Hello, I am curious if the later 223 equipped trucks( I have a '56 F100) came with cooling fan clutches and maybe even a fan with more than four blades. The direct-drive 4-blade fan from '56 seems a little old and outdated, and I think more blades and a clutch would essentially give me the best of both worlds: More low RPM/hot temp cooling, and less parasitic HP loss otherwise.

The internet(rockauto) says these exist, but I can't find any real life pictures. Maybe numberdummy can help.


The other issue is--if these exist--would it fit between my radiator, since there's a chance the dimensions are different.


Thank you very much.

 

'62 F-100 with 223 I6

Mine has a 4 blade. And as far as a fan clutch ... cooling fan / pulley bolt directly to my water pump. ... I'm having a hard time picturing what RockAuto says they have ... but hey it's on the internet so it must be true LOL!

 

Is this the one you are talking about?

 

Yes, that is exactly it. Rockauto claims they used fan clutches and a 6 blade fan, which would be AWESOME if it were true....or at least if it would fit.

I kinda wanna try it. As long as the clutch assembly pilot hole perfectly fits the water pump pilot I think I'd have enough room and therefore it would work no problem. I just don't have anything to measure the pilot.

 

Not trying to discourage you from trying the clutch fan, but why do you need it? Does your truck overheat? The stock fans work pretty well as they were designed.

 

Ford did not offer a fan clutch for any 1961/64 truck. 1965 was the first year.

C4SZ-8A616-B .. Fan Clutch - 3 11/64" depth / Obsolete

1964/66 Thunderbird 390; 1965/67 F100/350 240/300/352 with A/C; 1965/71 Galaxie/LTD 352/390/427/428; 1966 Thunderbird 428; 1968/69 F100/350 360/390 with A/C

5 and 7 blade 18" diameter fans were available, the clutch bolts to these fans using a 2 3/8" center hole.

 

I think that the direct drive fans are inefficient compared to a clutched setup, and believe it would help to ensure stable temps at idle.

Simply put, why not upgrade if it will fit?
(Secondly, I just test fit my electric fan setup that has been planned for YEARS, only to find out it won't fit between the water pump and the radiator. To ensure "super cooling", I figured this more modern setup would suffice)


Bill can you give me the measurement specifications of the standard fan for the 1956 223, so I can compare it to the fan/clutch assemblies on Rockauto?

Rock auto gives a LOT of really helpful specific measurements, and if I can compare, then maybe I can see if it will work or not.

Specifically, the pilot diameter of the stock 223 water pump or the pilot hole size in the stock fan would be most helpful since that would dictate whether it would fit and the alignment.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...5406&jsn=10446


Thanks everyone.

 

C3AZ-8600-B (replaced B9T-8600-D) .. 4 Blade Fan with 5/8" diameter center hole / 18.00" diameter (B9T-D) / 18 1/4" diameter (C3AZ-B) / Obsolete

Applications that apply: 1954/55 F100/350 223 I-6; 1956 F100/250 & F350 223 I-6 w/single rear wheels; 1956 F100/600 272.

Obviously both C3AZ & B9T were updated part numbers, but I couldn't find the original 1954 part number they replaced.

 

UPDATE: So I went and dug up an old fan/clutch assy from--of all things-- a 1971 Camaro with a 350 and the good news is that the pilot hole is PERFECT for the 223 water pump. The bad news is that the boltholes are placed from each other 2.125" vs the 1.75" of the 223 stocky.
And lastly, I just got a new aluminum radiator that is a tad thicker than the stock that leaks. And low and behold, the clutch would barely touch the new radiator.....

It wouldn't work even if the bolt holes were right.
The overall height of the camaro fan was eyeballed to be very close to 3"(official specification is 3.090"). So I'd need to find a correct bolt circle clutch, with an overall height of less than 2.75" preferably.


Hmmm, this is becoming a wild goose chase for something that may not even be needed, but I'm not giving up yet.

 

Thank you very much Bill, I really appreciate it.

 

I don't know much about electric fans. The PO of my truck installed one, but it's on the front of the radiator where there's plenty of room. Do they make these fans to mount to either side of the radiator?

 

If you want to wade through the catalogs try this link. Hayden - Fan Clutches and Fan Blades
I pieced mine together by mixing and matching out of their catalogs. Not a 223 though.

 

Yes the make "pusher" fans that mount on the front side of the radiator, however that is where my A/C condenser will go and possible an engine oil cooler. Running outta room,

Thanks, I was looking for one of those!


I did the same thing, but the hard way: I looked though application after application on rock auto comparing the dimensions.





Until I get the parts I have in mind, I won't know, but I think I may have found my solution, I'll update when I get them in.

 

In retrospect I think it's funny how well this debacle went. How easily everything kinda fell together.


I want to update this thread with the solution I found, and yes, I found one.
A bit of a recap: I needed a fan clutch to be less than 3" in height and a fan that could bolt to it. Apparently this exact part exists, the bolt hole/slots are stretched and fit the 223 water pump. The issue that I found was the pilot hole was too big. Fan Clutch: HAYDEN 2947
This issue reminded me about pilot bushings for transmission input shafts. I figured someone must make a bushing that would fit the fan clutch, and also my pilot. I roughly estimated that the clutches bore was 3/4" and that the water pump shaft was about 5/8".
Went on ebay and found an exact bushing that fit almost perfectly, but they were too long and so I ground them down with a grinding wheel. Search: Bronze Bushing ..ID 5/8" OD 3/4"

The actual fan blade set I used is a 7 blade unit that came stock on a 1971 Camaro with a 350. Fit perfectly.

I could not easily install the clutch/fan with bolts, and so I scavenged the studs out of an old Pontiac 400 water pump I have laying around, they fit almost perfectly, except that the studs bottomed out on the fan clutch to where it essentially seized the clutch operation. My fix is a little wonky and untested but in final assembly(not shown in pictures) I actually put small washers BETWEEN the water pump flange and the clutch flange. It worked but hasn't been tested.

Getting everything installed was a bit of an ordeal. Everything has an order of assembly, and must be done that way. The fan/clutch has to go first, THEN the radiator. It means any time I need to service the fan clutch or water pump.....I have to COMPLETELY empty and remove the radiator.
Whatever.

Any questions?

 

Why are you using studs? The correct bolt and washer will work fine and you should be able to R&R without removing the radiator. Those nuts on the studs I'm sure were not easy to get started. The bolts will solve some these issues.