Thought id share this little project ive been working on. Trying to get the most clearance i can while trying to fit an 8ba into my 31 ford roadster project. I dont want to cut the firewall or move the radiator at all. I think it will work out. Took a mid 60's ford 12v generator, napa part# RAY 2137000. Machined the mounting ears off and machined a generator fan mount pulley from a 38 24stud flathead to fit. Came out pretty good. I just have to mock up the generator in the stock 8ba gen mount bracket and drill the locating hole. Ill get it all mocked up tomorrow and ill have some more pics for yall tomorrow
That roadster looks great! Looks like mine too! Building the same thing except I have 3 deuces on my flatty and haven't quite gotten to the stage where I have to decide the fan/generator thing. Mine already had a recessed fire wall tho...
Thanks guys! The generator was holding me up in setting my front motor mounts. I should be able to get them tacked in tomorrow. Get the body off and set up my trans mount. Ready to rock and roll on this thing
So i got the generator mocked up and realized my fan was too long so. I decided to shorten it up a bit. Drilled out the spot welds, cut 3/4" off the snout and put it back together. Ill weld it up once i know its right.
Gen mounted, had to move my radiator up 1/2" and forward 1/2". The top tank on this radiator protrudes out a good bit. Not sure what im gonna do about it yet. The fan blade is pretty close to the top tank but about two inches away from the core. I might sell this radiator and buy a different one. I also might trim a little off my blades
another past project. 8ba in '31, used an early generator and machined a spacer between the intake mount and generator, Griffin '31 flathead radiator, fan clears at stock length. Did not modify the firewall.
When you machined out the pulley did you have to machine down the fins on the back side? Tried this exact route with an early pulley on an 8ba gen. The mounting bolt was a lil short and the fins were rubbing. I ended up getting a 36 gen and using a 8ba mount to match the water pump pulleys. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Lodaddyo, The work you've done looks real good, but keep in mind the early Ford fan-mounted generators used tapered roller bearings to handle the fan thrust, not ordinary ball bearings used in regular generators, so bearing life may be an issue with your generator.
You need to use a thrust bearing in the generator or you may end up with your fan into the radiator. A regular generator has nothing to control front to rear thrust of the armature caused by the fan mounted on the pulley.
A good generator shop should have no trouble doing it. Now all you need to do is find a good generator shop. Charlie Stephens