Radiator for "Tuffy"- I need some help guys!

I am at the point that I need to weld whatever brackets needed for the radiator. I know that Tuffy ran a re-worked 46 Ford radiator, it looks as though it was only shortened and the radiator was in front of the crossmember. I ***ume an old radiator shop can help me out with this part or if someone has another suggestion. The problem is I cannot see any evidence that he was running a mechanical fan. I hate the thought of an electric fan but I don't see any other options. And before someone starts screaming period correct - I know there was a Model T cover car in '58 running two small fans. I wondered if they could have been from forklifts?
Does anyone know if forklift fans were pushers or pullers?



If you look close you can see the water pump shaft and no evidence of a mechanical fan.

 

There was a company that made vacuum fans if you don't like electric.
You can make a pusher a puller by flipping the blade over.

Can't help you with the radiator mounts I'm not there and done't have reasonable pics. You could probably come up with a big block mustang radiator or even the standard mustang V8 radiator.

A lot of guy used to use forklift radiators back in the day. Willys Overland radiators were also pretty small.

Probably not much help.

 

Not sure, what period correct you are talking about. But I see a mid 50's headlight sticking out in the picture. I had a friend with a 56 chevy, he took off the mechanical fan and mounted two heater motors and fans on a bar behind the radiator. Hooked them up to a toggle swith on his dash and used them for cooling when needed. It worked just fine. This was in 1957, so what is "period correct"? Plus, he had done this to his previous cars in the early fifties. Maybe he was just ahead of his time or just "period correct" at the time. A lot of guys did things to their cars that most people do not know about or remember. In his case, he did it for the extra horsepower to beat others racing...so why would he tell everyone else what he had done for that little HP edge??
Use what you like....It is your car!!

 

What about an old metal fan. Use the cage and maybe the blade to make an "old looking" electric fan......Does this make sense?

 

Bobby Green did it to his roadster because space was an issue if you need reference.

 

Good info, thanks! I was reading some other post regarding electric fans and there was a fuss about using them. I don't see that I have an option and I believe with Ron (original builder in '58) working in a salvage yard, that he had acess to just about anything. Does anyone have a pic of a 46-48 Ford truck radiator and dimensions? I think it was a truck radiator - see the bracket sticking out of the grill shell on car show pic?

 

I saw that tech - nice! I actually have one of those fans in my shop that my 87 year old neighbor gave me before she p***ed. "You'll find a use for this" - kinda wierd huh?

 

I know this is a crazy idea but is there any chance that he had adapted a fan onto the lower pulley ? Looking at the pics. posted it looks like the lower pulley would line up pretty good with the radiator.

 

There goes my day....

6 hours of searching Bobby Greens threads later.....

 

My fuss with using them is they look like **** and I hate the noise. I undestand that there is no other option for some so I get it. I think we really need to figure this out because this is an important car so if we can't get exactly what he used down at least we might be able to turn up an option that could have been back in 1958.

Ha! Listen to me it sounds like I;m part owner of the car hahah!!! I trust you Kisam and know you'll do and awesome job on YOUR car.

 

That's a pretty solid observation and definitely could have been the case!

 

here is Bobby Greens thread on the electric fan

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=162030

For anyone curious..

 

I need to take some pictures. The crank pully is inline with the crossmember, in fact I had to trim the crossmembers rear brace a little. I think the guy is right about saving HP and going with electric fans - sounds right up Ron's alley. His wife told me the other day that he installed fuel injection on his brother's 55 Chevy - first one in town with it - he was way ahead of his time.

 

More effective to "draw" the air thru. A shroud closely fitted will help too. If the fan blade is spinning close to the fins, it can create a low pressure zone with ease, or draw.

 

I have a deuce with stock firewall and a 392 and there was not enough room for a mechanical fan unless I cut the firewall up so I used anelectric. On my other car I moved the strap on the firewall out 7/8 of an inch and it gave me room for a mechanical fan. To do that you have to drill new holes to mount the firewall.

 

Cliff Rich's Lemon T had two little metal fans in the late 50s. Probably didn't work very well. I will scan it tomorrow.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=455990&highlight=electric
I'm pretty sure Ron didn't have a big ugly plastic fan on the car in the late 50s early 60s. Probably didn't even run a fan, as it was a show car. Since there have been a few small deviations from "exactly" how it was first built, this is where I would "take a liberty" and put a mech fan on there, whatever it takes to do it. An electric fan will ruin the look of the engine compartment. You will be glad you made the extra effort; you have to live with this car a long time. Do you want to see a big plastic fan sticking out like a sore thumb every time you look at the car? Let me know if you need any help.

 

i second this thought. Maybe he adapted a fan to the damper. It can be done buick gn has one for the intercooler

 

Sorry boys, it never was a "show car", the one picture is the only show it was ever in. Ron went for light weight and speed. The reason some of the things were polished when Kisam got it was they ribbed him so bad that he never built anything "pretty". Ron hated polished chrome, he said it didn't disipate heat as well. He changed things so much, I have no idea what he ran for a fan, but I doubt it was electric. He liked to keep things simple, he always said there was a lot less to go wrong.

 

And one more thing, if you did show it, you better be able to drive it in, if it was just to look at he thought it was pretty much of a joke.

 

That's kinda spooky, I think the Hot Rod Gods were orchestrating this one! Now you have to use it.

 

There you have it. You can make a mechanical work, everyone else did "back in the day", it may take a little ingenuity, but you can do it. I think you will be really disappointed in the long run if you skimp on this detail; the engine is a (the?) major focal point on this car, go the extra mile and do it right.

 

I was thinking "showcar"??? I figured the only reason it was there, was because it was a small town and that was one of the main events during the year. (When you live in a small town - you look forward to those things - at least I did growing up). And I totally agree with Ron about trailer queens. Although I appreciate their beauty, I question if they can truly be enjoyed.

Here's the deal. I have room for a mechanical fan, the engine now sits a little higher than original. The problem is when trying to get the grill/radiator down close to the original position, I am not sure the fan it going to do anygood (it would be to the topside of the radiator). My grill wont be that low as I am trying to stay above the scrub line. The grill I have is already chopped about 4 inches, and it might work with it, but Ron's was chopped way more. I will take another picture and mock up when I put the engine back in.

 

Props to kbettin, Kathy. She actually paid attention to what Ron was saying when he prattled on about his car. A rare attribute in this world...

 

I would bet he didn't run a fan,
as long as the car is traveling at about thirty and above it'd probably cool ok

how about putting a couple heater cores with fans under the car?

 

It gets real hot down here, gonna need a fan.

 

Now I'm just throwing this out there nowing full well that it could a stupid idea but what about those zip (?) water pumps that raise the fan up to center it in the radiator? Any way one of those could be reversed so that it lowers the fan? I think they are made for SBC's but maybe a big block water pump adapter would be able to be adapted with that thing. Could be talking out of my ***.

 

junk yard parts in the '50s?
I'd still look at heaters, maybe not for the whole unit
but maybe just the fans, like say off a school bus or some other big heater
that used a blade type fan.

 

Your at a tuff Intersection

 

Kathy.if the fan is at the upper point thats great...thats where you should have it

 

My channeled 32 roadster was a east coast style car with a flat head and it had no evidence it ever had a fan .