I know why I should do this, tell me why I cant! Since I`m building a lifesized Hot wheel I have a problem with my motor being too high for the radiator BUT....if I run the fan off of the balancer it will be perfect. I know how to do this I just wanna know if theres a downside? Surely this wont throw the thing out of balance...will it? Come on, let me have it. Oh, an electric fan is out of the question!
Shouldn't be any problems. As long as its not too heavy as to through off the balance of the engine. Make sure your mount is centered and you'll be fine.
I have seen two local Forty Fords doing the same thing. When I questioned it, I was told it was a common practice and a kit/adapter. Howard
I`d like to find one of those adapters, save me from making one if it was reasonable.Anyone know where to find them?
I was just dissassembling my wife's '40 Ford (stock) and that's the way the fan was mounted from the factory. There is an exrension off the lower pulley and the fan is mounted on it. Frank
I dont doubt that if we discussed it long enough we could come up with some reason why it won't work. But I'd do it if it were me. Maybe if you were running an aiplane prop it would be a problem, but I don't see a problem with it at all. Most fans are balanced to keep the vibration down anyway.
Well I did a little research and called a few friends, talked to a not so local rod shop. Yes there was an adapter type hub that bolted up to the chev V-8 crankshaft for direct bolt on of a fan blade. Bob Drake and others had them but since electric push/pull fans have evolved this set up has gone away and that it hasn't been available for at least 4-5 years? One of the draw backs is that you do not have the mechanical advantage of using different sized pulleys for an increased driven ratio change and the fan tends to run at a slower steady speed. So let us know how you make out with a tech report on making that adapter...Howard
You know, I never thought about that...since I`m running a 5 speed that could be bad! Thanks for checking into that Snapper, I think I may still try it.
I don't see any problem in running this type of fan setup if your cooling system is good and clean with no internal restrictions and properly set up (good design, not marginal). There are too many of the out there and its different, cheap, & cool looking. One forty in my area even runs A/C with a crank fan. Good Luck.. Howard ..... Besides you will probably be driving so fast all the time that the fan will not even be a factor.... .
[ QUOTE ] I was just dissassembling my wife's '40 Ford (stock) and that's the way the fan was mounted from the factory. [/ QUOTE ] What model? My stock '40 Std Coupe isn't mounted on the crank... I'm not doubting you - cuz we all know Henry did a lot of different things during a given model year... Just curious, really..
Tony, If you have the parts you want adapted and tell me how you want it set up,I can probably do the machine work for you.May take a few days.
There is a guy here in Columbus, Ohio that has a 40 Chevy sedan, chopped, channeled, etc. Gene Wood, best body man in the mid-west, without question, he's had a big block Chevy in this car since it was built back in the late 80s. The fan has always been mounted on the harmonic balancer and it works exceptionally well. This car has been in every mag there is, multiple times, and it's been driven well over 200K miles, old 402 won't die. If that would locate your fan in the heart of the rad core, go for it! Shoe
Thanks for the pic 76ltd, thats what I had in mind! Reggie, I`m thinking of a couple different ways to make that spacer, not sure which way to go yet. If I need any machine work I`ll let you know. Thanks again-Tony
the spacer you seek was and may still be available from the 40 fort. I was going to run one of these fancy little adapters on my 40 as well but I broke down and went with one of those gay little aluminum (gasp!) flex fans that pep boys sells.. (cause I like to support local business! ) someone on here must know how to get in touch with the 40fort? I think dejango was asking about them awhile back?? maybe later sawzall heres the results of my quick search call them up sometime The 40 Fort Street Rod Shop 5440 Marshall Unit 3 Arvada, CO. 80002 303-420-9800
Thanks for the effort Sawzall. That number has been disconected, and I`m not finding any other numbers on the web. Does anybody know if they`re still in business? I`m going to check out a couple other 40 places and see what I can find. Thanks again-Tony
Nope. Almost had one at an auction last year, but the other guy wanted it worse than I did. Probably been another one of those things I'd never use anyway....
[ QUOTE ] I`d like to find one of those adapters, save me from making one if it was reasonable.Anyone know where to find them? [/ QUOTE ] I have a 2 1/2" fan adapter/spacer like that. I got it out of Jeggs, I don't know if it'll fit on a ballancer though. It's just the standard 4 bolt set up... Stupid thought, but what if you drilled and tapped the ballancer. BYC
[ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] I was just dissassembling my wife's '40 Ford (stock) and that's the way the fan was mounted from the factory. [/ QUOTE ] What model? My stock '40 Std Coupe isn't mounted on the crank... I'm not doubting you - cuz we all know Henry did a lot of different things during a given model year... Just curious, really.. [/ QUOTE ] Ernie, mine isn't on the crank either. It hangs on a mount UNDER the generator. If you look at the picture on this site.. http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_specs-85to100mid.htm it shows the fan centered between the generator and the crank pulley. If the fan was on the end of the crank, I think it would be running into the crossmember. BUT! who knows, maybe Ford did some odd ball changes part way through the year. All the crank mounted fans I have seen on flatheads were on BIG trucks.
The fan on my stock '40 85 hp is on the crank. Both Mr. 40's Fat Stuff and Weedeater had kits to put the fan on the balancer of a small block Chevy.
My '40 coupe had a crank-mounted fan, also. Well, that was about three engines ago...... As I recall, the shop manual I had at the time indicated that it was (at least one of the) standard setup(s). My personal experience indicates that a good shroud is pretty important for cooling these cars. My pickup would not cool until we put one on, and has not overheated since.
[ QUOTE ] Ernie, mine isn't on the crank either. It hangs on a mount UNDER the generator. If the fan was on the end of the crank, I think it would be running into the crossmember. [/ QUOTE ] Mine is the same. I gotta agree - a fan of any meaningful diameter seems it would hit the crossmember... Mine's a 40 Std Coupe w/stock 85HP flatty... Even if it wouldn't hit the crossmember, seems it would be too low to be effective - they're struggling as it is spaced as far away as they are & w/o a shroud... But Ford was known for using up leftover parts & what-not...I've come to not doubt almost anything folks claim as stock on early Fords anymore - seems just about anything was done back in the day...
I'm in the same boat and need to mount my fan off of my crank too. And an electric fan is not an option for me either....so has anyone come up with a place to get the adapter for the small block balancer?
I`m going to take a piece of aluminum or steel about 3/4" thick and cut it down to fit inside the balancer pully, I`ll then drill a hole in the center for one of those fan spacers with the little pin to fit in. After that I`ll drill the three holes for the bolts that go into the balancer, I`m going to countersink those bolts. Next I`m going to take the fan spacer and set it in the pin hole in the middle that will let me know where to drill the holes for the fan, tap those holes and you should be done. We`ll see how it works, as long as everything is centered it should be a breeze.
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