I am running a SBC (yeah, I already know) in my 49 chevy and my fan sits about 1 1/2 - 2 inches from my radiator. I am running a flex fan and a spacer and I was wondering if this is set up too close to my radiator? Really would rather find out now and fix it b/f a problem occurs and cost me a radiator.....what do you all think??????
that should pe perfect. I would ditch the flex in favor of a clutched fan,though. cool better and don't make that horrible noise...
You also gotta enjoy pain to own a flex-fan Everytime I think I've got it down on how not to cut myself on those sharpass stainless blades, I prove myself wrong.
actually you are supposed to run your fan 1" to 2" away from your radiator for maximum efficiency. You are exactly where you ened to be. At least that's what i've been taught.
The distance seems right. Are you running a shroud? I'm a big fan of flex fans, LOL.... and always notice that a shroud makes a big difference...
No. I am not running a shroud at this time. Have not yet been able to run my engine and see if there is a cooling problem b/c I am having hell with exhaust fitment on the driverside. Should be resolved soon w/o having to pay sanderson a ton of $$$$ for some headers that will fit! (I hope) The only reason I became concerned w/ this is that I was outside working on my car the other day and some worthless tweeker guy came walking up and talking to me. He said "I've been building street rods for years and I can tell you that the fan is way too close to the radiator." I just laughed and said, "well, this is no street rod, man " I think that pissed him off b/c after that it was back to silence for me I swear, I can't work on my car for 20 minutes w/o somebody coming up and wanting to talk to me about it all day. This is why I work on it for 8 hours and never seem to get shit done. Anyhow, this guy did get me thinking and all of you guys have made me feel better about this setup so I will run it w/ confidence. Oh, and BTW, this guy's current "street rod" is a 97 Cavalier!!!!
Always run a shroud, thats what directs the flow of air through the full area of the radiator. Without one you will be pulling air from around the radiator also, reducing the cooling efficency.
I check with my finger, I slide a finger between the fan and the radiator. If it doesn't touch the fan and radiator at the same time it isn't close enough. Actually only part of that is true. I've run a bunch of 'em with only a fingers width between the fan and the radiator, I did have one get into the radiator once, but it was after the radiator shook its mounts loose and fell into the fan.
If you don't like the flex fan, but don't want to run a clutch fan either- Flexalite sells solid steel fans, 6 blade, good to 8000 rpm, part # 1515(15") and 1517 (17") They pitch forward quite a bit, 1 1/2" or something, but if you have the room they move a LOT of air.
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