Clearance issues with 7 blade "hemi" clutch fan and my radiator. Need another fan choice.

[52 Bone Speed]

I transitioned from a not impressive 4 blade 18" steel fan with no clutch to a 7 blade "Hemi" repop fan with a thermo clutch I got new at a Mopar swap meet for like $100. I have a 26" aluminum radiator and a 1975 RV 440 motor. There was almost no clearance, but I did some bending on the blades and thought it was all good. It was moving lots of air even though I don't have a shroud. Temps stayed at 180. I was happy. Drove it 200 miles. Then I got on the go petal pretty sporty and the fan flexed a blade into the rad and stuffed it open. Dang it man!!
Today I looked for 26" aluminum rads and only the $1000 ones with two electric fans seem like they will clear to my water pump snout. And they suck up 2x the amps of a single fan. Single fan units seemed likely to not clear the pump.
So now I'm back to maybe just going back to a regular fan and hopefully on my clutch which survived. Is there a fan that has more clearance then a hemi fan but still flows good air? I'd probably be OK with a flex fan like I had many many years ago as well. It's not a numbers car but it does go to local shows etc. 1968 Dodge Coronet.

 

[furious70]

What radiator do you have, a generic cross flow style?

 

[pnora]

Bending a fan blade was the absolute worse thing you can do. There are short clutches available.

 

[WileE]

^^^ Yep. Worst is spot on, they are designed aerodynamically to move air with minimal turbulence. A common solution is to use a shorter width clutch.

 

[52 Bone Speed]

Generic 26 x 3" three core aluminum was the radiator I just pierced. Didn't know about shorter clutches but the front of the blades were brushing up against the bottom of the radiator due to the slight rear tilt of the engine and the back of the blades hit my alternator pulley outer grove (which was not in use so I cut the grove off). Not sure if a shorter clutch would have helped clear more. So yep, the blades were not too hard to clearance bend but now I wish I did even more on them or even grinded on them as I didn't feel vibrations and they were cooling well. The clutch only is clearing the rad by like 1/4". Not sure what the answer is here but I need a new radiator, and would like a shroud and clutch fan or a single electric fan with shroud set up. But dang, clearances are too tight. How about new rad, shroud and flex fan with no clutch??? Only reason I'm thinking clutch is so the engine can rev a little free-er.

 

[pnora]

Generic 26 x 3" three core aluminum was the radiator I just pierced. Didn't know about shorter clutches but the front of the blades were brushing up against the bottom of the radiator due to the slight rear tilt of the engine and the back of the blades hit my alternator pulley outer grove (which was not in use so I cut the grove off). Not sure if a shorter clutch would have helped clear more. So yep, the blades were not too hard to clearance bend but now I wish I did even more on them or even grinded on them as I didn't feel vibrations and they were cooling well. The clutch only is clearing the rad by like 1/4". Not sure what the answer is here but I need a new radiator, and would like a shroud and clutch fan or a single electric fan with shroud set up. But dang, clearances are too tight. How about new rad, shroud and flex fan with no clutch??? Only reason I'm thinking clutch is so the engine can rev a little free-er.

Just keep bending, cutting, grinding,hacking and one day you will figure it out.

 

[52 Bone Speed]

Can

Just keep bending, cutting, grinding,hacking and one day you will figure it out.

I'd rather not, but the big block reproduction fan with clutch assembly didn't fit, so I'm on here trying to see what does fit. If you can point me to some fitting parts, that would be appreciated. This is me trying to figure it out. Shorter clutches appear to be something I have to try and find for starters. Appreciate that tip.

 

[1967coronet]

You can run a no clutch 7 blade 18" steel fan.
Add what spacer you need to get to your correct clearance.
There are mopar aluminum spacers from 1" to 3"
Those fans move alot of air, it's what I use.
Do you give up a couple horses loosing the clutch ? Yes , but compared to the alternator loading and electric fan assembly it is not much of a loss.
Just get your tape measure out, you need to clear your power steering pully ect but stay a inch or 2 off the radiator when figuring spacer length.
Fans are available through Summit ect for aftermarket or Chrysler originals on ebay ect.

 

[69 Sleeper Bee]

So I have to ask was the not impressive 4 blade stock fan not cooling properly ?
Why not a stock 7 blade with no clutch if you have clearance issues.

 

[OKDart]

Is this in a '68 Coronet? Look at post #7 in the attached link, chances are your aftermarket radiator is too thick. The 2nd pic shown is a factory style 26" brass/copper replacement radiator with a stock fan clutch in my '68 Coronet. It's about 3" thick measured from the radiator support.
Pics: orange water pump = '70 Roadrunner with 22" radiator. Bare aluminum water pump = '68 Coronet with 26" radiator.

What Fan/clutch/spacer combination should be used on a 1970 Road Runner?

 

[kiwigtx]

There are short clutches available.

Correct ..... I'm using a Hayden shorty ....

HDA-2765 - Summit Racing Part.

Beware.....you will need the fingers of a Chinese waitress to install this......not hand like pork chops.

 

[Michael_]

Correct ..... I'm using a Hayden shorty ....

View attachment 1837063

HDA-2765 - Summit Racing Part.

Beware.....you will need the fingers of a Chinese waitress to install this......not hand like pork chops.

x2

 

[oldbee]

Correct ..... I'm using a Hayden shorty ....

View attachment 1837063

HDA-2765 - Summit Racing Part.

Beware.....you will need the fingers of a Chinese waitress to install this......not hand like pork chops.

Is that even shorter than the Hayden 2747(?). I know there’s 2 different heights for Mopars.

 

[1968rt]

Here ya go.

 

[WileE]

^^^ Yep. Worst is spot on, they are designed aerodynamically to move air with minimal turbulence. A common solution is to use a shorter width clutch.

Correct ..... I'm using a Hayden shorty ....

View attachment 1837063

HDA-2765 - Summit Racing Part.

Beware.....you will need the fingers of a Chinese waitress to install this......not hand like pork chops.

Here ya go.

View attachment 1837308

Here ^^^ ya go

 

[WileE]

Correct ..... I'm using a Hayden Beware.....you will need the fingers of a Chinese waitress to install this......not hand like pork chops.

Since the radiator is being replaced, install the clutch and fan, hang the shroud over the fan/clutch, then lower the new radiator in place onto the rad support bolts. Easy. Then attach the shroud to the radiator.

 

[OKDart]

Here ^^^ ya go

Since the radiator is being replaced, install the clutch and fan, hang the shroud over the fan/clutch, then lower the new radiator in place onto the rad support bolts. Easy. Then attach the shroud to the radiator.

Or just do what I've been preaching. Stock 26" radiator with stock fan clutch. It's affordable and it works.

 

[WileE]

Or just do what I've been preaching. Stock 26" radiator with stock fan clutch. It's affordable and it works.

You and me, bro. But, if you have a modified engine with a thicker core radiator, the short clutch is the solution. Got one in one of my cars !

 

[OKDart]

You and me, bro. But, if you have a modified engine with a thicker core radiator, the short clutch is the solution. Got one in one of my cars !

Yep, in post #10 there's a link where I use a 2765 jaguar clutch with a 22" radiator. The 2947 is slightly shorter, I haven't found a need for it yet though.

 

[kiwigtx]

Is that even shorter than the Hayden 2747(?). I know there’s 2 different heights for Mopars.

It's so short, you can only just fit the dang thing on the pump.