Re: The quest for the three ring pulley (chapter 36b)

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2011/6/25 14:36:20

Moving back from Defense Chrome to radiators and fans, the strategic metals restrictions were industry wide (not just the auto industry) and seen in many places - for example the changeover from brass to nylon speedometer gears which some would say was actually a technical improvement.

The restrictions on copper use resulted in radiator size (efficiency) being reduced in automobiles, refrigerators, air conditioners, etc. and in Packard the use of fans with more pitch were used to compensate for the less-efficient radiator. This gives an easy way to improve cooling of 51-54 cars that have the standard (non-defense restricted) radiators and standard fans - just substitute a fan that originally was on a car with the downsized radiator. The downside is that it is said by one source that the steeper pitch fan required about 10 more horsepower at 60 mph - not trivial. This has been covered in print frequenty over the years in many sources, though I don't know of any original-source documentation about it - but perhaps the 51-54 parts book or dealer/service letters have more information.