, of course, have more than one cast in order to get the cost, per each, down.

oldspert 04-05-2025 10:51 PM

Re: Aluminum fans out of stock again
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by 47topless (Post 2381675)
to make a mold from your original fan and then cast it in aluminum?

Just to cast the fan is not all of the result, there is machining of the taper and the pulley.
Ed

fourfords 04-06-2025 04:31 AM

Re: Aluminum fans out of stock again
 

I think where this is all going is for our Country to be honest and self reliant. At some point, some American entrepreneur will decide there's money to be made with aluminum fans and other vintage parts and start making them here. The free and fair market will dictate price and availability ......and the all-important quality.

In the mean time, we can continue to whine and complain if it makes us feel better


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:04 PM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.