Technical Get that electric fan outa there

I picked up my 29 highboy roadster about a year ago
I like the traditional look for a hot rod, and when ever possible I like to go in that direction
I would like to install a mechanical fan and delete the electric fan
I have no overheating issues with this engine, it has a 4 row Walker radiator
Not sure if there is enough room for an original but would prefer original if possible
any help or advice would be greatly appreciated

 

FYI radiators have only ONE core, they do have several rows

 

I run a 4 row aluminum radiator in my '29 AV8. It's a little smaller than original. Probably a special order someone never picked up. It was under 200 bucks. I put a 16 inch electric fan on it, same set up as shown. It would not keep the flathead cool on a warm day. I got rid of that fan and put a stock early fan and mount on it and presto!, it works fine. If you can find a 17 inch 4 blade fan with good pitch to it you should be happy with it. Keep that radiator. Original radiator would likely not cool a V8 on a hot day at highway speeds.

 

I'm with you, Electric Fans Don't Belong on hot rods!! Looks a little tight based on the length of bottom hose. Nothing is impossible, some just take a little more work than it looks like going in. I'm going to say Yes you can do it. That said you may end up nudging the Rad forward just a bit to make it all come together. I can Guarente you this, had I built that car it would have started life as it should have with a Manual fan.

 

I couldn’t live with an electric fan on my car. You should take yours out, offer up the mechanical one and see how tight things are. I ended up moving my radiator forward by like 1/4” to make it work. The rad moved forward is a lot less noticeable than having an electric fan.
Just remember that the fan blades may flex towards the radiator slightly when running, so you need 1/4” or so of clearance.

 

I feel the same way about the electric fan. I stayed away from it and I do have some overheat conditions when sitting in traffic. Actually, it’s never overheated. It just gets hotter than I would like. I still won’t put an electric fan on it!

 

While there are legit and honest reasons for running an electric fan I'd say that on that car a proper mechanical fan that can pull enough air will work fine Except that thick *** radiator (not a bad thing) might be taking up the space where the correct fan that fits that engine wants to be.

Looking at a couple of cars I have taken photos of it may be seriously close.




On my 48 with the 292 six the location of the water pump and fan puts the fan so low that I am limited to a small fan that doesn't pull much air plus it leaves over half of the radiator uncovered fan wise. That one is getting an electric fan this time but it may be a pusher fan or a pair of pusher fans.

 

I guess what I should be asking
is there an era of Ford or Mercury engine mechanical fan set ups that would be better for my tight spacing
I wouldn’t be oppressed to an aftermarket set up
I can research very well but would like to hear what works best

 

My car has an electric fan, and I can sit in traffic, idling, in 100 degree Temps, for an hour and never get over 190 degrees, I'm running a junk speedway aluminum radiator, and it clears up around 30 horsepower. It's a win win for me. Call the cops on me I'll sacrifice my tradition on this subject for the drivability.

 

Mechanical fan works great for me on my 8BA. Runs cool as the proverbial cu***ber!

 

Mr48, thanks for the pictures and commentary, it always helps to see the options.

Lloyd, I get it, I’v thought about converting to a pusher and hiding it behind the grill,
not sure about the look of no fan and the spacing is tight between the rad and grill

 

Sidevalve
Also I’m running a crab style distributor,
not sure you can see it in the pictures but it may interfere with an 8BA style pulley system for a mechanical fan

 

I use a pusher electric on my Willys for obvious reasons.

 

I run a pusher electric hidden behind the grill, painted black. 406 blown SBC full race. Have never ever overheated on the strip or street in traffic. You have to decide, do you want to stay fully traditional or be able to drive your car in this day and age?

 

Is that a 32 grill shell? Your avatar?

 

I think your first move in determining how or if is to get a 2-shive bottom pulley for your motor. Then a stand-alone fan mount that lines up with the new lower. There are a couple different styles and not all are a direct connection. I see your Gen mount is already set up to accept the Fan mount bracket. Chose a fan blade wisely.

 

I’m running an electric puller fan on my 31 coupe. I’m running a Walker radiator with an a/c condenser in front of the radiator. With that setup, the radiator is pushed back towards the engine by about 1”. So, there is no room for a mechanical fan. Placing an electric one just above the water pump was my only option.

 

To some degree this is what you're trying to end up with. If it didn't have the offset Gen it would be a direct connection.

 

11.25/1 C/R, Mechanical clutch fan, fan shroud, with a 4 row copper/br*** core Brice -Thomas radiator. Never over 195 degrees, even in +100 degree heat. No complaint's here...

 

I'm calling bs! You don't drive that car anywhere!

 

I don't care what you call it, cool is cool... Foo!!! LOL!!!
P.S. Electric fan's ****!!!

 

30 horsepower? Seems pretty optimistic.

 

Seen people spend a fortune for 50, my 30 was free, sidewayzz69 gave me the fan lol

 

This is more or less what sidevalve posted. I don’t late Flathead, I just happen to have this one sitting outside. As stated, the crab distributor may interfere with this style pulley. What pulley is currently installed? For the time being, i would be more worried about the way that generator is mounted to that earlier manifold. Maybe it’s the photo, but looks way up there!

 

Hey if you don't like the thought of an electric fan on your car, and you can't hide it, by all means take it off and throw it away. But don't build a car that you can't get in and hit the road because you crippled it on purpose. Cars that sit in garages aren't fun.

 

Sometimes they blow!

 

My generator does look like it is higher, lower pulley doesn’t have the second pulley like in your picture
That picture shows what I need, that being said, the distributor will be a problem

 

With my gawd-doffal electric fan........I have NO fan running over 80% of the time!!
I vote to put on a pusher fan (they don't cool all-that-great) and with that "4 CORE" radiator and correct thermostat and plenty of ignition ADVANCE and Water Wetter and distilled water......I would just drive it. (IF it ever runs hot-pull over.
6sally6

 

Driving season is upon us, so I will be collecting parts for next winters project.