The Ford Barn

fourfords · 07-24-2024, 06:06 PM

I have an original late '31 two blade fan. Looks like Ford knew of this breaking issue prior to the end of Model A production, modifying the construction to alleviate the breaking problem. Question is: Is this modification enough to trust installing?

Synchro909 · 07-24-2024, 06:18 PM

I think you should ask yourself "Do I trust this old relic (Known to be dangerous) with my life?" If Ford changed the way they made fans before the end of production, it would only have been with the intention making it last a few years, not the 90 or so that have now lapsed.
I bet that even if it is an "improved" fan, rust has been eating away at it for too long IMO.
The short answer as far as I'm concerned is NO!

spdway1 · 07-24-2024, 11:18 PM

By the way, this is a cool post.

Fullraceflathead · 07-25-2024, 10:47 AM

Can you post pictures of the improved fan I'm curious as I've never seen 1 other than the earlier ones.

nkaminar · 07-25-2024, 11:04 AM

I am a real Model A Fan. Have been since I was a teen.

fourfords · 07-25-2024, 03:07 PM

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Don't have a picture as of yet. I'll try to describe: The center hub is identical to the common Model A Fan. On the back side of the two blades, the double sheeted area stops about 2 inches from the hub with a weld, then continues on with one sheet metal piece, thereby eliminating moisture and rust from the inside. ( I'm sure you've seen original Model A fans with swollen blades). Also, alleviating some stress to the blades by cutting each blade's weight in half. So its overall, a somewhat lighter fan.

J Franklin · 07-25-2024, 03:30 PM

Run with a new fan, and show with the original one.

Manuel · 07-25-2024, 11:26 PM

I would love to see a close up pic.

updraught · 07-26-2024, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nkaminar

I am a real Model A Fan. Have been since I was a teen.

Are you an early one without any improvements?

rotorwrench · 07-26-2024, 02:29 PM

Volume 6 of the MAFCA Restorer series of books has a pattern for a hub area reinforcement patch that can be welded on to reinforce the area where the most common failure point is. The fans weren't made from very thick steel stampings so they crack and eventually fail. I don't think Ford engineers would have ever thought that so many model As would still be around after 90+ years.

nkaminar · 07-26-2024, 02:39 PM

Updraught, I am afraid I have only gotten older and starting to fall apart.

Chris Haynes · 07-26-2024, 03:23 PM

I bought a Carbon Fiber Two Blade Fan from a guy in New Zealand.

JayJay · 07-26-2024, 07:56 PM

Probably not a whole lot of unbroken late ‘31 fans around that would be reliable for daily driving. I’m a relatively unbroken ‘53 fan, but still consider myself fairly reliable. Hope that lasts for a while.

Bleedblue4life · 07-26-2024, 09:48 PM

My friend has a broken late 31 fan that went through a hood on his wall.

oldspert · 07-27-2024, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nkaminar

I am a real Model A Fan. Have been since I was a teen.

Me too, I bought my first one when I was 15. A 1929 Coupe.

07-24-2024, 06:06 PM	#1
fourfords Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lake Elsinore, CA. Posts: 437	Model A Fan I have an original late '31 two blade fan. Looks like Ford knew of this breaking issue prior to the end of Model A production, modifying the construction to alleviate the breaking problem. Question is: Is this modification enough to trust installing?

07-24-2024, 06:18 PM	#2
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,684	Re: Model A Fan I think you should ask yourself "Do I trust this old relic (Known to be dangerous) with my life?" If Ford changed the way they made fans before the end of production, it would only have been with the intention making it last a few years, not the 90 or so that have now lapsed. I bet that even if it is an "improved" fan, rust has been eating away at it for too long IMO. The short answer as far as I'm concerned is NO! __________________ I sometimes wonder what happened to the people who asked me for directions. Last edited by Synchro909; 07-25-2024 at 01:28 AM.

07-24-2024, 11:18 PM	#3
spdway1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Chicopee, MA Posts: 1,447	Re: Model A Fan By the way, this is a cool post.

07-25-2024, 10:47 AM	#4
Fullraceflathead Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Chillicothe, Missouri Posts: 1,346	Re: Model A Fan Can you post pictures of the improved fan I'm curious as I've never seen 1 other than the earlier ones. __________________ "If I asked people what they wanted they would have said faster horses." -Henry Ford "Primitive technology is not a design flaw" 1928 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup 1930 Gordon Smith Air Compressor 1941 Willy's Pickup 1960 Thunderbird-For Sale 1964 Buick Riviera 2x4 425 1965 Pontiac GTO, 455 Super Duty 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10, V-10 Viper 1977 Charger Jet Boat,460 Ford,Jacuzzi Jet Front Engine Nostalgia Dragster,Supercharged 296 "Fullrace Flathead" Ford Engine Build up on DVD ask

07-25-2024, 11:04 AM	#5
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 4,547	Re: Model A Fan I am a real Model A Fan. Have been since I was a teen. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

07-25-2024, 03:07 PM	#6
fourfords Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lake Elsinore, CA. Posts: 437	Re: Model A Fan Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Don't have a picture as of yet. I'll try to describe: The center hub is identical to the common Model A Fan. On the back side of the two blades, the double sheeted area stops about 2 inches from the hub with a weld, then continues on with one sheet metal piece, thereby eliminating moisture and rust from the inside. ( I'm sure you've seen original Model A fans with swollen blades). Also, alleviating some stress to the blades by cutting each blade's weight in half. So its overall, a somewhat lighter fan.

07-25-2024, 03:30 PM	#7
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 6,114	Re: Model A Fan Run with a new fan, and show with the original one.

07-25-2024, 11:26 PM	#8
Manuel Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ACT Australia Posts: 516	Re: Model A Fan I would love to see a close up pic.

07-26-2024, 02:29 PM	#10
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,851	Re: Model A Fan Volume 6 of the MAFCA Restorer series of books has a pattern for a hub area reinforcement patch that can be welded on to reinforce the area where the most common failure point is. The fans weren't made from very thick steel stampings so they crack and eventually fail. I don't think Ford engineers would have ever thought that so many model As would still be around after 90+ years.

07-26-2024, 02:39 PM	#11
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 4,547	Re: Model A Fan Updraught, I am afraid I have only gotten older and starting to fall apart. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

07-26-2024, 03:23 PM	#12
Chris Haynes Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camarillo, CA and Pine Grove, CA Posts: 2,853	Re: Model A Fan I bought a Carbon Fiber Two Blade Fan from a guy in New Zealand. __________________ 1921 Runabout 1930 Tudor Early 1930 AA Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?

07-26-2024, 07:56 PM	#13
JayJay Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 1,402	Re: Model A Fan Probably not a whole lot of unbroken late ‘31 fans around that would be reliable for daily driving. I’m a relatively unbroken ‘53 fan, but still consider myself fairly reliable. Hope that lasts for a while. __________________ JayJay San Francisco Bay Area ------------------------ 1930 Murray Town Sedan 1931 Briggs S/W Town Sedan It isn't a defect, it's a feature!

07-26-2024, 09:48 PM	#14
Bleedblue4life Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Carey, Ohio Posts: 59	Re: Model A Fan My friend has a broken late 31 fan that went through a hood on his wall.

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