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By Rono - 11 Years Ago
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Hey Guys;
Now that I am living less than 200 miles from Death Valley, believe me when I tell you that it gets HOT here in the summer. So, I've decided to install a CCI electric fan in my 56 Customline and need an extra 5/16" of depth clearance. Since I will be removing the mechanical fan anyway, Plan "A" is to cut 5/16" off the end of the snout on the water pump and just leave about 1/8" to center the water pump pulley. Do you see any isues with this? Plan "B" involves modifying the core support so the radiator can mount to the inside of the core support rather than on the outside, but this is much more involved.There may other electric fans with a lower profile, but this is the only company that makes a shrouded electric fan for 56 Ford cars.
Thanks,
Rono
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By glrbird - 11 Years Ago
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I would not think it would be a problem, been working on the 37 any?
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By charliemccraney - 11 Years Ago
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If the fan is made for a '56, then how come it doesn't fit?? Before modifying anything, I'd check with the manufacturer to find out what is up.
If you have the ability to modify the core support, then I assume that you also have the ability to make a shroud, so another option is to buy a fan or fans and make a shroud that fits without modifications to the car or engine.
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By Dobie - 11 Years Ago
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Here's an option for ya, the Sidewinder. The fan motor is offset to the side and can be clocked just about anywhere. The blade assembly itself is the thinnest I've found anywhere.
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By MoonShadow - 11 Years Ago
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I moved my radiator forward and found several of the stock holes lined up fairly close. A little drilling was required. Who makes the sidewinder fans? One might work on the roadster. Chuck
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By Rono - 11 Years Ago
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Gary; I haven't worked at all on the 37 because I've just been too busy with the house and getting settled, but I will start in on it right after I finish the electric fan install on the 56. At least I unwrapped it and it's now sitting in the new shop just waiting. Charlie; I have a Ron Davis aluminum radiator in my 56 that has a slightly thicker core than the stock radiator. Also, before I knew better, I used a truck timing cover with the car water pump. I believe the truck timing cover is also slightly thicker to accomodate the front motor mount.
The total thickness of the CCI fans is only 2&5/8" but they pull 2,500 cfm. I've talked with a lot of people who basically say an electric fan without a shroud is not very effective. I'm not a good enough TIG welder to make an aluminum shroud and I also bought an ABS plastic shroud that was supposed fit around a mechanical fan, but didn't. I just thought this was the best option for my application.
Rono
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By Dobie - 11 Years Ago
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I don't know if these guys make the Sidewinder or if they're just a retailer.
http://www.mattsonscustomradiator.com/side-winder.html
If you Google the Sidewinder several vendors pop up.
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By charliemccraney - 11 Years Ago
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Oh, I see. Thinking to the future, I would go with the core support modification because it only has to be done once. If you need to replace the water pump, it will have to be trimmed again which isn't a big deal to do. But say the replacement turns out to be bad, will they take it back after it's been modified? What if it has to be done on the side of the road?
Is a pusher an option, to supplement the mechanical fan?
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By Rono - 11 Years Ago
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Charlie;
You make some good points. I have another core support coming so I can modify it and keep my original. I have been wondering though if I can change out core supports without all the sheetmetal falling out of place. I think it should all stay put because the grille and lower splash pan/valance will still all be connected.
I have basically ruled out a pusher fan because I have the Vintage Air condenser mounted in front of the radiator (also attached to the core support).
Rono
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By simplyconnected - 11 Years Ago
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It never made sense to me why they put a fan smack in the middle of hot air. Heat is not a fan's friend.
My '59 Galaxie has a stock but overhauled 292. I went with an electric fan for Detroit's Woodward Dream Cruise. Basically, a huge parking lot where cars inch along all day long.
I had the same problem with space so I put the fan in the FRONT of the radiator and spaced the whole radiator toward the motor by 1-1/2". That made plenty of room for a full size fan. The fan I'm using is off of a Crown Vic and it already has a shroud moulded into the plastic. My fan does not touch any radiator cores and it bolts onto the radiator support on the sides.
I made a bracket for a Ford 6G (130-amp) alt. on the Y-block and it works like a charm all day long. Simply reverse the wires and let it push cool air into the radiator. Cool air is dense so the fan blades bite into it better and the fan motor is never hot. - Dave
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By CK - 11 Years Ago
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I did the same with my Tbird, putting the fan in front of the radiator pushing through with 2 speeds,
however the radiator support was sufficient to brace the fan without moving the radiator from the original mounting.
I also left the original fan and shroud in place.
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By lowrider - 11 Years Ago
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Rono, I moved here to Kingman Az. (100 mi. S of Vegas) 3 yrs. ago from Mi. I've found that between June & Aug. most of the car shows, cruises & such are shut down. If they do have something it's late in the afternoon or evening. I haven't had any overheating problems with my 57 Ford w/a modified 292. I don't have ac, just running a 5 blade fan & a small pusher fan in front of the rad. I agree with Charlie that a fan shroud is the way to go. I'd put one on mine if I found one that would fit. I've got a buddy here with a 57 Ford w/ac and he took one of those dual electric fan/shroud set-ups from a later model Taurus/Lincoln, removed the fan and mounted it between the rad & engine. He says he doesn't have any overheating problems.
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By Rono - 11 Years Ago
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 The Cooling Components Fan/Shroud combo came out nicely. A friend had a "Nut Sert" set that we used to mount the shroud to the aluminum flange on the sides of the radiator. Overall depth clearance was a concern and I opted to cut off a little more than 5/16" of the water pump "snout" and use stainless button head bolts rather than hex head bolts because of their lower profile. It's likely that the fan/shroud combo would have to be removed from the radiator to change a belt and definitely to replace the water pump, but I don't think that will be too bad.
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By charliemccraney - 11 Years Ago
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That's still real close. Is there enough clearance that the water pump will not contact it with normal engine movement?
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By Rono - 11 Years Ago
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Well...took her out the other day and didn't see any interference between the pump and fan motor. I just drove easy and didn't get on it at all. Hopefully that won't make a difference. If I went the other route and tried to mount the radiator flange inside the core support, I would have to trim off a section of the lower splash pan so the bottom tank on the radiator could be moved forward.
Rono
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