Last98

1970 98 w/AC. I'm fixing everything behind the dash that needs fixed. I had to take the outside air vent off to ffix the vacuum actuator. While I had it out I sanded and painted the blower fan. Now it squeals at low and medium speeds, not to bad at the next speed up. Should I have left well enough alone and not painted it? Am I going to have to strip it? I think I may have got some paint in the shaft hole cuz I had to tap the cage down onto the shaft a bit (using a socket). I'm thinking about taking it back out and using a wirebrush on the shaft hole to make sure no paint is making it off-center.

MDchanic

If you got enough paint on it to significantly change the amount of space between the blades, you could have created a power-whistle.

I would have given it the lightest possible coat.

Are you sure it's not rubbing on anything?

Remember, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

- Eric

joe_padavano

The squealing has nothing to do with the paint. More likely is that the motor bearings were marginal to start with and by removing the motor and messing with the fan, you've disrupted the primal forces of nature.

Seriously, just put in a new fan motor. The bearings dry out over the years and start to squeal. It's a normal wear item. Jostling it likely aggravated a marginal bearing. You also probably got some rust or sanding dust down in it, compounding the problem.

Last98

I took the cage out and sanded some of the high spots where paint had settled and the motor ran quietly, so I thought you were wrong. But then I changed the fuse on the fenderwell so the high speed setting worked and the fan howled like a banshee. I bought a new motor from Autozone and it bolted right in and runs well. You were right.