Hi. I,ve got a 67 with a 454,TH400 auto, 373 12 bolt, external trans cooler, new 4 core rad. Question, What is the min and max distance from rad that the 18 in fan with shroud can be placed. Thanks

I believe the correct distance the flex fan should be from your radiator is about 100 feet. I nearly lost my son-in-law when his flex fan came apart. He had stopped on a rural road to make a carb. adjustment and the fan came apart and lodged itself in his leg. He very nearly bled to death. I think you'll find a number of people here who will agree with me.

Doug

I can appreciate Doug's concern.

My flex is about two inches from the rad. I recommend mounting your shroud first, then mount the fan where it is half in and half out of the shroud or something like that. Good luck.

If you mean the ones they sell in speed shops, stay away from them. My truck had a stainless steel flex fan on it when I bought it. Here's what happened to it:

http://members.spree.com/entertainment/mr409/truck_1a.jpg

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Bob (Pa.)

1963 Impala 283
1966 Chevelle SS 409
1969 Malibu 307
1972 Malibu 307
1969 Chevy stepside 350

Check out my website:
Bobs 409 Chevy Page (http://members.spree.com/entertainment/mr409/bob_s_409_chevy_page_index.html)

If you mean the ones they sell in speed shops, stay away from them. My truck had a stainless steel flex fan on it when I bought it. Here's what happened to it:

http://members.spree.com/entertainment/mr409/truck_1a.jpg

Well, I guess that's not going to work http://www.chevelles.com/forum/confused.gif Try this:

http://members.spree.com/entertainment/mr409/truck_1a.jpg

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Bob (Pa.)

1963 Impala 283
1966 Chevelle SS 409
1969 Malibu 307
1972 Malibu 307
1969 Chevy stepside 350

Check out my website:
Bobs 409 Chevy Page (http://members.spree.com/entertainment/mr409/bob_s_409_chevy_page_index.html)

Guys don't think that these are isolated incidents. I have two good friends that had their new "high quality" flex fans disintegrate on them. They were more fortunate than Doug's son-in-law but their $400 aluminum radiators were not. I would never use one.

Ditto to the above posts. They sound like a freakin' airplane anyway moving all the air. I installed March performance serpentine kit on my 406 and they were designed for a electric fan or a flex fan. I refused to use a flex fan and electric ones in my opinion are a pain in the a$$. Solution fabricate a clutch fan set-up. Popped the hood on the wife's 98 blazer, 11 blade clutch fan the same 19 inch Dia. as the 'velle had with reverse rotation for the serp. Made a adapter to mount it to the vette water pump and it works great!

Good lord Bob! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/eek.gif Did it do any other damage?

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Eric Taylor
'72 350 Malibu
Soon to be an SS
Let the journey begin!!!
www.geocities.com/eandbtaylor/ (http://www.geocities.com/eandbtaylor/)

[This message has been edited by ETAYLOR72 (edited 04-07-2000).]

Geezz Bob, that looks like a scene from Aliens. When I was 18 we hand gernades a clutch in a 55, put a hole in the dash and broke out the windshield. Was luck we didn't loose our huevos. On a tapered shroud the blade should be mounted in the center of the circular lip on the engine side. Don't know if it makes a difference on the round ones. I tossed my flex fan when I grabbed it once trying to put on a tight fan belt and the blade moved. Do you REALLY want to trust a minimum wage riveter with a bad attitude?


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OrrieG
64 Malibu HT Survivor
Gold Member #171

Check out the May issue of Car Craft, they tested several fans and found 45 horsepower difference in some of them. The flex fans were the worst for robbing power.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ETAYLOR72:
Good lord Bob! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/eek.gif Did it do any other damage?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

No other damage but that not only went through the flat sheetmetal but the reinforcement under it too! And this is a 1969 Chevy truck so were talking "heavy metal"! I had to use a hammer to get it out.

I was driving it when it happened and it scared the "beJesus" out of me. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/eek.gif I thought one of the pistons let go. The whole truck was shaking due to the fan being out of balance. It felt like I was driving on 4 flats.

BTW, the rivets didn't break. The blade itself broke off. Probably due to all the flexing.

I sure wouldn't stick my head under a hood if one of these are in motion.



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Bob (Pa.)

1963 Impala 283
1966 Chevelle SS 409
1969 Malibu 307
1972 Malibu 307
1969 Chevy stepside 350

Check out my website:
Bobs 409 Chevy Page (http://members.spree.com/entertainment/mr409/bob_s_409_chevy_page_index.html)

I also agree with the above posts. DONT use a flex fan. Seen way too many mishaps.

Do yourself a favor, and free up some horses with an electric set up. I use a "Black Magic" by Flex-A-Lite, has big cfm, its own shroud and an adjustable thermastat. A little pricey but well worth it. One caution, its a electrical power draw for sure so make sure you've got a real good battery and alternator set up.

Take care and let us know which way you went with it.

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69ht383&gt;Smokumchevy
TC member#610
Smokum's '69 pics (http://www.cartogra.com/home/ViewMyAlbum.asp?coll_id=199357)

I also had one scatter on me, at somewhere over 6000 ( I wasnt watching the tach, I was looking all over to try to figure what the hell let loose!) This one also the rivets didnt break, a couple of the blades literally sheared off. Took out the shroud but luckily not the radiator. No way would I use one again.

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70 chevelle ss396 conv
66 chevelle ss396 hdp/conv
55 chevy prostreet
69/71 camaros
91 formula
TC member #493

look out Bob! there's a shark on your truck!

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Honey, its not a $200 hat. The distributor was $200, the hat came with it. kevin d
Maryland Chevelle Club #362
Classic Cars and Trucks of Beaufort #72

http://www.chevelles.com/forum/eek.gif http://www.chevelles.com/forum/eek.gif http://www.chevelles.com/forum/eek.gif

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Tom Parsons

I just learned some valuable information about flex fans. THANKS GUYS

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Ray (NJ)
72 BB Chevelle
A.C.E.S #3750