Original Fans - Make them safe

[Vic in E-TN]

At least 10 years ago there was an article by an old timer in one of the magazines (do not remember which one) that gave a way to cut out a piece of sheet metal to a specific shape and form it and carefully weld it to the blades close to the hub. It was supposed to reinforce the area where the blades have a tendency to break. I tried to find the author back then but he probably passed. I think that he was in Washington State. I found a shop in Texas that was able to do this on two fans for me. It was pretty expensive but it worked. I have used these fans for years with no problems but the cars that they are on do not have thousands of miles and I have overdrives on them so the engine speeds have not been especially high for long highway runs.

Does anyone have remember this and can give us some direction?

Thanks.
Vic

[Steve Plucker]

I am sorry Vic but I must say this...that is like giving a blind man a stick of lighted dynomite and telling him to please wait here till I come back!

Here is a list of all the "FAN" data that has been printed in Model A News (MAN) and The Restorer (TR)...maybe you can find it in there.

Pluck

A-8600: Fan Assembly
“Balancing the Model A Fan Blade”: MAN/UNKNOWN/p.44: **1, **3
“Water Pump and Fan Blade”: MAN/16/3/8-11 (1969)**2
“Water Pump and Fan”: MAN/22/4/20-23 (1975)
“The Late 1931 Fan Blade Myth”: MAN/35/5/11 (1988)**7
“Model “A” Fans Will Come Off Easily”: MAN/41/4/7 (1994)
“The Aluminum Fan Blade”: MAN/47/5/20 (2000)
“Fan Blade Modifications”: MAN/48/5/22 (2001)
“Fans: Model “A” and “B” Fords”: MAN/50/1/18-19 (2003)
“Model A Fan”: MAN/54/4/17 (2007)
“The Replacement Aluminum Cooling Fan”: MAN/57/1/14 (2010)
“Analysis: Model A Fan and Water Pump”: TR/11/4/10-15 (1966)*1
“TIP…Balancing the Fan Blade”: TR/29/6/14 (1985)*4
“TIP…Nuts and Bolts…The Fan Blade Braking”: TR/33/6/7 (1989)
“TIP…Fan Blades”: TR/40/6/3 (1996)
“TIP…Fan Blade Balancing Jig (Tool)”: TR/41/2/28 (1996)
“Fan Failure Analysis and Repair”: TR/41/6/13-20 (1997)*6
“Fan Blade Removal (Tool)”: TR/42/4/7 (1997)
“TIP…Fan Balance”: TR/42/5/3 (1998)
“TIP…Fan Removal”: TR/43/5/3 (1999)
“Model A Fan Balance”: TR/47/4/18-19 (2002)*8
“Know Your Fans”: TR/50/4/18 (2005)*8
“Fan Air Flow”: MAT/3/2/6-7 (2007)

[Craig Lewis]

Vic look at The Restorer March 1997 Pg.13
I believe it's Tom Spouse of the Lions Gate Model A club in Vancouver BC who has done this modification to a number of fans with good results.

[TedG]

Volume 6 of How to Restore Your Model A has the complete article along with a pattern to make the piece and instructions for welding it on.

[Aerocraft]

There have been a number of posts on this subject. Check the archive. I have modified fourteen of the original fans in accordance with the article mentioned above and have had no further failures. Two of my cars have totaled well over 60K miles on the modified fans. Gar Williams

[Flathead]

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Does anyone know if this repair very visible after the fan is installed? Thanks.

[Aerocraft]

I have had a number of people say that they can't see the modification by looking at the fan once it is installed on the engine. If you run your fingers over the repair, you can feel the additional thickness but it would be my guess that a majority of people cannot see it during a casual inspection. Gar Williams

[Flathead]

Thanks for the info, could be a good idea.

[Vic in E-TN]

Thanks for the replies, even you Pluck. I will get out my volume 6 later. A little difference in opinion is always good. I suppose that the price of good original fans will go up now that they can be made safe again.

My wife had me digging holes for some blueberry bushes today instead of putting in my new engine.

Vic

[raprice]

Personally, I don't trust any original fan where the blade(s) have cracked. I have an aluminum 2 blade fan on my car for the past 8 years and it's been great.
Rog