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Got the motor in and running. After a couple minutes it stopped dead and it turns out the fan shaft seized ip in the bracket. I dug grandpas out of the saved parts pile and it was smooth so it is back in service. Grandpas 52 fan had a bit of an X to it versus the + shape of my replacement. I put the + on grandpas shaft and about a tsp of oil leaked out. Book says fan requires no lubricant. The seized one was clearly dry. I added some engine oil to replade the lost and it appeared similar. Its on snd tunningvway quieter than before. 3 questions: whats up with the oil/dry brackets and whats up with the fan shapes? Thanks guys
All my OEM Flathead fans require lubricant. I use the same oil I used in the crank case - SAE30. Note that this was Ford's original recommendation, but later changed it to gear oil.
As for the fan styles, Ford used many blade setups between their passenger vehicles, Ford trucks, and Mercury's with arrangements of 3,4 or 6 blades of many styles further compounded by aftermarket parts.
A '53 should have come with a sealed ball-bearing fan assembly, as shown below. Someone must have swapped it for an earlier style. Is your engine an EAB (casting numbers on the heads)? The whole engine may not be original.
I bought a NOS fan from DC a few months back for a 52, it was an X. My guess is that was a design improvement to help in taking the radiator out without having to dismantle the fan assembly? Any work in that general area is a real nightmare.
Thanks Ross . Since I neglected to put the fan shroud in earlier, let me advise I have found it no easier with the + shape. I was actually thinking the narrow X may be easier? When would have been the best time to get the shroud in? It always seemed to not be a good time. . Thanks Brent
Every time I end up having to work in that area, it eventually results in me removing the fan from the hub (leaving the fan between the radiator and engine), removing the hub assembly from the block, freeing the fan, then I can remove the shroud and then the radiator. Installation is reverse.
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. Since I neglected to put the fan shroud in earlier, let me advise I have found it no easier with the + shape. I was actually thinking the narrow X may be easier? When would have been the best time to get the shroud in? It always seemed to not be a good time. 
. Thanks Brent
