What Style Of Radiator Fan Do You Use?

[Michael P.]

The discussion posted earlier on original and repro style fan assemblies made me curios as to what style the group actually uses on their Model A's. If I have missed a style or if this poll has been done recently I apologize. Please let me know!
(1) Original 2 Blade Style
(2) Late Original 2 Blade Style
(3) Repro Aluminum 2 Blade Style
(4) Repro Steel 4 Blade Style
(5) Plastic 6 Blade Style
PS- You can make multiple choices for multiple Model A's.

[Michael P.]

Looks as if voting on one of these "polls" does not bump the post back to the top of the topics list and it gets quickly shoved down as posts are added.

[Bruce Adams]

I have a 4 blade on the car and an aluminum one has been awaiting installation for a year or so.

[Tony S,Fl.]

Hey Bruce. Let Mike V. tell you about his 4 blad fan $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Tony

[ursus]

Your poll refers to the 4-blade steel fan as "repro". Most that I have seen were NOS Ford from the Model-B and later. They became very popular with folks that had an original 2-blade break up and didn't want to trust their luck on another. Now we have a lot more options with plastic and aluminum fans.

[Mitch//pa]

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repo steel 4 blade. powdercoated it black

[Bob Johnson]

Click on link below for previous survey.

Cooling Survey

Bob

[Ray64]

I use one half of a 4 blade

[Michael P.]

How do you tell the difference in the original Ford service four blade fan (introduced in 1933) to the 4 blade repro's?

[T.W.Dustin]

I am running a 4 blade steel fan. Sam at AZ Model A has told me some of the 2 blade designs actually move more air so I might make a switch.

[Model A Man]

I have a 2 blade fan but the hub is separate from the blade and is bolted together

[TerryH]

I am just very surprised that about 25% of the respondents are still using the steel 2 blade fan....in spite of all the dire warnings and postings of bad things happening. Every year we get a few new ones telling of their 2 blade letting loose and with pictures and graphic testimony as to the damage done........

[Mike V. Florida]

Won't happen to me!!!

[Kevin - Illinois]

Dad had a a 2 blade as a spare for the 4 blade that was on the coupe. I put the 2 blade on and ran it for a couple months before I heard the stories about them coming a part. I took it off and found a small crack where one blade met the center. Back to the 4 blade I went as I had no desire to send the 2 blade through my new $600 radiator.

[Michael P.]

forever4 , Now I am confused on the 4 blade fans from your description. I have a four blade steel fan with steel hub that is spot welded and rivited and I know it is a repro because I bought it myself back in 1989 from a repro parts place on the East side of Houston, Texas. It came right out of the box brand new with "Tiawan" stamped on the box. I can post pictures later on when I get back from church if that would help with the identification. There are no bolts on this unit.

[amodel25]

Several years ago I lost an original 2 blade on a trip and then lost my spare backup original 2 blade on the return trip. I installed an aluminum 2 blade, painted black and have not had any problems.
The first fan took out the top radiator hose and dented the hood. The second one took out the replacement radiator hose, punched a hole in the radiator, and dented a different hood panel.

[YOJIMI]

I use half of a 4 blade fan

JIMI

[Michael P.]

Off the top of my head I cannot remember the name of the business in East Houston, Texas (Closed in the 1990's)) that sold all these repro parts but I'm sure some of the more seasoned members here do know the name. At the time I bought my late '31 Slant Windshield 4 Door Sedan I did not know how bad some of the repro parts were made, did not know anyone else that owned a Model A and infact was not even aware that there was a National Model A club. I was literally on my own and was constantly baffled that many of the repro parts I bought from this place did not fit well and had to almost be 100% of the time altered to make them work. I saved many of the original parts that I thought were not good and eventually put them back on my Model A as a better alternative to the repro stuff. Later on in the mid 90's when I went on the Internet and finally found other Model A enthusiasts I was informed that this company in Houston, Texas was a huge importer of Model A parts from foreign sources and that many of the other Model A parts places in fact bought their stock from this wholesaler who had many contacts in Tiawan and elsewhere. The only parts I ever bought from them that I was satisfied with as far as quality and fit were the "rubberized" back window and header glass seals. My originals were rock hard and I had to literally chip them out with a small hammer and chisel.

[Michael P.]

Below is a picture of the 4 blade repro I bought in 1989 that is 4 blade, spot welded with rivits and a steel hub. Go figure!

[peters180a/170b]

Well i always used a orginial 2 blade fan with no problems on Fine point cars. Drive under 50 miles per hour and 200 miles in a couple of years. I do have a orginial 4 blade on my 1930 fordor again no problem and i have a N.O.S. orginial 4 blade which i had forsale at Hershey for $150.00 and no takers. So go figure.

[Job]

4 blade fan is what was on the wagon when I got it. That's what I'll run for now.

[Paul's Garage]

I have an original 4 blade fan ( I think) on my "A" that came off a model AA truck and am also running a truck head (original cracked). At the time hoped that the fan might push a little more air.

[Michael P.]

So does the two blade style fan really push more air than the 4 blade style? Any facts to this or just a seat of the pants comparison?

[Bruce]

On my '29 truck I use an original prop-style two-blade. I check it each time I have the hood up. On the '30 Roadster, I have and aluminum two-blade because the original had a seperation at the edge. Took it off and it also revealed that death rattle sound of rust inside. For the car I'm working on ... OK, I'm working on all of them! ... I have the original late prop-style two-blade. I also have a couple four blade fans that have been on -- and off -- the Roadster. I suppose those do a fair job of moving air, because you can sure hear 'em whine when you are going down the road.
I'll have to get one more A so I can run a plastic fan, too. That way I will have a Road & Track - type TEST going!

[Michael P.]

I wonder if a poll on fan breakage would be interesting enough to try?

[Mark in MT]

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Currently I am not running any fan at all. I drove all last summer without one, including a run over the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier Park. I did not run in any parades. It never got hot at all. I don't recommend it for everyone, but I did it to prove a point to our local club that if your car gets hot, don't blame the fan, fix the radiator. Anything over about 25 mph, the fan doesn't do anthing to help cool the car.

Mark in MT