fan clutch vs. flex fan
06-24-2005, 06:02 PM
#1
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fan clutch vs. flex fan
After several years of restoring my 79, I am finally enjoying driving it. The temp here in St. Louis has been in the mid to upper 90s and the engine runs warmer than I would like to see it with the air on especially in traffic. The fan clutch is fairly new but I was thinking that I might be better off with a 6 blade high quality flex fan and a 2" spacer instead .The car never runs warm unless the a/c is on.
06-24-2005, 06:10 PM
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Never put a flex fan on. 
I've seen them throw blades off at the worst times. With fiberglass, it will fly right through the hood. Unless you get a high end one that has a high rpm rating, then you might chance it, but be careful. I still don't think you should though. What's the temp when cruising and when you're sitting at a red light with the air on? If it's running hot, it's probably not the fan, but something else.
I've seen them throw blades off at the worst times. With fiberglass, it will fly right through the hood. Unless you get a high end one that has a high rpm rating, then you might chance it, but be careful. I still don't think you should though. What's the temp when cruising and when you're sitting at a red light with the air on? If it's running hot, it's probably not the fan, but something else.
06-24-2005, 06:12 PM
#3
Team Owner
I run the six blade flex fan on my 72, and it cools a lot more efficiently then the old fan clutch, which may be original (haven't checked or run the numbers)...however, the whirring loudness is starting to get on my nerves, and I'm seriously looking into electric fans because of this.
Either that or make my exhaust louder
The flex fan was cheap for me at the time I bought it (saving up for the engine rebuild)...i guess if your engine stays cool except when the AC is on (how warm is warm?) I'd stick with it.
trw
Either that or make my exhaust louder
The flex fan was cheap for me at the time I bought it (saving up for the engine rebuild)...i guess if your engine stays cool except when the AC is on (how warm is warm?) I'd stick with it.
trw
06-24-2005, 06:14 PM
#4
Fubba is right....Flex fans are very risky...your stock system is best....maybe you need a thermal clutch/fan,or as Fubba says,something else is at work here...
Last edited by rihwoods; 06-24-2005 at 06:16 PM.
06-24-2005, 08:40 PM
#5
Safety Car
This is the truth. I had a flex fan blow up on me on the highway. The blades went through the fan shroud like razors--tore up belts and hoses. Fortunately none came off in the direction of the hood. It was only three months old.
Last edited by PhotoVette1; 06-24-2005 at 08:43 PM.
06-24-2005, 08:46 PM
#6
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I've had a flex fan on all my car's and never had a problem 
But I have heard many horror story's. I guess you should inspect
it often, Mine cools damn good with a flex fan.
But I have heard many horror story's. I guess you should inspect
it often, Mine cools damn good with a flex fan.
