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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / October 2006

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need a clutch fan...

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Nate Nagel - 28 Oct 2006 03:09 GMT
figured I could just call up Summit or Jeg's and order what I wanted.
However, the only ones available are from Flex-A-Lite and Derale (they
actually look like the same part) and have six equally spaced blades.  I
had always heard that 5- or 7-blade fans with non-equally-spaced blades
would be quieter and less prone to harmonics.  Is this really a big deal?

thanks,

nate

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DeserTBoB - 28 Oct 2006 05:46 GMT
>figured I could just call up Summit or Jeg's and order what I wanted.
>However, the only ones available are from Flex-A-Lite and Derale (they
>actually look like the same part) and have six equally spaced blades.  I
>had always heard that 5- or 7-blade fans with non-equally-spaced blades
>would be quieter and less prone to harmonics.  Is this really a big deal? <snip>

Yes, it is, for noise control.

Flex fans suck.  Use a regular fan and thermostatic viscous clutch.
Don - 28 Oct 2006 06:47 GMT
>>figured I could just call up Summit or Jeg's and order what I wanted.
>>However, the only ones available are from Flex-A-Lite and Derale (they
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
>Flex fans suck.

That's what they are supposed to do -- suck air through the radiator.
Quite a few of us are using all-plastic six blade flex fans on our
circle track dirt cars with no problem.

Don
www.donsautomotive.com

>  Use a regular fan and thermostatic viscous clutch.
HLS@nospam.nix - 28 Oct 2006 11:07 GMT
"Don" <don@NO-SPAMdonsautomotive.com> wrote in message
> >Flex fans suck.
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> >  Use a regular fan and thermostatic viscous clutch.

I have used flex fans in the past, and had no negative issues with them.
There have been articles published which indicate they do not save energy
when compared with the viscous clutch arrangement, and I suppose that
might be true.

But, rather than put a lot of money into an OEM clutch, I would use a flex
fan again.
Nate Nagel - 28 Oct 2006 11:30 GMT
> "Don" <don@NO-SPAMdonsautomotive.com> wrote in message
>
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> But, rather than put a lot of money into an OEM clutch, I would use a flex
> fan again.

I already have the OEM clutch, and I would like to use a clutch driven
fan.  The problem is that the blades that I have are apparently larger
in diameter than the stock fan in the chassis that this whole setup is
going in, and I would like some blades 1" smaller in diameter.  Does
anyone make clutch fan blades that have staggered blades?

nate

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HLS@nospam.nix - 28 Oct 2006 12:02 GMT
> I already have the OEM clutch, and I would like to use a clutch driven
> fan.  The problem is that the blades that I have are apparently larger
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> nate

Sorry, had I seen this, I wouldnt have posted a previous suggestion.
Pete C. - 28 Oct 2006 14:04 GMT
> > "Don" <don@NO-SPAMdonsautomotive.com> wrote in message
> >
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
> replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
> http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel

Why don't you just trim down the blades on the fan you have? Measure,
mark, trim with cutoff wheel in angle grinder, static balance a bit and
you should be fine.

Pete C.
Nate Nagel - 28 Oct 2006 11:28 GMT
>>figured I could just call up Summit or Jeg's and order what I wanted.
>>However, the only ones available are from Flex-A-Lite and Derale (they
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Flex fans suck.  Use a regular fan and thermostatic viscous clutch.

That's what I want to do, but it seems that my only option is to either
go boneyarding (a long drive, for me) or else hit fleaBay.

nate

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HLS@nospam.nix - 28 Oct 2006 11:51 GMT
> > Flex fans suck.  Use a regular fan and thermostatic viscous clutch.
>
> That's what I want to do, but it seems that my only option is to either
> go boneyarding (a long drive, for me) or else hit fleaBay.
>
> nate
HLS@nospam.nix - 28 Oct 2006 12:00 GMT
> > Yes, it is, for noise control.
> >
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> nate

I assume this is for your Stude, Nate.

On things that are getting pretty old, sometimes you have to use recycled
or very used parts, I guess. Im getting to that point with my Reatta, and it
is only 16 years old.

If you dont like the flex fan approach, have you considered modifying the
water pump by pressing a different collar on the water pump shaft and then
using the corresponding  new  thermostatic clutch and fan?  Might be do-able
pretty easy.

Another possible patch is to machine an adaptor from your Stude pump
collar which will allow you to install a late model fan and clutch from
another
brand of vehicle.

I am not familiar with the Stude setup, so maybe I am all wet on this.
Scott Dorsey - 28 Oct 2006 16:30 GMT
>figured I could just call up Summit or Jeg's and order what I wanted.
>However, the only ones available are from Flex-A-Lite and Derale (they
>actually look like the same part) and have six equally spaced blades.  I
>had always heard that 5- or 7-blade fans with non-equally-spaced blades
>would be quieter and less prone to harmonics.  Is this really a big deal?

It will be noisier.  In an old Studebaker, you won't notice a bit of
difference because the engine noise will swamp whatever fan noise there is.
--scott
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"C'est un Nagra.  C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

 
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