The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop What fan to use?

I'm sure there is a write up on this somewhere that may have the answer to my question but I haven't been abke to find it. ..Sooo here is my current situation while I wait for parts to show up. I am working on getting my recently aquired 1953 chevy 3/4 ton with original 216 ci and 4 spd manual trans back on the road after its roughly 30-40 year slumber. I have been removing and inspecting various parts to give this beast it's best chances and have found that the radiator fan has a bent fin on one tip and a crack halfway through the fin near the axis. My fan measures 18" from tip to tip. The problem I am having here is where to get a replacement 18" fan, or should I just replace it with the 15.5 fan that basically all of the classic truck parts suppliers say is what I should be using?
Carter has a write up on fan blades and even some pictures of the blade I am looking for but no 18" fan for sale. According to the write up the 18" was an option with a radiator with aditional cores. Sorry for no pictures, My phone doesn't do pictures so well.

If it were mine I would use the 15.5" as a test and to make the truck drivable, then you could do some more research on the original and maybe come up with a plan to repair it.

You could always post in the “Truck Parts Wanted” forum.

What Phil said!

I got a 15 if you decide togo that route. Pm me if so.

I bought a new old stock 18" fan blade on EBay a couple months ago. Even had the original box. It was $80 dollars but I knew it was not abused.
If you get a used one you might want to clean the blades with a wire wheel to bare metal where blades meet the hub near the edges and inspect for small cracks. (Just for piece of mind)
I know that 2 blade Model A fan blades were prone to fatigue cracks near the hub.

This may help: http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/1929_57chevyparts/57cmpc0171.htm

If I needed a new fan, I would look at aftermarket: https://www.flex-a-lite.com/belt-driven-fans.html

I had one of those nylon fans on my 55 Chevy. They do move a lot of air.

The amount of air move is proportionate to the diameter of the blades, squared. A larger fan can be run at lower speed by changing pulley sizes to save gas, reduce noise etc.
The opposite (a small fan turning faster) uses engine power at a higher rate for the same air volume: the fan RPM, cubed.

So good news.....maybe, I have found an old classic car yard near me sp I woll be headed out there yo hopefully find a fan that will either get me by of just solve my problem all together. O'll let you guys know what I find....or don't find. I will be looking for something to keep the stock appearance so a metal fan for sure.

When my '53 1/2 ton had the original 216, it had the large 4-blade 18" fan attached, and never ran hot except idling at a stoplight in 105 degree Mississippi summer heat.
Swapped to a rebuilt 261 with 4-blade 15" fan.
No problems whatsoever.

I found an 18" fan on ebay identical to my original so I'm good not
Thank you all for your input.