Radiator-Fan clearance

fordfun

fordfun

Member
After living with a leaking water pump for the past 2 years ( and trying several fixes including tightening, repacking, etc.), I finally bit the bullet and installed a "leakless" unit. This seemed like the ideal time to replace the 4-blade fan that came on the car (1929 Sport Coupe) with a new 2-blade Al. version. This necessitated removing the radiator, which revealed that it did not contain the spring mounts, so I installed these. I also re-plumbed the rad. and installed a petcock (which had not been previously installed...what a mess draining the system without one).

The pump and fan are now installed and the radiator is back in the car. However, I believe I may have a significant clearance problem, particularly at the 6:00 o'clock position of the fan (about 1/8" between tip of blade and radiator). The clearance improves higher up, which appears to indicate that the fan blade is not sitting parallel to the rad. Should it?

I'm concerned that any movement of the radiator aft may result in contact with the fan. The only retarding factors are spring pressure on the mounts and the lower hoses. Also, if the pump or fan ever need to be removed, it will definitely require pulling the radiator.

I could move the bottom of the rad forward a bit, but that would give only minimal improvement and opens up a gap between the hood and the shell.

Is this situation unusual and a problem? If so, How would I go about correcting it? I'd appreciate any insight and guidance you can give me with this.

Thanks - Bill
 

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I would start by checking to be sure the engine is level. Are you running float-a-motors? Does your front pulley line up with the hand starter crank?

Charlie Stephens
 
Can you say what kind of head or engine you got there. I don't know but I don't think ive saw that rig before
 
The engine contains a "B" head (embossed "C") on an "A" block.

I'll check the motor mounts later tonight or tomorrow AM.

As mentioned, the radiator came without spring mounts. The rad. pads sat on over-sized nuts through which the bolts passed and were fastened fast to the top of the pads.
 
Charlie Stephens said:
I would start by checking to be sure the engine is level. Are you running float-a-motors? Does your front pulley line up with the hand starter crank?

Charlie Stephens
Click to expand...


Like Charlie mentioned, does the pulley like up with the hand starter crank? If not then the motor is sitting to high up in the front. If it does line up then it would seem like the radiator is not plumb.
 
I just measured my 9-27-28 Phaeton with all original parts, including the fan, and the bottom blade has 9/16" clearance at the tip, while the tip of the upper blade has 1 5/8" clearance.
 
Charlie & Fred - the engine is indeed mounted with FAMs, and aligns with the crank.

Tom - Thanks for supplying the clearance information. That provides some reassurance that the fan blade sits at somewhat of an angle to the rad.

I'll try moving the rad. forward to gain some additional clearance. It will undoubtedly create additional gap between the hood and shell, but that's a reasonable compromise.

All - thanks for your suggestions. Any additional thoughts on this are very welcome. Bill
 
it appears to me that the angle of your upper radiator hose indicates there is indeed some undue upward slant to the engine, but whether that is merely the "B" block/water pump or something else, I don't know.
 
All I've seen sets at an angle. Mine sets the same with both front and rear FAM as it did with original mounts.
 
Tom Wesenberg said:
I just measured my 9-27-28 Phaeton with all original parts, including the fan, and the bottom blade has 9/16" clearance at the tip, while the tip of the upper blade has 1 5/8" clearance.
Click to expand...


Bill, I also have about 3/4" angle, top to bottom difference. Tom, above is a guy to listen to as he knows his stuff. All Model A's I have seen are at a slight angle, (fan to radiator,) with the A head and pump.

The other issue may be that the "B" head and pump may place the fan at a slightly different distance to the radiator than the original setup. Something to research as a clearance issue. Slight angle is normal.
 
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