Is this really the stock fan?

Johan said:
Weren't all of the flex fans recalled and replaced by plastic non-flex fans?


The original "flex fans" were recalled, but, I believe the only differences between them and the replacements were the way they were assembled.

My original fan's blades appear to be (each) made up of TWO separate pieces (of different widths overlapping each other), that are attached together by three "dowel type" protrusions on the bottom part of the blades that are nearest to the spacer assembly. They appear to be pressed together in some manner, with one side of the "pin" having a round head (similar to a carraige bolt) on one side, and with a plain dowel stud end on the other.
The outer halves of the blades are attached together by three metal tabs from one of the two pieces pressed and folded over onto the other. Together, these six (inline) attachment points supposedly keep each blade all in one piece.

I never returned my car to the dealer for the factory recall, so I can't be certain exactly what was used in its place. However, I purchased a NOS Ford replacement fan on Ebay ( I believe with a D6DZ Part #) that was identical in size and also with seven blades...with the only difference being that all six attachement points on each blade used this dowel type pin arrangement as opposed to any having bent metal tabs. I believe this was the fan that was probably used as the replacement, and was also used for other cars like Maverick and Granada that might have had 8 cyl engines.

I'm fairly certain too, that neither fan has plastic blades. Both fans seven blades consist of two separate pieces each, so I assume that they both "flex" somewhat at high speed....the replacement one perhaps a bit less so, due to its seemingly more rigid construction.
 
Actually, the replacements were plastic. The original fans were flex fans, but the replacements were not. I had three replaced under the recall, a '76 V8 and two '78 V6's. I've attached a pic of one of the V6 fans. It's been twenty-plus years, but I'm almost certain the V8 replacement was the same style.
 

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That's one ugly looking fan! For a minute, I thought I was looking at the impeller of a sump pump. :D
I know I've never seen one of those, but I'll take your word for it since you went to the trouble of having several of yours recalled. I would say that if that fan has seven blades like the original piece, then it probably was the same replacement unit used on the V8.
 
LXXVICOBRA said:
That's one ugly looking fan! For a minute, I thought I was looking at the impeller of a sump pump. :D
I know I've never seen one of those, but I'll take your word for it since you went to the trouble of having several of yours recalled. I would say that if that fan has seven blades like the original piece, then it probably was the same replacement unit used on the V8.

YUP, yup. i have seen these plastic ones out there for an 8cyl. During the 2 years i have seen on ebay different types of flex fans for the MII. i have one that belongs to a 78, 302 and it says made in canada across the center but i swear its the original that belonged to the car. :shrug:
 
The fan I have on my 76 cobra and on my previous 76 ghia is an exact match..
I found that the 7 blade design has a much higher flow than an aftermarket flex fan....

I like it a lot....I am think about switching to an electric because I want to go with an electric water pump....