Distance between fan and radiator ???

I am mocking up the engine in my roadster and am wondering what the distance should be between the fan and the radiator. I have it at about 2 1/2 inchs and it looks about right. What do you say?

 

1/2" to 3/4" is what I always do.

 

That sounds right. I've got 2 inches in mine.

 

Hold a piece of tissue/paper to the front of the rad, if it sticks to the rad you've got sufficient air flow.

 

Yes what Chris said, I try and stay as close as 1/2 max. The idea is to draw the air through it not around it.

 

The women don't complain??

 

That's probably diameter, not length??

 

No matter how far, a shroud can narrow the gap. Remember the 76 Montecarlo's....

 

Ouch!!!!!!!

 

This is good for checking what's already built, but kind of hard to use while planning the build.

Mine's a couple of inches away±.

I've seen lots of fan scrapes on radiators from being to close when the engine moves on torque or forward on hard stops or bumps.

 

4 foot deep fan shroud.

 

put it where it is easy for you to take things apart, and then run a proper fan shroud. Center it in the radiator area, or use water pump riser or run an electric fan instead.

 

The "general rule of thumb" when you have a fan shroud: The fan is mounted so the blades are half way inside the fan shroud and half way outside the fan shroud.

 

I use 1/2-3/4" 2" is way too far unless you have a shroud. I personally don't like shrouds because we never had them back in the time period that I'm looking for. They work just fine but I bet you will have a hard time spotting one in the little pages. JMO

 

3/4 - 1, Be sure you can get your fan on and off without moving the rad. If in doubt
call Walker.

 

I agree with the 3/4" to 1" max.........should have enough, but no more, than the space needed to get the fan belt on/off.

I didn't just make up this dimension......recall seeing it many years ago in articles about proper cooling system setup.

You can use a fan spacer to get it closer since you are already "in the zone".

Ray

 

I agree with the 3/4-1" as well. Any closer and if the mounts go south you could end up buying a new radiator pretty easily

 

If your going to use a flex-fan (not recommended) don't mount it any closer that 1".

Frank

 

I was doing a search and found this thread. Why is a Flex Fan not recommended? I did some research and found a flex fan is more efficient than a clutch fan and takes up less room. Can anyone shed some light on this for me?

 

LOL my lady calls me hubcap, not too long but I got girth.

In answer to the original question you set your engine to make your car perform properly then deal with cooling later. IE you are looking for front to rear bias either for weight transfer or handling. You can always build a fan shroud.

 

Flex fans have a reputation for coming apart, be wary of them.

 

Flex fans also pull forward

 

How far forward on average? I have 3/4" at the bottom of the fan to the radiator. 1.5-2" at the top

 

That's 2" from the floor...

 

When he's laying on his stomach!

 

That makes it a pimple on his ass..