A V8 fan clearance help.

i'm trying to fit my fan in and its to colse i have a 59 ab fan that mounts in the middle on the manifold i need about 1/2 inch i'll be home free. what other fan blade can i use? with out a big pitch. the fan i have i took a 1-1/2 off the blade to make it shorter it looks good but man is it close. this is holding me up on getting it running.any help woul be great.billy

 

Some thoughts, but I really need to go home and look at some parts for more clarity...
Modern fan: Many have all their pitch behind the front plane, I think. Ford one you have is 8 bolt or something, any conversion would need redrilling with great care to center
Fan shaft can move back kist by reworking slots. Moving fan back is easy part...looking at a drawing here, seems like there's 1/2" of bare shaft to move in, casting could be shortened fro more. Cutting and moving back the forward sheave while keeping it concentric would be the hard part, I think requiring a lathe to keep all true.
other approaches...swap waterpump or gen pulley for double sheave, giving a tighter front sheave drive location.

 

Use an early fan, 32 through 37 or so, and mount it on your generator using a pulley that accomodates the fan mount. Less belts and stuff on the engine. If your engine is set at the top of the frame rails you MAY have to trim the fan slightly. If you have a 40-48 generator you may have to get a pulley from Vern Tardel that will adapt to the fan, otherwise, just HOT ROD it.

Keith

 

The early setup to late generator starts with Model 78 or 79 prefix (cast on parts) (or some less common ones) pulley AND front cover. Pulleys earlier than that have smaller shaft. Pulley and front cover need to be used together...still have not worked out total combo, but these parts will get you on the way to that. I think the 21A setup shown can be flogged to work...
Anoither route...file out holes and slide radiator 3/8" ...that's what Ford did on AA's with extra thick radiators!

 

I know you don't want a modern fan like this one but as Bruce said all of the pitch is behind the Ford flange that the original fan was riveted to. You might be able to get a shorter hub made on a lathe that will keep the belt/pulley in the same location but bring the fan closer to the pulley.

 

thanks guys i dont realy dont want slot my rad or crossmember i think i'll slot the shaft and take a little off the mount. billy

 

i think my 52 is going to be close so i am considering elect fans, dont want to hit a bump and grind my rad with the blades