I felt I had to share this sad story. In the '56 on the way to the airport on Saturday to pick up a relative and all of a sudden I hear a bang bang bang noise. Fortunately there was a wide spot to pull over. I get out and there is green blood on the ground. I lift the hood and the fan has clipped the lower portion of the radiator. So I immediately attribute the problem to the rebuilt water pump I put on eight months ago thinking that the bushing had gone out allowing the fan to wobble.The tow truck driver was great and wasn't bothered by lowered cars. Got it home and in the shop and then drank some beer. The next morning I go out to do some more investigation. There is a little wobble when grasping the fan blade but not enough to cause what happened. I check the generator belt to verify that I didn't have it too tight and it has the usual half inch deflection. I go to check the power steering belt but wait a minute where's my belt. Then I look and where's my power steering pulley! Upon further investigation I found both the belt and pulley laying on the sheet metal pans that reside under the front of the car on '56's.
The fan hit the pulley on it's way out and bent the end forward which proceeded to create circular pattern on the radiator.
So you all probably know what I'll be working on!

Jeff Petersen

Sooo, your saying the Sheet Hit the Fan???. Sorry had to say it.

The pans you refer to are usually long gone on cars these days.

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

It looks like the splash pans are not worthless,I put them back on my 55 since I was tired of tripping over them in the garage.

Butchering up everything I can get my hands on in Dayton Ohio

I started working on the car yesterday and when I removed the pans I found the bolt and woodruff key. The only thing missing is the thick washer. I'm afraid that the radiator is not repairable. Amazing the amount of damage that 5/16 bolt created!

Jeff Petersen