There are two things you can do to benefit most any vintage cooling system. The first is to run straight distilled water in the cooling system during the summer months, (with no antifreeze) and a pint of rust inhibitor/water pump lubricant. Water is the best dispersent of heat there is. This simple trick is good for a twenty degree drop in engine temperature.

Next up...pressurize your cooling system and add an overflow coolant tank. Five pounds is enough. The five pounds of pressure will raise the boiling point of your engine coolant to 227 degrees. The pressure will also create enough vacuum in the cooling system to draw the overflow coolant back into the radiator, as the engine cools.

When the overflow tank catches the expanded engine coolant it prevents outside air from entering the cooling system. When outside air is allowed to enter the cooling system, steam pockets can develop in the cylinder head and engine block, which can then build pressure and restrict coolant flow. Steam pockets are a common cause of engine overheating.

Electric Radiator Cooling Fans, can be a big help in solving overheating problems. Electric radiator cooling fans work best at idle and low speeds to increase airflow through the radiator core. It is best to mount the fan in the upper third of the radiator as close to the top of the radiator as possible, because that is where the warm coolant enters the radiator. A 14” an works best for most vertical radiator applications including Flathead Fords.

Metal brackets that mount the fan assembly to the radiator frame are a better choice for mounting the fan, than the nylon ties that use the radiator core for support. Nylon ties will often cause damage to the radiator core.

Electric Fan Motors may all look the same but they are not. Be sure your fan has a ball -bearing fan motor. They will use less current, are more reliable, and will have a much longer service life when compared to a less expensive bushing type fanmotor.

Also check the number of blades, and the pitch of the blades. A more aggressive pitch on the fan blade will require a bigger motor, but will move more air...which is your goal in the first place. Also be aware of CFM ratings. Most do not take into consideration the radiator core thickness, and the number of fins per-inch, that make up the radiator core. A better gauge is the size of the motor, the number of blades, and the pitch of the blades.

6 Volt And 12 Volt Cooling Fans Available
Fifth Avenue builds electric radiator cooling fans for both 6-volt and 12-volt applications using the largest ball bearing motors available. This insures that the fan will have a long service life, no matter how severe the application.

Pusher Or Puller?
In addition to the voltage, you will need to decide if you want the fan to be a “pusher” or a “puller” style of an. A pusher style fan mounts on the front side of the radiator and pushes air through the radiator core. A “puller” style fan mounts on the engine side of the radiator core and pulls air through the radiator. Fifth Avenue’s electric radiator cooling fans can be reversed, by reversing the wires on the fan motor, and reversing the fan blade assembly on the motor.

When in doubt always remember...the curve or pitch of the blade should always face the engine! This is true of both pusher and puller style fans.