2 Blade Fan Shortage

mgambuzza

mgambuzza

Senior Member
I've been trying to find a 2 blade fan for my 1930 Model A, but all of the normal sources are either backordered or out of stock. Does anyone know of a source that may have one on hand? I want to replace my water pump and fan at the same time (I have a steel 4 blade), and don't want to go into this twice.
 
In the same boat, shows how thankful we should be for all of the suppliers WE DO currently have. I was told middle of summer months ago.
 
I recommend replacing the 4 pump mounting studs with A-8501-MBM pump mounting stud kit. Installing these studs will allow removing the complete pump without moving the radiator.
 
CT Jack said:
I recommend replacing the 4 pump mounting studs with A-8501-MBM pump mounting stud kit. Installing these studs will allow removing the complete pump without moving the radiator.
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Just to be clear, even if you replace the studs with bolts, when you pull the water pump you still have to rotate it up and forward to get the impeller to clear the head. You can't just lift it straight up.

With the 4-blade fan, you still have to remove (or at least substantially pivot) the radiator even with those bolts installed. If you put the 2-blade fan and the bolts in, that's when you can remove the pump without moving the radiator.
 
I haven't even attempted that yet. still on the one when I got her in 2022. attached is a picture
 

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Mike1291 said:
I've heard some people mention that some four blade fans were weaker because they have riveted blades. Not sure if this is correct or not.
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It's not because they have riveted together blades per say, it's the cracks that "might" develop from the holes for the rivets. It can happen but less seen than a rusty two blade fan. You need to keep an eye on ALL fans if you like your hood :eek:
 
Besides the hood, other costs can include when un balanced fan blade starts shaking when the blade comes apart:

radiator $850

water pump $300

Surgery: thousands of $

if you happen to have your head in the area when the fan comes apart.

50 years ago I had a four blade come loose from the hub at 55 MPH. Lucky for me blades just made alot of noise and did not come apart when rivets came loose.

IN another case: The Coupe has a 4 inch hole in the hood where one of the fan blades went through the top of the hood. Never did find the blade.
 
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Snyders (who has them made & distributes them to other vendors) said in a public release statement that they will have them in October.
 
Almost all fans were riveted when they started stamping them.Age and rust get to them.One with tight rivets and no rust jacking should be fine.I've seen fans fail on newer stuff dozens of times.I had one propel itself through the radiator on a 5 year old S-10 with 48,000 miles on the truck.Fans are a big seller here at the junkyards.They all can,and do break.I lost an aluminum one on my A pickup in the late 90's.That motor was well clearanced and would really fly on flat ground.I was flying flat out when I had a big crash,then quiet,with a huge vibration.Half my fan was missing.There were huge voids,or air pockets in the casting near the hub.It was never in a straight plane,but it didn't vibrate so I used it.It came from JC Whitney maybe 25 years before I put it on.I have no idea if there was more than one maker back then or not.
 
I haven’t checked with the second-tier vendors, but there’s a chance they have one. (S&J, Gaslight, Model A Medic, etc)
 
We had this same situation about a year ago. I got lucky and ordered two when they were available.

BTW, beware that the noses of some water pump housings may rub on the inside of the cast 2-blade fan. So test fit your fan to the water pump before tightening down the nut. You may have to grind off a bit of the nose of the water pump casting to make an interference-free fit. I had to do this with two water pump housings I had.
 
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