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 

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

I would not think it would be a problem, been working on the 37 any?

Gary Ryan San Antonio.TX.

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.



Lawrenceville, GA

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.

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

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

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

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

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.

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?



Lawrenceville, GA

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

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

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  

Royal Oak, Michigan (Four miles north of Detroit, and 12 miles NORTH of Windsor, Canada).  That's right, we're north of Canada.

Ford 292 Y-Block major overhaul by simplyconnected