8CM Fan Delete

[w4jeh]

Hi Guys, I have a '32 five window coupe with a '50 Mercury 8CM, and I want to delete the mechanical fan and use an electric fan/shroud combination.
I'd like to keep the same belt lengths and use the fan pulley as an idler pulley. Anyone have any thoughts or hints on how to remove the fan and shorten the shaft and bearing that will be left sticking out?

 

[tubman]

If it's a Mercury, I believe the fan is just bolted to the idler pulley. Why not just remove it? Of course after all of these years, the whole setup may have been changed, so I may be all wet.

 

[V8 Bob]

Just curious? Why do you want to use the fan carrier pulley as an idler?
If you use an electric fan all you will need to do is use the long outer belt to drive the generator and water pumps. If possible, post a photo of what you are planning to do.

The '50-'53 Fords and Mercs went from the single 5/8" belt running both pumps to a narrow 3/8" belt for each pump. The fan runs with one pump, the generator with the other.
To w4jeh, the fan blade can be removed by grinding/drilling the rivets, but not sure about shortening the shaft.

 

[19Fordy]

Thanks V8 Bob. I was incorrectly thinking of the 49 Merc wide belts. I think this is the fan in question even though it has the 8BA number. I pressed it out of the fan carrier bracket. The shaft is 5/8 in. dia. It appears that rivets hold the fan blade to the hub. You could shorten the shaft by cutting it with a die grinder and a cut off wheel. It would be neat to see the original poster's use of this as an idler pulley.

 

[rotorwrench]

The later Mercury fans are bolted to the sheave. Ford sheaves need no backspacing like the later Merc fans have (cone shaped sheave). They all use double row bearing & shaft assembly that presses into the sliding block part and into the sheave. These bearings can be replaced and are very similar to water pump shaft/bearing assemblies. That is what I use to repair them is a universal shaft/bearing designed for water pump repair and it works fine.

This stuff can be modified depending on your needs for sheave diameter and belt type/location. You can shorten the shaft end but you can't shorten the bearing end. If you need it longer then you would have to find one with a longer shaft. The universal ones usually need to be shortened to work with the stock fan assembly. If you need one shorter than the shaft allows then you will have to change to a different design.

I've seen several impressive and ingenious fans fabricated to fit Model A V8s and 1932 cars but I've never been impressed by an electric fan.

 

[tubman]

^^^

Everything he said is correct. I have replaced fan bearings on these as well. The only thing I can add is that, to my surprise, I was able to shorten the long bearing shaft using a regular hack saw.

 

[Johnnydidd]

that is a ford fan, you can replace it with a 4 blade merc fan.or after you take off the fan blade you will see the bearing, then you can shorten it back to the bearing maybe leave 1/4 inch before bearing. you can cap the end with plastic cap. been their done that.