1952-59 Ford Looking for a few recommendations

I took my 1955 Customline on it's longest trip to date this past weekend; from Raleigh to Charlotte and back with the Hot Rod Power Tour. I've been working on getting it road-worthy for a year now, so it was great to see it survive the journey with no real issues. The trip did show where the car needs to be improved though. The Y-block ran at 180 degrees for most of the trip, only started to get into the 220 range while sitting in traffic. It has the factory radiator and a 15" flex fan on it, but it does not have a shroud. Any recommendations on where I can get a shroud from? I'd like to try that before going to an electric fan. I also desperately need rear leaf springs, is there a company that you would suggest?

Thanks,
David

 

On the fan shroud, I am with you and will likely just design and build my own soon. While driving mine this past weekend quite a bit in traffic on a 95 degree day, I was reminded that I need to just do it. Just as you mention, mine never gets hot other than while sitting still which a shroud should help some.

As far as springs, I have always had good luck with Posies at least in other applications. However, I don't have any direct experience with this application.

 

Best price on the springs https://www.generalspringkc.com/pro...FluT3gRoOMvwLxZb1OPwXHadV_J2zExRoCeoAQAvD_BwE Early Mustang shrouds have been used as well as early Mustang radiators because the core is almost the same. Measure your core and compare to specs listed here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-ALL-AL...ustang&hash=item3f8b46da4c:g:aVUAAOSwcj1aQ8rR

 

Or you can go whole Hog! https://www.ebay.com/itm/1954-to-19...irlane&hash=item4679806615:g:aDYAAOSwnCxau8wI

 

The '57 forum guys have been getting their's at McVeigh's. That's where I got mine, and I've never heard of any issues. Btw, the '57 guys mostly get the 6 leaf Ranchero/wagon springs and have been very happy with them. Good pricing
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-REAR-L...418419?hash=item51f21e3af3:g:LqIAAMXQ0v1RZu8y

The link is for their ebay listing.....click on visit store for more options. Note Jeff's source pricing is for one spring, McVeighs is for 2

 

I put a shroud on my car and it made a little cooling difference. The flex fan that came after it really helped when I move slow. Springs, also got mine (stock 4-leaf) from McVeighs on eBay, goes by the name of Springking.

 

But 2 X 129.95 = $259.90 you save $15.10

 

The picture of the fan and shroud on the radiator might be a little deceiving. Nowhere in the description does it say it comes with the fan, BUT I am a big fan of wide tubes in aluminum radiators. I had a Griffin with 1 1/8" tubes in a '40 Ford/302 with AC. The fan rarely came on, even in city traffic.

 

It does say with fan and shroud, in the description.

 

Well, I guess I'm blind, I don't see it.
At the bottom where it says "more from this seller" there is a listing for a Chrysler product showing the fan and shroud installed and the description DOES state (in red) that it includes the fan and shroud.

 

Eaton Detroit Spring is another supplier that will have rear springs for your car

 

Lots of negative comments about flex fans. Seems like a lot of folks prefer the OEM type fixed blade. That's what I'm using with a fan clutch. And will have a shroud. Let the arguments begin.

 

Interesting test here: http://www.carnut.com/ramblin/dyno.html Since I live in "Hell City" aka Phoenix I have come to love electric fans it is now 109 outside at 3:55 PM. Results of the test shows why newer cars no longer run mechanical fans because of the H.P. loss.

 

You could put a electric fan on the front of the radiator that's removable if you don't like the look of it. I believe you can switch the wiring around on the fan and it will push air instead of pull air. keep it in the trunk. when its hot snap it on and plug it in and your good to go.

 

I ordered the leaf springs from McVeigh's off of ebay. They should be here next week sometime. I like the idea of installing an electric fan on the front of the radiator, but I'd like to try the flex fan/shroud first

 

I put a 454 in a 77 Camaro and had a problem with overheating. I put a dual fan in front of the radiator and kept the factory fan and shroud. This made a big difference,even with city driving. The electric fans came with instructions to reverse the fan from a puller to a pusher

 

I had an old fixed steel blade Mopar fan on my '59. It got hot quickly in traffic. I added a shroud and it got a slight bit better. I changed the fan to a $40 flex fan from Summit and it helped a lot in traffic and my car runs just below 180 unless its a hot day. Last year I added a pusher Spal fan which made a huge difference in traffic and moving slow. It comes on at 195 and off at 175, no more over-heating when stopped or moving slow.