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rotorwrench · 09-27-2021, 10:13 AM

I've seen several different mechanical fan set ups on the HAMB that work on 8BA family engines fitted to early V8 applications. Some use the generator on cylinder head mounts with a fan similar to post #7. It can be done but it takes some ingenuity to get it there.

When changing an 8BA manifold out for an early type, it usually requires a modification for a PCV valve to vent the crankcase since the 8BA family vent through the intake. Changing the front cover to a crab type distributor requires a change of timing gears and cam to early type to drive the distributor and get correct thrust load on toward the front. If a person does this then they can use the early 37 thru 48 type coolant pumps. This still doesn't do much for the fan drive unless a person uses a generator mounted fan like original or fabricates a fan with an offset generator. Alternators don't work well for fan drive applications due to the small bearing set most of them have. The old generator fan drives were heavy duty set ups.

09-27-2021, 10:13 AM	#9
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,436	Re: which alternator bracket do I need? I've seen several different mechanical fan set ups on the HAMB that work on 8BA family engines fitted to early V8 applications. Some use the generator on cylinder head mounts with a fan similar to post #7. It can be done but it takes some ingenuity to get it there. When changing an 8BA manifold out for an early type, it usually requires a modification for a PCV valve to vent the crankcase since the 8BA family vent through the intake. Changing the front cover to a crab type distributor requires a change of timing gears and cam to early type to drive the distributor and get correct thrust load on toward the front. If a person does this then they can use the early 37 thru 48 type coolant pumps. This still doesn't do much for the fan drive unless a person uses a generator mounted fan like original or fabricates a fan with an offset generator. Alternators don't work well for fan drive applications due to the small bearing set most of them have. The old generator fan drives were heavy duty set ups.