51 v-8 water pump shaft bushing problems

Check post #15 above. The bearing is the same, fan or water pump and the shaft can be made to work.
 
Yes. As I mentioned above, installed one in the fan assembly of my '51 Ford. The bearings original purpose was for a water pump in some other vehicle, but it fits the fan carrier perfectly after trimming the shaft.
 
Yes. As I mentioned above, installed one in the fan assembly of my '51 Ford. The bearings original purpose was for a water pump in some other vehicle, but it fits the fan carrier perfectly after trimming the shaft.




Thanks!


As I mentioned earlier,I have one of these shafts on order that I found on ebay for 12 bucks and change.
 
I don't see how you could buy the bearing without a shaft. This is a cartridge type bearing, with an integral shaft.


fan_brg_1_156f95df527453573ff64551bff5ae7b5fc2e3f3.jpg
 
Is this for a 51 passenger car fan spindle,or a water pump? I ask because I need to replace the bearing,and maybe the shaft in my fan housing,not either of my water pumps.


I mentioned water pump in an earlier post because someone told me SOME model water pump shafts and bearings were easily converted to work in the fan housing.


I realize that I'm jumping offtrack here, but just curious to know if you ever found a Ford-O-Matic to put behind your flathead six?
 
I realize that I'm jumping offtrack here, but just curious to know if you ever found a Ford-O-Matic to put behind your flathead six?




Yes,in fact I ended up with one I had rebuilt, one good used one a guy pulled out of his Vicky to replace with a C4,and two unknown condition for parts.


AFAIK,all I am missing now is the correct bellhousing and starter plate,and the trim piece that goes on the dash over the steering column on FOM cars. I THINK I can make an adaptor using a PU bellhousing,but won't know for sure until I get the flat 6 pulled from my parts car and sitting on my shop floor so I can start on it and see what is what.

I'm not good at just visualizing things. I need to get the parts in my hand and look at them to try to figure out how to make them work with each other.

Right now I am not doing anything physical because I have stage 4 lymphoma and the chemo is making me so confused I don't know what is going on half the time. Should be done with the chemo in Aug,and can maybe start getting my mind and strength back then.


If you know someone that needs one to rebuild,I can sell one of the cores if I can find it. As I am sure you know,the 52 Ford uses the same short shaft FOM as the 51.
 
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I don't see how you could buy the bearing without a shaft. This is a cartridge type bearing, with an integral shaft.


I am working with a handicap here. I am unable to do my own work at this time,so the car is at a restoration shop to have the repairs done. All I have to go on is him telling me I need a new bearing in it. Talked to him yesterday and he still hasn't taken it off because I told him to not take it off until I can find the parts.

I live in a rural area,so if necessary I can remove the fan itself to reduce the stress,and still drive the car. No stop and go traffic for it to boil over in,and I have a 6 volt radiator fan and relay on order.


I had already ordered the shaft without the bearing before I found out what type of bearing it is. I will see if I can find the right bearing for the shaft I ordered after it comes in. If not,I will just buy the water pump shaft and bearing you recommended. I will be out less than 20 bucks on the one I bought,so no big deal. My main concern is to keep the car running and driving so I can enjoy it until somebody comes along that wants to buy it.



BTW,thank you for your time and your help on this.
 
Yes,in fact I ended up with one I had rebuilt, one good used one a guy pulled out of his Vicky to replace with a C4,and two unknown condition for parts.


AFAIK,all I am missing now is the correct bellhousing and starter plate,and the trim piece that goes on the dash over the steering column on FOM cars. I THINK I can make an adaptor using a PU bellhousing,but won't know for sure until I get the flat 6 pulled from my parts car and sitting on my shop floor so I can start on it and see what is what.

I'm not good at just visualizing things. I need to get the parts in my hand and look at them to try to figure out how to make them work with each other.

Right now I am not doing anything physical because I have stage 4 lymphoma and the chemo is making me so confused I don't know what is going on half the time. Should be done with the chemo in Aug,and can maybe start getting my mind and strength back then.


If you know someone that needs one to rebuild,I can sell one of the cores if I can find it. As I am sure you know,the 52 Ford uses the same short shaft FOM as the 51.

Ah yes, "the correct bellhousing"! Have you found whether they exist? I remember '51 Ford ads listing a Ford-O-Matic for the flat 6, but were any ever really built? As far as using a standard trans bellhousing, I think the critical dimension would be the depth (from trans face to block face). But with a mill, lathe, welder and patience, 'most anything can be done.
 
It is the same bearing as a early chevy like 59 water pump. The shaft is part of the bearing and may have to be cut to your length.
 
Ah yes, "the correct bellhousing"! Have you found whether they exist? I remember '51 Ford ads listing a Ford-O-Matic for the flat 6, but were any ever really built? As far as using a standard trans bellhousing, I think the critical dimension would be the depth (from trans face to block face). But with a mill, lathe, welder and patience, 'most anything can be done.


I am 99 percent sure some were made and put up for sale because I have official Ford sales literature for 51 Fords,and the sales literature brags about how "If you buy a Ford you don't have to pay extra to buy a V-8 to enjoy having an automatic transmission in your car,because it is an option with 6 cylinder engines in 1951 Fords!"


Almost certainly not a direct quote because I am writing from memory,but that is the essence of it. Henry Ford was known to be cheap/thrifty,and I have a hard time believing he approved of spending the money on advertising to sell cars he wasn't building.


IMHO,it just wasn't a popular option back then because people so cheap they bought a flat 6 Ford instead of "having V-8 POWER!" at just a few bucks more were unlikely to order anything other than a standard shift with overdrive.


I am GUESSING that Ford blewthem out at bargain prices to fleet buyers to get rid of them after the initial production,and then just stopped taking orders. After all,the following year they would be offering a OHV inline 6 engine with more power to replace the flathead,and two years later would be dumping the flat V-8,so it may have just made business sense to quiety drop it than spend big bucks advertising and trying to sell "a horse that is already dying".


As for using the truck bellhousing and starter plate,I'm not even going to try to guess. I bought them off ebay because it SEEMED like they might be the easiest way to create what I need,and I will find out once I have the parts car engine sitting blocked up on my shop floor so I can see what there is to be seen and measured.


Since I may be losing my left leg being able to drive my 51 coupe will require an AT. It is either do this or put a V-8 in the car,and I want to keep the flat 6.


Then again,I do have a 339 cube Lincoln flat V-8 sitting out in the yard,and GM hydro trans from the early 50's will bolt to it...........
 
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