4 vs. 5 blade engine fan

[Guest]

Hello everyone,

I have a question for the authenticity gurus. I read somewhere that the 1960 thunderbird came with a black 5 blade fan when ordered with factory AC. Can anyone verify this? Has anyone ever seen one with a 4 blade fan? Thanks!

Strange Square

[Alexander]

RE: 4 vs. 5 blade engine fan

Welcome to the site.

All the A/C equipped Thunderbirds from 1958 to 1960 came with a black five-blade fan. The more common four-blade fan was only used on non-A/C cars.

A four-blade fan is simply inadequate for an A/C equipped car. The five-blade fan is barely adequate. If you look through the threads many members here have added fan shrouds to their cars.

Alexander
1959 Hardtop
1960 Golde Top

[Guest]

RE: 4 vs. 5 blade engine fan

Thanks Alexander,

I really appreciate the quick response. This tells me that if I saw a '60 t-bird with A/C and a 4 blade fan something is amiss. I had read about the fan shrouds. I'm in the very hot and humid southeast, so over heating could be a serious problem. I imagine a fan shroud will be my second investment right after seatbelts if I end up with the car I'm looking at. I've been skeptical of the 'rebuilt' engine and since it appears to have the 4 blade fan I'm even more skeptical after your confirmation.

Cheers,
Strange Square

>Welcome to the site.
>
>All the A/C equipped Thunderbirds from 1958 to 1960 came
>with a black five-blade fan. The more common four-blade fan
>was only used on non-A/C cars.
>
>A four-blade fan is simply inadequate for an A/C equipped
>car. The five-blade fan is barely adequate. If you look
>through the threads many members here have added fan shrouds
>to their cars.
>
>Alexander
>1959 Hardtop
>1960 Golde Top

[JohnG]

RE: 4 vs. 5 blade engine fan

As a quick and cheap but substantial improvement, dig up a 6 blade fan.

If you haven't done it, get your radiator flushed and checked at a radiator shop and use a product like Liquid Kool.

For under $100, your car can cool substantially better!

john

[Guest]

RE: 4 vs. 5 blade engine fan

John,

Thanks for the tips. You don't have any leads on where I could pick up a 5 or 6 blade replacement fan do you?

Cheers,
Strange Square

>As a quick and cheap but substantial improvement, dig up a 6
>blade fan.
>
>If you haven't done it, get your radiator flushed and
>checked at a radiator shop and use a product like Liquid
>Kool.
>
>For under $100, your car can cool substantially better!
>
> john

[JohnG]

RE: 4 vs. 5 blade engine fan

I have a 5 blade you are welcome to. I hunted around on Ebay and found a 6 blade without too much trouble. Bear in mind that lots and lots of Ford motors (FE series) used these fans, water pumps and so on, so the parts are not hard to find.

I can email you a picture of the 5 blade fan... send me an email at goulet@net1plus.com.

john

PS for anyone concerned with cooling, having an accurate temp gauge is part of the picture. make sure your gauge is reading accurately by making sure the sending unit is properly grounded. If it is not then the readings will be too low as the resistance will be too high. You can easily check by running a jumper wire to the brass base of it from a good ground and seeing if there is any change in the reading on your gauge. The sending units are poorly grounded due to several reasons.

[Guest]

RE: 4 vs. 5 blade engine fan

John,

Thanks. I think I may have found a 6 blade at parts 123. I had figured the fan blade wouldn't be difficult, but I was a little suprised to find that most t-bird parts suppliers didn't list one. Still, I'll send you an email for photos of yours.

Cheers,
Strange Square


>I have a 5 blade you are welcome to. I hunted around on Ebay
>and found a 6 blade without too much trouble. Bear in mind
>that lots and lots of Ford motors (FE series) used these
>fans, water pumps and so on, so the parts are not hard to
>find.
>
>I can email you a picture of the 5 blade fan... send me an
>email at goulet@net1plus.com.
>
> john