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Radiator to fan clearance ???

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Gas Stove-bolt, Jun 3, 2013.

  1. Quick dumb question....

    I am putting in an aftermarket radiator in my 57 Chevy truck. The stock fan hits the bottom tank of the radiator. So, I installed a flex-fan to see if it would work. The bottom of tank to the fan is 1/8 inch. Is this too close? This is a stock (for now) 235 and I don't want to move the support. I would like to stay away from an electric fan if possible.

    Thanks
    Mick
     
  2. mustang6147
    Joined: Feb 26, 2010
    Posts: 1,847

    mustang6147
    Member
    from Kent, Ohio

    You really need about 1 inch clearance at your closest point. Fans will flex slightly no matter if they are flex or not.... You need to leave yourself room for swapin the water pump ect....

    Flex fans are not a good choice in fans either.....
     
  3. fossilfish
    Joined: Dec 16, 2010
    Posts: 320

    fossilfish
    Member
    from Texas

    X2 on the flex fan. If you can get a fixed pitch steel bladed fan with a heavy duty fan clutch, keep it as close as you dare to the radiator(without a shroud).....inch sounds fine to me. You should not have cooling issues.
    If you can shroud it then you need to keep bout 70 percent of the blade outside the shroud. ..as long as the fan fits properly inside the shroud.
    Your results may vary
     
  4. Gene Boul
    Joined: Feb 9, 2006
    Posts: 805

    Gene Boul

    My guess is the fan will hit the tank @ .125. The above advice (1") is about right. g
     

  5. creepjohnny
    Joined: Dec 1, 2007
    Posts: 905

    creepjohnny
    Member

    Same On the 1" clearance
     
  6. larry k
    Joined: Feb 23, 2009
    Posts: 545

    larry k
    Member

    yes ! 1" is the standard cooling system rule !
     
  7. The engine moves separately from the radiator, thus the 1" clearance.

    Go with a tiny bit smaller diameter fan in order to achieve the clearance you need.

    Then build, or get, a shroud and you should be golden.
     
  8. Well, how about some pics of your water pump and fan setup?
    I'm sure someone will figure out how to get you an inch and keep your good fan.
     
  9. drptop70ss
    Joined: May 31, 2010
    Posts: 1,201

    drptop70ss
    Member
    from NY

    And throw the flex fan in the garbage, I am one of the many who have had them come apart and make a mess.
     
  10. sobpunx
    Joined: Feb 7, 2009
    Posts: 314

    sobpunx
    Member

    If flex fans are junk what's a good replacement? (Sorry to hi jack.)
     
  11. fossilfish
    Joined: Dec 16, 2010
    Posts: 320

    fossilfish
    Member
    from Texas

    Replace junk with fixed pitch steel fan. heavy duty clutch unit
     
  12. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 31,177

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    yep, without pic of your new set up hard to give positive solutions. have seen some Chevy cars with radiator mounted in front of stock radiator support - gives clearance for fan, etc.
     
  13. paintcan54
    Joined: Oct 27, 2007
    Posts: 1,101

    paintcan54
    Member

    My wifes truck the fan is close to center and 3/4 of a inch from the rad cores cools great, the T bucket is almost center and about 2 inches from the core cools good. Both are 4 blade stock fans.
     
  14. Old Aite in Ft. worth, Tx. Sells a large six blade steel fan. I'm sure others do also. You can look at their site and see. If you have a 235 in a 57 truck I don't see why your having an issue. US radiator makes a nice replacement rad.
     
  15. Summit offers this steel non flex fan in different sizes. HRP

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jun 12, 2013
  16. Looks like the old Caddy fans, every one of my stock cars had one. Pulled a lot of air.

    Bob
     
  17. nunattax
    Joined: Jan 10, 2011
    Posts: 3,052

    nunattax
    Member
    from IRELAND

    can you move the rad forward
     
  18. Thanks everyone. It is a U.S. but the stock fan hits the bottom tank by a 1/4 inch. There is room for the rest of the fan. I had an old flex fan and it clears the bottom tank by 1/8 inch. I put it on to see if it worked. A smaller blade would work, I never thought of that. I like the 6 blades.
     

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