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Moss Recall: Tropical Radiator Fan

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TH, Hello and thanks for taking the time to clear the color issue up for me. And a mucho big thank you for your kind words about my restoration efforts.

I feel the same way as you about trying to keep things as original as possible. And there is where a compromise comes in. Some things just make sense to replace if not going concourse. As you know, I am a daily driver and want as much modern reliability as possible, so I choose not to be concourse correct.

An example of where a compromise is today, is in replacing my tropical fan. It was purchased by the PO and I can not be confident it will not break and become a hood ornament.

I've decided that I should replace it with a more effect fan. That was the original idea back in the 60's when they offered the up grade tropical. Today the fan to go with seems to be the stainless steel flex fan. So my compromise is to install it, but paint it yellow, for it seems both the 4 and 6 blade Healey fans were yellow.

Why paint it yellow when some says, hey that's the wrong fan. Yes I know, but it is the correct color. At least an effort has been made. So when viewing the engine compartment, there will be a yellow fan there. Make sense? Maybe only to me.

Cheers all. And again, thanks to everyone who posted their thought here. I was not aware of the tropical fan problem.
Roger
 
Roger: I share your desire to be concours in spirit so I too painted my BCS fan yellow. I primed it first then painted it a shade of yellow offered by Ace Hardware that's very close to the original shade. It's a new fan thus I can't comment on durability of the paint but so far so good.
-Tom
 
roger, the beast way to paint stainless is to first clean it with alcohol and paint with an oil based paint, powder coating is also an option.
 
anthony7777 said:
roger, the be<a>st way to paint stainless is to first clean it with alcohol and paint with an oil based paint, powder coating is also an option.
Click to expand...
Alcohol doesn't so much remove contaminates as it does smear them around.**

Better still, would be a wax & grease remover, like PPG/Ditzler's DX 330 Acryli Clean. Lacquer thinner also works excellent.

**: as learned in TIG welding school to prepare aluminum for welding. Courtesy of Lincoln Electric Co.
 
My Tropical's paint has some chips on the leading edges. My understanding is Powder Coating holds up better than regular paint. So I'll give that a try.

The local Powder Coat shop estimated, $25 to paint it. Fan cost $80, plus $25 to paint. About the same cost as the Tropical at $110. Even though the BCS does not look stock, it will move more air, painted yellow and hopefully let me enjoy the drive without worrying about seeing a fan blade lodging up in the bonnet. All sounds good on paper.
Roger; that.

Hey, anyone (who thinks their lucky.... all the time) want to buy a slightly used 6 blade Tropical fan. (some assembly required, tail light warrantee, disclaimer).
 
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