8BA in a '36 pickup, fan assembly?

36tbird

Well-known member
I think that there is enough room, but I thought I'd ask here because I'm sure someone else has already been down this path. Will the stock 8BA fan assembly and water pump set up work on a '36 pickup? I know that the tilt of the passenger car radiator prevents enough room for such a set up, but what about a pickup? Thanks in advance.
 
I've heard tell that the 59A series types will fit but the 8BA I'm not sure. If a guy knows the distance between the front of a bare motor block and the rear surface of the radiator we could probably come up with an answer if no one else does.
 
Thanks, guys. So, Steel 35, are you running the '42-'46 type fan, the one with the oil service hole? I have one of those and an 8ba fan and they look to be the same measurements.
 
Thanks, guys. So, Steel 35, are you running the '42-'46 type fan, the one with the oil service hole? I have one of those and an 8ba fan and they look to be the same measurements.

Nothing fancy but lots of clearance.
 

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Thanks, guys. So, Steel 35, are you running the '42-'46 type fan, the one with the oil service hole? I have one of those and an 8ba fan and they look to be the same measurements.

They are the same. One is oil a lubed bushing and one has a bearing.
 
Try doing a search over on the HAMB, there are some excellent modifications/solutions over there.
 
Fe26, thanks for the suggestion, but I am one of the ones on the HAMB who suggest that those who have flathead questions come over to this site for flathead issues. I did do a search there but came up with nuthin'. If you have a link, please turn me on to it.
 
Steel 35, so it appears that you have a 59ab running a '36 fan set up, correct? I think that it illustrates that I will have enough clearance to do what I am proposing, but I was looking for someone with an 8BA stock fan set up or a 59AB with a '42 to '46 fan set up in a '36 pickup.
 
My '36 had an 8BA in it. It had a carrier mounted fan like the very later years. It moved the fan down a bit. A very tidy installation. I didn't do it - I bought it like that. I'll check and see if I have pictures anywhere. But it all fit just fine.

EDIT: Only pic I could find is very blurry & the engine is running, so the fan is a blur anyway. I tried to sharpen it and I may have made it worse...but there were two belts. The primary belt went from crank to water pump to generator to water pump and back to crank. The second belt just went from crank to fan.
 

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That looks like the Merc style set up but just blurry enough I can't tell for sure. They use the 3/8" offset belts and have water pumps similar to the pickup from 48 to 52. They give a little shorter stack up than the standard 8BA belt set up and have a 4-blade fan. Regular pick up pumps can be used if you change to the 3'8" belt sheaves.
 
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Thank, all. My '36 p/u currently has the 409 Chevy water pump set up on the 8ba. It mounts the fan low and I have a pusher electric fan mounted high to augment. I was thinking that I could put on the stock pumps and fan to get the fan higher. From the inputs here, I think it will work well.
 
Found some more pics at home (including the original) and tried to lighten them up as best I can - yes, I think it may be the late Merc setup w/offset belts and separate fan carrier.
 

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OK, things are looking good. The '42 to '46 fan assy looks like an almost perfect fit. I got a big 19 1/2" 6 bladed fan and it is sitting right in the center. I would like to have it a bit higher, but I think things are going to work well. Does anyone happen to have the NAPA, CarQuest, Gates, AutoZone,????? part numbers for the belts so that I can get them locally. Looks like the fan assy one is 36" and the water pump/generator is 55". Thanks in advance for any numbers.
 
Attached you will see a couple of pix of an 8BA eng in my friends '36-37 Ford pickup.. You will note that it is a pretty easy installation..
The 59 AB engine is also very simple if you use the correct accessories.. '36 exhaust manifolds, '36-39 generator w/fan... The upper hoses present a slight problem, however rubber flex hoses and/or aftermarket hoses w/metal extensions solve that problem...
The upper hoses on the 8BA type engines hook up to the radiator very nicely.
 

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Thanks, blucar. If your friend has not gotten his belts, I may be able to supply the NAPA and Gates numbers soon. I am researching them.
 
Thank, all. My '36 p/u currently has the 409 Chevy water pump set up on the 8ba. It mounts the fan low and I have a pusher electric fan mounted high to augment. I was thinking that I could put on the stock pumps and fan to get the fan higher. From the inputs here, I think it will work well.

If you like the 409 setup except for the too-low fan position, you could use the 409 big truck water pump which positions the fan/pump drive much higher. Only downside is these truck pumps are rather bulky and heavy.
John R.
 
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