2 Blade or 4 Blade Fan?

[rogerowen]

I'm in the process of re-equipping a Series 2 MM with a 948 engine to replace the original 803. The 948 unit I have acquired is Austin badged and has a four bladed fan and no starter dog. It might be an early engine as it also has the split type manifold (My other car - a 1960 948 has a 2 bladed fan and a starter dog).

Question is - should I go for 4 blade fan, or was this only intended for commercial vehicles?

[bmcecosse]

2 blades are plenty. And go for the later inlet manifold if you have one - the inlet flowpath is better.

[David53]

If you want to keep the car looking original use a 4 blade as the Series II always had a red painted 4 blade. But I agree with Roy, not really necessary especially in England.

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

David, I have to disagree: my 803 with original engine has only ever had a 2-blade fan on it. There just isn't any call for a 4 blade in the Minor's Home market!

[brucek]

I think all home market series 2's were sold with only the single fan blade - a combination of generally cooler climate and a massive radiator and header tank meant that a second blade was unnecessary. As it was, the car was probably over-cooled even in this form. However, having said that my early '54 series 2 Traveller with a gold seal replacement engine did have two fan blades so it may be that some were retro-fitted. Paul Skilleters book - the first proper book on the history and origin of the car shows a complete S2 engine and box photo with just 1 fan blade so I guess 2 may only have applied to export and owner added.