Aftermarket 2 blade aluminum fan

[Fullraceflathead]

I just helped a fellow model a buddy get his 1931 model a coupe running. I noticed his original steel two bladed fan is cracked. I recommended he replace it with the aluminum one ASAP. It looks like everybody is out of stock on the aluminum one. Is there anybody that might have an extra one that they would sell or does anybody know anybody that has one in stock? We’ve checked all the usual vendors so far with no luck, he just got his model a running and now he can’t even enjoy it because for fear of that fan breaking and destroying the radiator and or hood.
Thanks.

[mcgarrett]

You can also use the 4 blade fan with great results. Check ebay...

[Y-Blockhead]

Snyder's has a plastic fan. Doesn't look stock but at least he could drive his Model A

https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/p...9280&cat=41698

Or Bratton's has a four blade metal fan.

https://www.brattons.com/FOUR-BLADE-...uctinfo/12770/.

[oldspert]

Tried to find the aluminum fan also with no luck. I will probably buy the four blade fan.

Mike, how was the trip? I am going to install the pan tomorrow after I get back from the VA Dr. appointment. Still not sure about the 4th parade.

[alexiskai]

Gaslight shows in-stock, anyone tried them?

http://www.gaslightauto.com/items/mo...0-2-detail.htm

[mcgarrett]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

oldspert,
sent you a PM...

[JayJay]

Steve Becker at Bert's told me a couple of weeks ago that he was expecting a large order of the aluminum 2-blade fans by the end of this month.

[jrelliott]

Try AZ Model A's. Sammy way have one.

[katy]

He could try running w/out a fan, the Model Ts ran w/out them.

Anyone tried welding up a cracked steel fan blade?

Just thinking about what maybe could be done in a pinch.

[WHN]

Originally Posted by katy

He could try running w/out a fan, the Model Ts ran w/out them.

Anyone tried welding up a cracked steel fan blade?

Just thinking about what maybe could be done in a pinch.

If you have seen the damage a steel fan blade makes/could make when it lets go. You would not drive the car or try to fix it.

Should be replaced,

Enjoy.

[Charlie Stephens]

If you buy used remember a lot of the early ones had quality problems.

Charlie Stephens

[Phil Brown]

Originally Posted by katy

He could try running w/out a fan, the Model Ts ran w/out them.

Anyone tried welding up a cracked steel fan blade?

Just thinking about what maybe could be done in a pinch.

Welding up the crack is easy and pretty straightforward for any competent welder, so cracked is fixed.....but the other problem is the rust that eats away from the inside out of the blades. Ya can't see it and don't really know if it's a little or a lot. It's just not worth the chance given the damage and/or injury they cause.
Hopefully, your favorite supplier has them back in stock soon

[Ray in La Mesa]

I've welded the cracks & had long good luck with them. The rust bulges at the ends of the blade are another source of trouble.

[DkFordor]

Slightly OT: As a kid I remember loosing a fanblade on the A doing about 80 km/h on the highway. There was a loud bang, the blade went straight through the side causing a 3-4 cm long exit wound. It was very clean and neat and easy to fix.



Guess we were lucky

[Model "A" Fords]

I had my original fan go through my original radiator. It cost to have the car transported 100 miles, plus a reproduction radiator, new aluminum fan, shipping and the work to change it all. I now don't have an original radiator or fan.
Putting a reproduction fan on to begin with would have saved time, money and I would still have my original radiator.
There are drawings and instructions for repairing an original fan by adding a doubler especially designed for that purpose. Maybe someone can remember where that was published. It looked almost correct when finished but did require some skill to achieve. Does anyone know how successful this was?

[don3527]

The A-8600-A fans are finally due to arrive mid July. Our tooling was worn out and we had to re-tool the project and it took a lot longer than anticipated.

[Bob Bidonde]

Welding a crack in the fan just delays the catastrophe! The fan suffers from fatigue, and welding / brazing hurts rather than helps. Welding a cracked fan is bad advice.

[Flathead]

Originally Posted by don3527

The A-8600-A fans are finally due to arrive mid July. Our tooling was worn out and we had to re-tool the project and it took a lot longer than anticipated.

Great news! Those fans are a wonderful thing.

[Fullraceflathead]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys I was able to find a new 1 for my friend

[Model "A" Fords]

Originally Posted by Model "A" Fords

There are drawings and instructions for repairing an original fan by adding a doubler especially designed for that purpose. Maybe someone can remember where that was published. It looked almost correct when finished but did require some skill to achieve. Does anyone know how successful this was?

Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde

Welding a crack in the fan just delays the catastrophe! The fan suffers from fatigue, and welding / brazing hurts rather than helps. Welding a cracked fan is bad advice.

I'm not recommending welding a cracked fan!
The fan was originally made from two raw stampings overlapped leaving the centre section with sharp edged stress risers and no solid connection between the two mating parts. Obviously Ford saw a flaw and made a change in 1931 which subsequently suffered the same fate!
I'll elaborate on my question in the quote above in reference to the repair using the doubler. Was the idea to bridge the area assuming the the metal was only fatigued in the center and was okay otherwise? Has anyone seen this repair and are there samples of this method still surviving with or without being damaged? I'm just curious and not recommending anything. Any feedback, photographs?
Thank you.
Bob