aluminum fan

[drumyn29]

I keep reading about stock fans coming apart and destroying things. Should I be worried when I'm under the hood with motor running? Where can I buy a replacement that will still look appealing? I've heard about an aluminum fan.

[28ACoupe]

All the major Model A parts suppliers offer them in their catalogs. However, it would seem that lately, they are back-ordered. However, I could very well be wrong on this.

You might check with your local club as well. Perhaps someone has one of them available for sale.

Best of luck to you.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by drumyn29

I keep reading about stock fans coming apart and destroying things. Should I be worried when I'm under the hood with motor running? Where can I buy a replacement that will still look appealing? I've heard about an aluminum fan.

YES be afraid, very afraid! A search will revel the horror stories of fans destroying things under the hood. Thank goodness that there are no stories of people getting physically hurt.

There is a shortage of aluminum fans right not so I would get on a back order list with a vendor now.

[rocket1]

I would try to find a good original fan,check the blades close to the pulley any welds or small cracks reject it,when you find a good one and paint it always check for cracks in your routine maintenance.I have been running the original fan for 40 some years!

[pennies4pennies]

I have a original fan I found in a box that came with my car. I have heard on these horror stores to. I sand blasted my blade and polished the aluminum and painted the pulley. It looks great with not one crack. I don't think I am going to use it so I to order a new aluminum fan. It's true they are back order for months now. Snyder makes the fan. I think I will be selling my original blade. I don't think I want to take a chance after what I have heard the past year.

[28ACoupe]

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Original fans were stamped steel I believe. I could be wrong, but I suspect the aluminum fan you found is actually an aftermarket which is not a bad thing.

[Growley bear]

Originally Posted by drumyn29

I keep reading about stock fans coming apart and destroying things. Should I be worried when I'm under the hood with motor running? Where can I buy a replacement that will still look appealing? I've heard about an aluminum fan.

I wouldn't say to be worried as mush as respectful. After being closely involved with engines for many years, I have learned to stay out of the arc of the fan as much as possible while the engine is running and be very very careful when revving the engine while in the engine area. Try to learn from other peoples warnings and mistakes. I learned to be especially careful when adjusting the timing on a 1950 Ford and the owner was standing over my shoulder watching. The strobe at times will give the ILLUSION that a moving object is static. While in the process of aiming the strobe, the beam flashed on the generator pulley/fan and the guy said, "Hey the generator isn't---------". He never finished what he had to say and it was bloody but no broken bones or missing parts.
Although I don't know of any instances of someone being hurt with a ballistic fan blade, I was associated with a ballistic propeller blade from a large model airplane impaling the operator at the flying field. My friend broke the news to his wife and family.
If it can happen, it will. I'll get off my soap box now,

Chet

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by pennies4pennies

I have a original fan I found in a box that came with my car. I have heard on these horror stores to. I sand blasted my blade and polished the aluminum and painted the pulley. It looks great with not one crack. I don't think I am going to use it so I to order a new aluminum fan. It's true they are back order for months now. Snyder makes the fan. I think I will be selling my original blade. I don't think I want to take a chance after what I have heard the past year.

If you polished aluminum, you have a good repro fan made by Snyder's and sold through most all the parts houses. If you are unsure, just put a magnet to it. If the magnet sticks, then it's the steel fan.

[Purdy Swoft]

I think that pennies has an old replacement fan with an aluninum hub and steel blades. Usually the blade is one piece and bolts to the aluminum hub with four bolts.

[fiddlybits]

There is only one downside to putting on the aluminum fan and that is either finding a pump body that was cast symmetric or machining the nose of the pump body so that the thicker cast aluminum hub will clear. On one of the bodies the nose was so off center I had to turn 3/16" off of one side just to make it "round".

[pennies4pennies]

Originally Posted by Purdy Swoft

I think that pennies has an old replacement fan with an aluninum hub and steel blades. Usually the blade is one piece and bolts to the aluminum hub with four bolts.

I was wrong. I put a magnet on my blade and it stuck. It polished so well and I really thought the original blades where aluminum. I was wrong.
As you can see in my pictures where the metal was folded over in the front and it looks like some kind of factory weld that goes around the blade. Still I haven't run the car with this blade and I am in the works of removing the blade. There is some pits on just one side of the fan and I thought that was funny thinking this is aluminum. I was proved wrong. Still even though there is no cracks or damage to the blade it's coming off and I am going to sell it and use the money for other parts on the car. Great post and I have learn a lot.
Thanks
Frank

[Mark W.]

Must have been luck of the draw, but I bought a new fan from Tam's, got it off his shelf, and it bolted right up with no issues just like they said it would...

As for my original fan, it was badly cracked and now resides in a box of original "take-offs" from getting the car roadworthy - not that I'd ever try to repair it.

[Joe K]

Pennies, you have an original model fan - the one that came with the majority of Model A Fords when new.

Late in 1931, Ford changed the OEM fan to include a different weld pattern near the hub - and single width blades beyond.

Either of these fans if uncracked are in some demand from the fine point people - and you should get a reasonable price.

I would take cash for it were I you. (ahem)

Joe K

[pennies4pennies]

Originally Posted by Joe K

Pennies, you have an original model fan - the one that came with the majority of Model A Fords when new.

Late in 1931, Ford changed the OEM fan to include a different weld pattern near the hub - and single width blades beyond.

Either of these fans if uncracked are in some demand from the fine point people - and you should get a reasonable price.

I would take cash for it were I you. (ahem)

Joe K

Any thoughts on a reasonable price. I might post it here. Or where would be the best place to post?
Frank

[hardtimes]

Originally Posted by drumyn29

I keep reading about stock fans coming apart and destroying things. Should I be worried when I'm under the hood with motor running? Where can I buy a replacement that will still look appealing? I've heard about an aluminum fan.

WORRIED...YUP ! The newest version of the alum two blade is great, is powder coated and looks great..so far !
NOTE:
I've got TWO great looking original fans..if you need !!

[Purdy Swoft]

I've seen uncracked late original two blade fans priced at one hundred dollars at swap meets.

[leatherback1929]

Last week while on a car cruise I threw a fan blade on my 1929 Model A, yes fan blade not the belt. It was the original style and I was aware of the potential failure and would check it often but, it failed and hit the radiator outlet and then the side of the engine cover. I purchased one of the one piece aluminum fan blade and pulley from Snyder. I stalled my belt and noticed that the standard V belt exceeded the pulley OD by 1/8in. When I contacted Snyder the technical person said it is suppose to be that way. This condition will get better after the paint in the belt groove wears off ? Yes it will get better but, I don't think it will be correct but yes it will work. Be very cautious with the original blades, they are prone to fracture!

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

WELL! jump on me if you want to, IF you get too ROUGH, I'll SIC the Dog on you!!
Just get you a 6 blade fan that the vendors sell, they're SAFE, run VERY true, & I've NEVER heard of a failure!
Me & the Dog jist don't feel "right" about ALUJIMUM fans. The Dog sez, "Wunder if they made out of BEER CANS"??------AND, there's too many "stories" about the tapered hole not being "right"!
Most modern cars run PLASTIC fans, IF ALUJIMUM fans wuz so GREAT, why AIN'T they used widely??
And if you're worried about "looks", they look the same, when the motor's RUNNING!
If Gregg were still here, he'd APPROVE the message above, CUZ he owed me MONEY!!---Bill W.
(OH! & if you got an old cracked fan, DON'T hang it on the wall, BREAK it & throw it away, so someone, years later, might find & use it & risk GREAT INJURY, or it might "PUT OUT HIS LIGHTS"----(Like, DAID!)

[Joe K]

Were I to sell an uncracked original fan blade, I would get EXACTLY what the repop price would be delivered.

I feel it's only a matter of time before the judging standards are changed and give equal weight to original or "original style appearing" fans. Just as they give equal weight to original pressed steel drums and cast iron replacement drums. This in the interest of the safety of the hobby generally.

PLUS, given an equal price standing, one can't be blamed for "selling off an accident waiting to happen" should it actually happen. The buyer makes his choice - the buyer takes his chances. And the money doesn't enter into the equation.

Just one opine. And generally I do sleep well at night - and I don't plan on using - or selling my rather difficult to see the flaw slight cracked fan. (and it is cracked up near where the fold is just behind the nut.)

Joe K

[pennies4pennies]

I took off my original fan and bought a 4 blade steel fan. I haven't tried selling the original fan. I think I might just hang it on the shop wall. I'm not taking no chances.

[henry's 31]

Hi Sir:

I would change to an aluminum fan. You can get one at Snyders, Mikes or your favorite Model A Vendor. They are balanced, powder coated and will not impale into your radiator or hood when it brakes (the original type of fan). One of our club members gave us a presentation on this showing how his original fan impaled into his hood. His repair cost close to $700.00.

Henry's 31

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by pennies4pennies

I took off my original fan and bought a 4 blade steel fan. I haven't tried selling the original fan. I think I might just hang it on the shop wall. I'm not taking no chances.

New or used 4 steel four blade. I had a blade go on a used 4 blade.

[SeaSlugs]

Originally Posted by 1930 coupe

You can inspect a original fan with a magnifying glass and find no cracks then go for a drive and throw a blade in 5 or 10 miles after inspecting it.
Many times they rust out from the inside and be just a couple of miles from failure, but the outside will look perfect. So if you decide to use a original fan DO SO AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Thsi right here. I have yet to find a good 2 blade folded sheetmetal fan. they can be 100% crack free but feel the blades themselves, they almost all have bulges from the inside out from rust. Some are near the tip of the blade some more centered but never evenly (aka not counter balanced, one side is always off balanced)

This is about like gluing different sized weights to any fan blade and expecting to to be safe.

Go spend the $50 or so for the one piece cast aluminum and dont have to worry about it.

[PeteCruz2715]

A couple of notes. I had a stamped four blader on my '30 coupe. The one of the blades decided to fly off and introduce itself to my radiator. I was out on a tour at the time so we took the fan off, separated the two "halves" and continued on with a "two blader" after filling the radiator with stopleak. I won't get into what a mess that made in the engine compartment.

As a side note a few folks in my club have said that they have had "balance" issues with aftermarket two blade cast fans. I am rebuilding the engine in my '28 roadster as we speak (OK "having" it rebuilt would be more precise) and I plan on having the new cast fan I bought from Snyder's balanced before installation.

[Tom Wesenberg]

About 5 to 7 years ago some of the aluminum fans did have issues with blades not being straight or parrellel with each other. This also caused some balance issues.

All the aluminum fans I've checked for the past 5 years have been excellent in quality and balance.

[Drive Shaft Dave]

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Of all the fans i have looked at over the years , I have never seen one that did not have a crack in it.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Drive Shaft Dave

Of all the fans i have looked at over the years , I have never seen one that did not have a crack in it.

Dave, I have a few original fans with no cracks, and one of them is on my car.

[Bob Bidonde]

There is no way to measure the remaining fatigue life of an original fan, so no matter how good it looks, you are playing Russian Roulette. Keep in mind that the principal loading on the fan blades is BENDING, TWISTING and TENSION. There is no way to reasonably repair, reinforce or enhance the fatigue life of an original fan.

[Drive Shaft Dave]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Dave, I have a few original fans with no cracks, and one of them is on my car.

Tom, i'm never that lucky.

[freak]

I just got a new two blade from Snyder's last week. No delay. I like the looks much better than the four blade that someone put on it.

[wrndln]

Like Tom, I also have several fan blades that do not have cracks in them. I like to use original parts, but I am torn between the "original" look and a possible problem. What to do!
Rusty Nelson

[BlueSunoco]

New replacement fan from Snyder's last year. Perfect fit right out of the box, no mods needed. Perfect balance. I would recommend a new aluminum fan to anybody who drives their Model A, for safety AND peace of mind.

And yes, the original IS garage art now even as we speak!!

[JOES31]

Just bought an aluminum fan. Snyders has plenty of them. After installing it I took a close look at the 4 blade I took off. Not saying anyone is wrong but the fan is riveted in 8 places, 4 to the pulley and 4 it the hub. Then the castle nut also holds the blade. No way this fan would have come apart. Looks original. Maybe it' just the original 2 blade that falls apart.

By the way the 4 blade does pull through more air than the 2.

[mshmodela]

Gee, I have an original steel fan... I suppose after reading this I should replace it...

[Purdy Swoft]

Originally Posted by JOES31

Just bought an aluminum fan. Snyders has plenty of them. After installing it I took a close look at the 4 blade I took off. Not saying anyone is wrong but the fan is riveted in 8 places, 4 to the pulley and 4 it the hub. Then the castle nut also holds the blade. No way this fan would have come apart. Looks original. Maybe it' just the original 2 blade that falls apart.

By the way the 4 blade does pull through more air than the 2.

The old model 46 truck four blade fans are just as likely if not more likely to sling a blade as the original two blade fans. I've had at least two of the four blade fans sling a blade. The rivets didn't break, the blades cracked between the rivets and turned loose. Just because the old truck fans have four blades doesn't mean that they will move more air . The four blade fans have less pitch and don't move nearly as much air as the original two blade fan.

The model 46 fans were used on four cylinder Ford trucks from 1933 till end. These fans were sold as a replacement for the model A fan , probably in to the fifties . Some are newer than others and have less stress and wear. Even if the four blade fan is new old stock, it makes removal and replacement of the water pump very difficult and isn't the better choice.

[Duffy1]

There was a study on fan blades posted here a year or so ago that stated the 2 blade fan moved more air by as much as 15% over a 4 blade steel fan or 6 blade plastic fan . If you do a search you will find the study.

[JOES31]

After replacing my 4 blade with the 2 blade aluminum I notice that at idle the car runs at a hotter temperature. The only thing I changed was the fan, so what makes it run hotter than when the 4 blade was on the engine? The pitch of the 4 and 2 look about the same.

[Purdy Swoft]

Don't know. If you prefer the four blade fan, put it back on. If it hasn't been used much and is in excellent condition you will probably never have a problem .

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by wrndln

Like Tom, I also have several fan blades that do not have cracks in them. I like to use original parts, but I am torn between the "original" look and a possible problem. What to do!
Rusty Nelson

You know what they say Rusty?...."You can pay me now or pay me later!"

Pluck

[TerryH]

With all the repeat talk and posts about this, and new stories all the time about them coming apart, I am just surprised that some insist on still running the original ones, feeling that they just need to inspect them. Why in the world take a chance? Unless you have an original high point car, it doesn't make any sense at all......in a word, roulette!

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by TerryH

With all the repeat talk and posts about this, and new stories all the time about them coming apart, I am just surprised that some insist on still running the original ones, feeling that they just need to inspect them. Why in the world take a chance? Unless you have an original high point car, it doesn't make any sense at all......in a word, roulette!

Even with a high point car you only need it when it is judged at a show, not when you drive it around town.

[joltesvig]

My steel fan blew up a couple years ago. The blade which came apart made a small out-ding in my hood. I was lucky! Now I have an original looking aluminium fan which you can buy from most parts suppliers. It works great and looks original too.