I'm trying to get my 235 running before I put the front end sheet metal
back on. One of the last things I need is the fan. I've heard enough
stories (here and elwhere) of these old fans cracking and sending blades
through hoods, so I stripped all the paint off mine and inspected it
closely. Sure enough, there's a crack connecting two of the rivets on the
hub.
At the FLAPS, I bought a modern six-blade fan that probably weighs half as
much as the old one. It has a so called "universal" mounting pattern on
the hub. Unfortunately, "universal" means anything after '55 and my 235
is from a '54. It would fit, but the pilot hole in the hub is only 5/8
and the pilot on my water pump is 1".
This raises a few questions:
Does anyone know where to obtain a modern lightweight fan that will fit a
'54 235? For those hard core restorers out there who would never dream of
putting a new fan on an old engine, what do you do with cracked fans? I
could weld it, but wouldn't that throw it out of ballance? Is there an
adapter available to mount a newer fan on a pre '55 water pump? If so,
how much clearance would it leave between the fan and the radiator?
Thanks in advance,
Andrew Roberts
1949 3600
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