Clutch fan for street 440

[Mark1972]

I've got the 7 blade clutch fan off of the 1977 440 going into my 1970 Satellite. It measures 19.5" diameter, tip to tip. Will I run into any issues reusing this fan? With the new 26" aluminum rad, I'll have to get it installed and check for clearance. What is the optimum distance from fan to radiator for cooling? Thanks.

 

[myk r sanchez]

You want about an inch of spacing from the radiator to the fan. You have the fan shroud too, right?

 

[justcruisin]

The more critical distance is the fan in relation to the shroud. The fan should be between 1/2 and 3/4 of the way into the shroud with a minimum of gap between the blade tip and shroud. On mopars there is not a huge distance from fan to radiator, you really only need enough space so that when you slam on the brakes you don't push the fan into the radiator. That is a big fan you have, if you can't fit it into a shroud I would ditch it.

 

[RJRENTON]

I've got the 7 blade clutch fan off of the 1977 440 going into my 1970 Satellite. It measures 19.5" diameter, tip to tip. Will I run into any issues reusing this fan? With the new 26" aluminum rad, I'll have to get it installed and check for clearance. What is the optimum distance from fan to radiator for cooling? Thanks.

Are you contemplating using a shroud with your new radiator? To get maximum air flow thru the radiator, a shroud is recommended. The fan should be positioned half way in the shroud, meaning that half of the blade's overall THICKNESS or depth INSIDE the shroud. This dimension is determined ny the length of the clutch's hub and the overall length of the clutch assembly. Beside the fan's overall diameter, the number of blades, including the blade's pitch angle, in addition to the RPM, detetmine the amount of air moved thru the radiator core. By placing the fan half in/out of the shroud maximizes the air flow. Just my opinion of course.
BOB RENTON

 

[Mark1972]

Thanks for the info. I've been told the clutch fan run on original 440 b bodies was 2" smaller diameter than mine, with the same 26" wide core. I currently don't have a shroud for my rad. If they don't have in stock I will make one. The shroud listed for my radiator is too small for my fan. I figure it's easier to make a shroud myself and use my big fan. I assume better cooling that way. If I do make my own, I'll position it the way you stated. Thank you.

 

[Curiousyellow71]

It will likely start to run a little warmer idling without the shroud on a hot day, but it won't likely be to bad. If you lived in the desert idling in town...it would need a shroud. Also alot safer for the fingers w the shroud.

 

[RJRENTON]

If you do not use a shroud, the fan will not effectively pull air thru the entire radiator's available surface area. Typically, the presented area of the fan will pull air thru the radiator in the corresponding area not the entire rad's area. Plus, the air exiting the fan, without a shroud, has a tendency to "re-circulate" around the tips of the blades back to front face, reducing the amount of air pulled thru the radiator. This is the purpose of the shroud with the fan blades positioned half in/half out of the shroud....to maximize the air flow thru the radiator AND to minimize any "re-circculation" around the fan blades. In low speed, low ambient air temperature conditions, some say a shroud is not necessary ...but do it right....install a shroud.
BOB RENTON

 

[wyrmrider]

looks like your fan may be from a C body (NY or Imperial)
more blades and less pitch is quieter
above are right about blade position into shroud

 

[beanhead]

That's a good big fan. If it does want to bite the shroud a little you can 'relieve' the tight area with a flapper wheel. Try to give yourself a minimum of 1" of clearance around the blade edges.