radiator fan 40/41 pickup ID

joel

Well-known member
I just fired the 59A for the first time and it went pretty well except the crank mounted fan skinned the lower radiator hoses. This fan was on the engine in a '40 2dr sedan I bought so I assumed it was correct. Is this the correct fan for my truck?
 

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I just fired the 59A for the first time and it went pretty well except the crank mounted fan skinned the lower radiator hoses. This fan was on the engine in a '40 2dr sedan I bought so I assumed it was correct. Is this the correct fan for my truck?
527478


527479
 
Your fan appears to be correct.
Two things can lead to the interference issue you are experiencing.
Worn motor mounts will bring the fan closer to the hoses.
Also, the hoses may be installed incorrectly. If you inspect them carefully, you'll note one "end" is longer than the other.
I can't, off the top of my head, recall which end goes to the pump. I do recall that occasionally the end of the hose (at the pump) needs to be trimmed a bit to obtain a bit more clearance from the blades.
 
Thanks, Kube. I installed the hoses with the long end on the pump to clear an aftermarket sway bar. I have almost an inch between the fan and radiator core; I am thinking about making a 1/4 in. spacer along with trimming the pump end of the new hoses. Does anyone see a problem with that? The radiator is stock with a new core. The engine mounts are new; maybe add a shim on top of the front biscuits.
 
Thanks, Kube. I installed the hoses with the long end on the pump to clear an aftermarket sway bar. I have almost an inch between the fan and radiator core; I am thinking about making a 1/4 in. spacer along with trimming the pump end of the new hoses. Does anyone see a problem with that? The radiator is stock with a new core. The engine mounts are new; maybe add a shim on top of the front biscuits.

Yu can trim a little off the end of each hose where it attaches to pump. That should allow clearance at your aftermarket sway bar as well as clearance to your fan.
I don't believe it's necessary to move your fan any closer to the radiator. A one inch clearance is about right.
 
Let me catch up. I trimmed about 5/16 in. off the long end of the hoses ans re-installed the trimmed ends on the pumps as Kube suggested. I laid the fan face down on a flat surface and found some of the blades "bent". the short blades were the worst. I began tweaking the long blade until the leading edge of each blade was even with the surface. Then I did the same with the short blades.
Each long blade is across from a short blade. This distance is about 16 in. measuring from the center of the hub to the end of a long blade would make the swept dia. between 17 and 18 in. I think.
I agree, Kube, I won't have to space the fan closer to the radiator. I can hold 2 paint sticks on the hoses ( where they were contacted) and the blades clear while cranking with the starter. 2 paint sticks = about 1/4 in.
Sorry, no videos while cranking; I don't have enough hands.:)
 

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Let me catch up. I trimmed about 5/16 in. off the long end of the hoses ans re-installed the trimmed ends on the pumps as Kube suggested. I laid the fan face down on a flat surface and found some of the blades "bent". the short blades were the worst. I began tweaking the long blade until the leading edge of each blade was even with the surface. Then I did the same with the short blades.
Each long blade is across from a short blade. This distance is about 16 in. measuring from the center of the hub to the end of a long blade would make the swept dia. between 17 and 18 in. I think.
I agree, Kube, I won't have to space the fan closer to the radiator. I can hold 2 paint sticks on the hoses ( where they were contacted) and the blades clear while cranking with the starter. 2 paint sticks = about 1/4 in.
Sorry, no videos while cranking; I don't have enough hands.:)
527530


527531
 
Thanks to everyone who commented. I should have looked at the fan closer before installing it. I probably needed to trim the hoses anyway. New hoses are on the way and I picked up antifreeze today also.
 
Thanks to everyone who commented. I should have looked at the fan closer before installing it. I probably needed to trim the hoses anyway. New hoses are on the way and I picked up antifreeze today also.

Get yourself a small bottle of Indian Head Shellac (about $3.50) at Napa. Place it on the inside of the hose at each connection and allow it get tacky before installing the hose.
You'll be amazed at how well this stuff helps to seal and hold the hose in place. When and if you need to replace a hose, it breaks free rather easily.
One of those "old time" chemicals and "tricks" that actually work.
 
joel, I see from your pictures that you have no side nor bottom shields. With those shields missing, the turbulence behind the radiator inhibits the flow through from the front, and promotes air around rather than through the radiator.
 
joel, I see from your pictures that you have no side nor bottom shields. With those shields missing, the turbulence behind the radiator inhibits the flow through from the front, and promotes air around rather than through the radiator.

VERY good observation.
By coincidence, I was just delivered a '40 convertible to do some repair work on.
On the "list" is installing those pans, currently absent, for the very reasons you site.
 
fan needs to be as close as possible to the rad for best effect how ever you need enough clearance so when things move they dont get too close had similar problems with my 39 merc had fan spacers made to move the fan forward the other war would be to make a fan ring or a full shroud for the rad but be careful as the shroud can cause restricted air flow at highway speeds where as the ring doesn't but it wont use the full rad when idling
 
fan needs to be as close as possible to the rad for best effect how ever you need enough clearance so when things move they dont get too close had similar problems with my 39 merc had fan spacers made to move the fan forward the other war would be to make a fan ring or a full shroud for the rad but be careful as the shroud can cause restricted air flow at highway speeds where as the ring doesn't but it wont use the full rad when idling

I'm willing to bet you had required a spacer as you had the fan that was supposed to be in a Ford of the same year. Mercury fans had a longer shaft.
 
I'm willing to bet you had required a spacer as you had the fan that was supposed to be in a Ford of the same year. Mercury fans had a longer shaft.

As the fan mounts to the crank pulley with 4 bolts, do you mean that there are TWO different crank pulleys? One for Ford and one for Mercury?
 
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