Here is a link to a previous post on the air deflector and its intended use.
Read the whole post as there is very good info from a lot of different contributors on improving air flow for better cooling.
http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/Topic47910.aspx
marv

The air deflector does what is says - it deflects the incoming air through the radiator to provide better water cooling. One reason why a fan is not needed as much at speed.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

I dont think anyone here in Australia runs them, I took mine off.. If they worked really well we'd all be using them.



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

I thought this might need another reply. The deflector has been on for a month, but I had not had the opportunity to drive with it in stop and go traffic or any heat. This weekend I was out for a few hours in mostly stop and go traffic and a lot of sunshine. My stock temp guage always moves up and down with the opening and closing of the thermostat but after all the water was the same temp the needle stayed right in the middle from signal to signal. Can't say what will happen in late August or early Sepember when the temps here in So Cal seem to be the highest, but right now I am pleased. Thermo gun says 165 at the thermo neck and 145 at the bottom outlet of the radiator.

This Saturday is 40 Ford Days at La Palma Park in Anaheim so all of the ride will be surface streets and I always enjoy their get together. Another good test.

There is life East of PCH but not very far East..........................................JD

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

Thanks for all your replies. Contrary to what I'm reading I thought the deflector would help in the cooling by force in all the air thru the radiator. I guessed this because I made a thick cardboard panel to fit in the large open hole in from of the radiator and it helped in the cooling. I do live in So Cal 5 miles from the beach and cruise locally so desert heat has not been a problem so far.

With the deflector, I was hoping someone had put in the staples and had a way of "curling" them over like the original ones I took out. Not that I have a 100 pointer or anything I just like to do things "original" if I can. Using the T-50's and curling the ends with a pair of needle noses sounds like a plan. Right now I'm filling in the blasted rust marks with primer and sanding smooth at least on the front.....Thanks all

PS: Heading Saturday to the So Cal Galaxie meet...All Fords and from what I hear Stock for the most part..............................JD

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

Sounds like you've been given some good suggestions.

I, too, have used an ice pick to make the needed holes in the new material. I then used nichrome wire to individually form each new 'staple'.

The wire is available in different gauge sizes. I used 20 gauge for what I was doing. -It fit the original holes in the metal the rubber was to be secured to. I believe (not sure) that I obtained the nichrome wire from a ceramics shop that had kiln materials / supplies.

Unlike the staples you may be replacing, mine were originally round in cross-section. The nichrome was easy to shape and cut. It was also nice, because it didn't rust.

To achieve uniformity, I believe I cut the wire pieces to a pre-determined length based upon an original staple. The metal wire cut easily with diagonal pliers. I formed the staple width using needle nose pliers to make the two 90 degree bends. I then manipulated the two ends through the rubber and the metal (probably using the needle nose pliers to grip and push) and drew the ends through (again probably using the needle nose pliers) so that they extended the same amount and pulled the rubber tight to the metal surface. I then bent the ends over to clinch them, probably using a straight blade screw driver.

Perhaps an option to consider...


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

I used 3/8" Arrow T-50 heavy duty staples (like the ones used in staple guns). Just remove the original staples, open up the holes in the sheet metal with a nail or punch, line up the holes with the new rubber and punch the holes in the rubber and insert the T-50 staples. Hold the staples on one side and bend over the other side and you are done. You will find that the T-50's bend much easier than the stock staples but are still strong enough to hold the rubber in place. Good luck, Alan S. Freeman

In my extensive past restoration business, i usually just opened up the original holes in the deflector panel a little bigger, which then made refitting the staples a lot easier. Align the rubber seal with deflector and poke through holes to mark rubber, then push something pointy through rubber, then refit staple and bend the ends over. . Hope this helps. bill.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

According to a very knowledgeable retired Ford mechanic these were installed for faster engine warm-up in colder climates in the winter time.They do seal the hood to prevent air from entering.If you want to run cooler leave it off.I took mine off.

  

I had the "air deflector" on my 56 Customline up to last year, but took it off. By the way, I didn't use the original staples, I used aluminum pop rivits equally spaced, but the reason I removed it was that the car ran hotter in the summer with it on. Turns out that because of the seal to the hood, the engine bay heats up faster and is bad traffic...not good in a hot climate. Just my 2 cents worth.

Rono

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID