I have a 67 SS. It has a flex fan on it and an illuminum radiator. Yesterday I took it for a spin and the fan obliterated the shroud, bent the fan blades. Not clear why this would happen since this set up is nothing new. Insights on that would be interesting. Anyway, what a great excuse to switch to an electric fan set up. Here is the question. How much of an electrical draw is a dual fan set up? What size fans for 396? Any electric fans out there work with long waterpump and serpentine belt system?

Thanks!

I have a 67 SS. It has a flex fan on it and an illuminum radiator. Yesterday I took it for a spin and the fan obliterated the shroud, bent the fan blades. Not clear why this would happen since this set up is nothing new. Insights on that would be interesting.
Thanks!

Flex fans flex and over time the metal fatigues and fails, combine that with flex fans not having a fan clutch so the RPM is directly proportional to the engine speed and you have a recipe for disaster. The good thing is no one was hurt when the fan fragged.

had this problem with my stock fan/clutch and a repro shroud on my 67ss. turned out that I had a broken motor mount. you got lucky, my fan blade ate into the original radiator !!

Yeh,when i was a little kid my big brother had his usual trouble starting his car one day and when it finally started he was pissed off & wound it up tight in the driveway with hood still down and there was a big bang.

Thats when the stock fixed fan broke a blade sending right thur the hood on a 64 ford Gal 500 with a 289 ,if anyone had been in the way they would have been killed on the spot.

Since that day i never stand over the front of a car while reving the motor up,that fan blade went thru that thick steel 64 ford hood with no problem , we found it approx 200 feet away.

Scott

I have a 67 SS. It has a flex fan on it and an illuminum radiator. Yesterday I took it for a spin and the fan obliterated the shroud, bent the fan blades. Not clear why this would happen since this set up is nothing new. Insights on that would be interesting. Anyway, what a great excuse to switch to an electric fan set up. Here is the question. How much of an electrical draw is a dual fan set up? What size fans for 396? Any electric fans out there work with long waterpump and serpentine belt system?

Thanks!

I can't tell you much about the electrical draw of a dual fan set up. I know that lots of guys use Lincoln Mark VIII fans. They are supposed to be better than most other fans out there. As for the fan eating the shroud, have you checked your water pump? My fan did the same thing once and it was because the water pump bearings had given out and were allowing the fan to wobble. It ended up breaking the fan and the shroud, but it didn't come flying through the hood or anything. Anyway, make sure your water pump isn't messed up.

i had that happen on my old 67 impala years ago, found out i had broken engine mounts,i'd take alook at them.. jeff

Something else to think about. WAS the fan in the center of the shroud??? If it was not centered, The engine torque will let it hit the shroud. You may have to raise or lower the rear tranny mount to center the fan in the shroud.
Bob

Flex fans flex and over time the metal fatigues and fails, combine that with flex fans not having a fan clutch so the RPM is directly proportional to the engine speed and you have a recipe for disaster. The good thing is no one was hurt when the fan fragged.

Ask Jeff how he knows... :(

Thanks for all the info! The water pump is new-so I think that rules that out bearing wobble. The fan is centered so that rules out mounts out of alignment. But I will check the motor mounts for looseness or damage..since it looked like the fan tilted somewhat. The stories of fan blades flying have inspired me to change the set up...I have ordered electric fans from Don at Allumitech. The amp draw is @27 amps for twin fans according to Don ...I look forward to the improved cooling, quieter operation (the flex fans sound like a helicopter taking off) and no flying blades.

Thanks for the help guys..

I am sure I will have questions on the install of the fans for you all.

John