The Ford Barn

tsanborn · 06-25-2025, 11:26 PM

My '56 Country Sedan with a 292 and 3 on the tree apparently has never had a fan shroud. I've added a Vintage Air system so I thought it would be a good idea to build a shroud now. The car is running a 6 blade 18" diameter fan. After much tinkering, the shroud is done and it's all ready to go back in. OK, we're now at the embarrassing question: is the fan suppose to be producing flow towards the engine? I had thought that it was suppose to blow towards the radiator. The belt setup turns the fan clockwise (like the engine) when viewed from the front of the car. I had a moment's inspiration when I thought
that all I had to do was flip the fan over but, nope, that doesn't change anything. I'd love to finish this job off tomorrow but I may be shopping for a new fan instead. Any input, including snide remarks about shade tree mechanics are welcome.

Charlie Stephens · 06-26-2025, 01:26 AM

The fan is intended to suck air through the radiator and discharge the air towards the engine. The only dumb questions are those that are not asked.

Charlie Stephens

Flathead Fever · 06-26-2025, 02:30 AM

Definitely flows from the radiator back towards the engine. All engines flow in this direction.

I looked it up to be sure I was correct. Not quite, some boats and planes rotate backwards. Just about everything I found had this to say this.

"Most V8 engines rotate clockwise when viewed from the front (also known as the "front pulley side" or the "vibration damper side"). This is the standard direction for the crankshaft to rotate. However, some V8 engines, particularly those used in specialized applications like dual engine boats or aircraft, can be configured to rotate counterclockwise."

You can crank it with the starter to know for sure which way it turns but it should be clockwise while standing in front of it. This question reminded me that years ago I had a friend with a saltwater boat with dual Chevy 350s. The one engine that rotates in reverse had rusted out right through the side of the block. He bought a cheap complete rebuilt standard 350 and then swapped everything that made it run in reverse. At least that's the story he told me.

tsanborn · 06-26-2025, 12:04 PM

Man thanks to all. Definitely have my head screwed on right now. Does it matter which way the rivets face? Towards the front or facing backwards?

40cpe · 06-26-2025, 02:22 PM

If the fan blew toward the radiator it would be blowing toward the incoming air when moving, leading to overheating.

KULTULZ · 06-26-2025, 02:28 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by tsanborn

Man thanks to all. Definitely have my head screwed on right now. Does it matter which way the rivets face? Towards the front or facing backwards?

The fan is directional install -

Put a piece of tissue paper on the radiator core while idling. If it sticks, the fan is installed correctly. If it blows away, the fan is mounted backward.

Alaska Jim · 07-04-2025, 11:48 PM

make sure the fan is "half way" in the shroud opening. that is the fan blade is half way into the opening and is pulling air from the radiator, not blowing air to the radiator. if you do not have a shroud , the optimal distance from the fan blade to the radiator is about 3/4 to 1 inch.

Gene F · 08-05-2025, 06:40 PM

tsanborn, how did it turn out? What did you make your shrould out of? How many hours do you have invested in the project? Any photos?

06-25-2025, 11:26 PM	#1
tsanborn Member Join Date: Nov 2020 Posts: 42	Embarrassing question about a radiator fan My '56 Country Sedan with a 292 and 3 on the tree apparently has never had a fan shroud. I've added a Vintage Air system so I thought it would be a good idea to build a shroud now. The car is running a 6 blade 18" diameter fan. After much tinkering, the shroud is done and it's all ready to go back in. OK, we're now at the embarrassing question: is the fan suppose to be producing flow towards the engine? I had thought that it was suppose to blow towards the radiator. The belt setup turns the fan clockwise (like the engine) when viewed from the front of the car. I had a moment's inspiration when I thought that all I had to do was flip the fan over but, nope, that doesn't change anything. I'd love to finish this job off tomorrow but I may be shopping for a new fan instead. Any input, including snide remarks about shade tree mechanics are welcome.

06-26-2025, 01:26 AM	#2
Charlie Stephens Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,305	Re: Embarrassing question about a radiator fan The fan is intended to suck air through the radiator and discharge the air towards the engine. The only dumb questions are those that are not asked. Charlie Stephens

06-26-2025, 02:30 AM	#3
Flathead Fever Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,360	Re: Embarrassing question about a radiator fan Definitely flows from the radiator back towards the engine. All engines flow in this direction. I looked it up to be sure I was correct. Not quite, some boats and planes rotate backwards. Just about everything I found had this to say this. "Most V8 engines rotate clockwise when viewed from the front (also known as the "front pulley side" or the "vibration damper side"). This is the standard direction for the crankshaft to rotate. However, some V8 engines, particularly those used in specialized applications like dual engine boats or aircraft, can be configured to rotate counterclockwise." You can crank it with the starter to know for sure which way it turns but it should be clockwise while standing in front of it. This question reminded me that years ago I had a friend with a saltwater boat with dual Chevy 350s. The one engine that rotates in reverse had rusted out right through the side of the block. He bought a cheap complete rebuilt standard 350 and then swapped everything that made it run in reverse. At least that's the story he told me. Last edited by Flathead Fever; 06-26-2025 at 04:17 AM.

06-26-2025, 12:04 PM	#4
tsanborn Member Join Date: Nov 2020 Posts: 42	Re: Embarrassing question about a radiator fan Man thanks to all. Definitely have my head screwed on right now. Does it matter which way the rivets face? Towards the front or facing backwards?

06-26-2025, 02:22 PM	#5
40cpe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Star, MS Posts: 4,120	Re: Embarrassing question about a radiator fan If the fan blew toward the radiator it would be blowing toward the incoming air when moving, leading to overheating.

07-04-2025, 11:48 PM	#7
Alaska Jim Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Palmer, Alaska Posts: 1,587	Re: Embarrassing question about a radiator fan make sure the fan is "half way" in the shroud opening. that is the fan blade is half way into the opening and is pulling air from the radiator, not blowing air to the radiator. if you do not have a shroud , the optimal distance from the fan blade to the radiator is about 3/4 to 1 inch.

08-05-2025, 06:40 PM	#8
Gene F Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,476	Re: Embarrassing question about a radiator fan tsanborn, how did it turn out? What did you make your shrould out of? How many hours do you have invested in the project? Any photos?