Best Fan Solution for '36 Ford with 8BA Flathead

We are building a '36 Ford 5-Window Coupe. It has an 8BA Flathead with the original '36 Ford transmission. We used stock motor mounts (donuts) with u-shaped brackets to raise up the engine to clear the draft tube on the front crossmember. We are using Bob Drake truck water pumps. We are using the stock '36 Ford radiator and 8BA generator (converted to 12 volts). We are using the stock 8BA 2-barrel intake manifold. When we installed the radiator and front sheet metal, we discovered that we couldn't use the 8BA fan because of radiator clearance issues.

Does anyone have a good solution for using a different type of mechanical fan?

Does anyone have a good solution using an electric fan, either in front of or in back of the radiator (and have some specifics on which fan was used)?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. A picture is worth a thousand words.

Dave Winne
Liverpool, NY

 

This worked for me in my '36.

 

Hi Grenade Inspector,
I retired from the defense industry just a year ago, after 37 years.
Great pics!
I ***ume that you used a stock radiator.
Are they stock shaft lengths at the water pumps?
What fan did you use and what was the thickness at the motor? at the fan housing?
Thanks,
Dave

 

I am building a 35 coupe right now with a 8ba. I used the stock mounts with truck water pumps from speedway. However I didn't have to raise my engine. I am curious why you had to. I am using the draft tube as well.

Anyways I wanted to use a mechanical fan but gave up on it and I am using a 16" electric fan. This is with the stock radiator and stock engine.

 

I raised engine about 1/4" to help clear Fenton header to steering box, still had to grind on header for clearance.

 

Am using the original radiator & 8RT truck pumps. The fan motor is about 3 1/4" in height X 16" wide, fan shroud about 1" high. Using Flex-a-lite mounting brackets and Ron Francis fan relay 200 on/ 185 off. Also, 12V system with 70 amp 2 wire alternator.

 

Dear Uptown83,
I needed to raise the engine so the 8BA draft tube would clear the front crossmember on the '36 frame.
Dave

 

Dear Grenade Inspector,
Thanks for the info. Can you tell me specifically which fan you used and where you purchased it?
Thanks,
Dave

 

I am putting an 8BA in my '37. I have an 8ba generator but I replaced the stock pulley with pulley from 37 generator. The small fan bolts to the generator instead of lower between the water pumps. It mirrors the stock 37 setup. Not sure its going to work but thats what I am going to try.

-Fryguy

 

Go to Amazon.com search radiator electric fans.

 

Same setup. 8BA in my 37.
Two pusher fans. Tight fit but its worked for 12 years.

 

Ah maybe I should of done this because I had to hack up my header to get it to clear. I got it to clear and it came out good but it was a task. Thanks for the info.