The Ford Barn

37 Coupe · 09-12-2018, 02:37 PM

I am putting a new radiator in eventually and since they are not so cheap and how my luck usually runs any advice on a reliable fan blade? I think mine is an original 1931 one it is two blade and it is attacted to a magnet so it must be cast steel or something besides the cast aluminum ones.Are they all subseptible to cracking and coming apart? Should I stick with the original 87 year old one and check for cracks or is the new aluminum ones the way to go.Thank You.

1931 flamingo · 09-12-2018, 02:53 PM

The new aluminum one is the way to go IMO. While you're at it I would recommend rebuilding/replacing the water pump. FWIW
Paul in CT

37 Coupe · 09-12-2018, 02:59 PM

Thank you,yes I will be studying over the best water pump to buy also.

Bob C · 09-12-2018, 03:00 PM

A lot of originals end up looking line this.

Bob

37 Coupe · 09-12-2018, 03:28 PM

That is what I do not want near a new expensive radiator.Just trying to do stuff right especially with this.

Charlie Stephens · 09-12-2018, 03:42 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Also use the fake "nut and stud" to attach the new pump so you can more easily replace it later if necessary.

Charlie Stephens

Farrell In Vancouver · 09-12-2018, 04:37 PM

I had an original on my 28 Special coupe that I bead blasted and inspected with a magnifying glass. I could not detect a flaw or a crack. I repainted it and installed it and ran it till I lost a head gasket. Before reinstalling I checked it over very carefully and found some rust tracks. Bead blasted it again and found a series of hairline cracks emanating from the roots of both blades. It is now a wall hanger and I am glad it is just, that.
Cheers!

Jacksonlll · 09-12-2018, 04:50 PM

Just make sure the two tapers match. If not, the fan will wobble and fail. Not to tight on the belt too. All that belt load puts the tapered joint into bending.

WHN · 09-12-2018, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob C

A lot of originals end up looking line this.

Bob

Been there. You don’t want this to happen to your car. Could do more damage than just to your radiator.

New two blade aluminum fan with leakless water pump. Two more potential problems taken care off. Enjoy.

37 Coupe · 09-12-2018, 05:52 PM

Also would like a water temperature gauge.Snyders and Brattons sell different setups for the temperature bulb probe.One is on the inlet on head.

Jacksonlll · 09-13-2018, 05:24 AM

I just put on the gooseneck. The other set-up makes that upper hose pretty stiff and you don't need any more loading of the radiator inlet, where they always fail.

Lona · 09-13-2018, 02:43 PM

If you're not going for judging points, use a plastic fan. I've had two metal blades crack.

Glen

Charlie Stephens · 09-13-2018, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lona

If you're not going for judging points, use a plastic fan. I've had two metal blades crack.

Glen

What kind of metal, steel or aluminum?

Charlie Stephens

37 Coupe · 09-13-2018, 07:07 PM

Just what I was wanting to ask.

Mike V. Florida · 09-13-2018, 10:26 PM

ANYTHING EXCEPT ORIGINAL OR THE 60+ YEAR OLD FLAT BLADE STEEL REPLACEMENT. (yes I am yelling).

juke joint johnny · 09-14-2018, 02:36 AM

I had one of the Cast Iron hub bolted on steel fan blade ones throw a blade !!

Took out the radiator and broke the water pump casting,

More junk to be aware of!!

Lona · 09-14-2018, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Stephens

What kind of metal, steel or aluminum?

Charlie Stephens

Both steel. One on a Model A and another steel 4 blade on our '31 Chrysler. When the A blade cracked, all suppliers I contacted to get a 2-blade alum fan were out of stock so I opted for plastic with the intention of replacing it later with an alum model. Two years or so later, haven't gotten around to changing it to alum since I'm quite content with the plastic one. Anybody have an alum fan crack and fly apart?

Glen

100IH · 09-14-2018, 01:41 PM

Problem solved, aluminum is the way to go. Now, Water pump. get the parts to rebuild like original. Shop where the best parts are and save over $100.00 rather than "Upgrading". 30 years down the road when your old and wealthy buy the pump that you want now. Then when it fails in 2-3 years, get another std. kit and fix the original pump as a maintenance task. Use the nifty stud kit either way but use antisieze on threads.

Drive Shaft Dave · 09-21-2018, 12:26 AM

make shure you use a flat steel washer under the mounting nut on an aluminum fan.

09-12-2018, 02:37 PM	#1
37 Coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,835	Fan Blade advice. I am putting a new radiator in eventually and since they are not so cheap and how my luck usually runs any advice on a reliable fan blade? I think mine is an original 1931 one it is two blade and it is attacted to a magnet so it must be cast steel or something besides the cast aluminum ones.Are they all subseptible to cracking and coming apart? Should I stick with the original 87 year old one and check for cracks or is the new aluminum ones the way to go.Thank You. __________________ "Never complain,never explain"... Henry Ford II

09-12-2018, 02:53 PM	#2
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: Fan Blade advice. The new aluminum one is the way to go IMO. While you're at it I would recommend rebuilding/replacing the water pump. FWIW Paul in CT

09-12-2018, 02:59 PM	#3
37 Coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,835	Re: Fan Blade advice. Thank you,yes I will be studying over the best water pump to buy also. __________________ "Never complain,never explain"... Henry Ford II

09-12-2018, 03:28 PM	#5
37 Coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,835	Re: Fan Blade advice. That is what I do not want near a new expensive radiator.Just trying to do stuff right especially with this. __________________ "Never complain,never explain"... Henry Ford II

09-12-2018, 03:42 PM	#6
Charlie Stephens Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,031	Re: Fan Blade advice. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Also use the fake "nut and stud" to attach the new pump so you can more easily replace it later if necessary. Charlie Stephens

09-12-2018, 04:37 PM	#7
Farrell In Vancouver Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Pitt Meadows BC Posts: 1,003	Re: Fan Blade advice. I had an original on my 28 Special coupe that I bead blasted and inspected with a magnifying glass. I could not detect a flaw or a crack. I repainted it and installed it and ran it till I lost a head gasket. Before reinstalling I checked it over very carefully and found some rust tracks. Bead blasted it again and found a series of hairline cracks emanating from the roots of both blades. It is now a wall hanger and I am glad it is just, that. Cheers!

09-12-2018, 04:50 PM	#8
Jacksonlll Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Michigan-- Member of Oakleaf of MARC Posts: 1,686	Re: Fan Blade advice. Just make sure the two tapers match. If not, the fan will wobble and fail. Not to tight on the belt too. All that belt load puts the tapered joint into bending.

09-12-2018, 05:52 PM	#10
37 Coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,835	Re: Fan Blade advice. Also would like a water temperature gauge.Snyders and Brattons sell different setups for the temperature bulb probe.One is on the inlet on head. __________________ "Never complain,never explain"... Henry Ford II

09-13-2018, 05:24 AM	#11
Jacksonlll Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Michigan-- Member of Oakleaf of MARC Posts: 1,686	Re: Fan Blade advice. I just put on the gooseneck. The other set-up makes that upper hose pretty stiff and you don't need any more loading of the radiator inlet, where they always fail.

09-13-2018, 02:43 PM	#12
Lona Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Gloucester, Va Posts: 464	Re: Fan Blade advice. If you're not going for judging points, use a plastic fan. I've had two metal blades crack. Glen __________________ '31 Model A Deluxe Roadster '31 Chrysler Model 70 Sedan '88 Pontiac Fiero GT '36 Auburn Boattail Speedster replica

09-13-2018, 07:07 PM	#14
37 Coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,835	Re: Fan Blade advice. Just what I was wanting to ask. __________________ "Never complain,never explain"... Henry Ford II

09-13-2018, 10:26 PM	#15
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Fan Blade advice. ANYTHING EXCEPT ORIGINAL OR THE 60+ YEAR OLD FLAT BLADE STEEL REPLACEMENT. (yes I am yelling). __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

09-14-2018, 02:36 AM	#16
juke joint johnny Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: London England Posts: 908	Re: Fan Blade advice. I had one of the Cast Iron hub bolted on steel fan blade ones throw a blade !! Took out the radiator and broke the water pump casting, More junk to be aware of!!

09-14-2018, 01:41 PM	#18
100IH Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: SW Idaho Posts: 970	Re: Fan Blade advice. Problem solved, aluminum is the way to go. Now, Water pump. get the parts to rebuild like original. Shop where the best parts are and save over $100.00 rather than "Upgrading". 30 years down the road when your old and wealthy buy the pump that you want now. Then when it fails in 2-3 years, get another std. kit and fix the original pump as a maintenance task. Use the nifty stud kit either way but use antisieze on threads.

09-21-2018, 12:26 AM	#19
Drive Shaft Dave Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: New hope Minnesota Posts: 742	Re: Fan Blade advice. make shure you use a flat steel washer under the mounting nut on an aluminum fan.