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Whats the best mechanical fan

69clone

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I'm wondering what the best mechanical fan to run on my car will be? My original 5 blade is too deep for my liking. I have a 7 blade fan off my dart that is thinner but it isn't for a clutch setup..
So before I go buying a OEM 7 blade clutch fan I was wonder if you guys recommend anything else? I see flex a lite and some other companies make solid steel fans too. I just don't want something to grenade on me.. I already destroyed one fan and radiator...
This is for a 440 stroker street/strip car.
 
Check this out. You might change your mind about mechanical fans :D

 
Check this out. You might change your mind about mechanical fans :D


Yes I have seen the power lost of a mechanical fan. BUT... I've also read a lot of about electric fans failing or not cooling enough and being this will see a lot of street time and some traffic I don't wanna be on the side of the road. Now if it was a pure track car I would probably run electric fans.
 
Yes I have seen the power lost of a mechanical fan. BUT... I've also read a lot of about electric fans failing or not cooling enough and being this will see a lot of street time and some traffic I don't wanna be on the side of the road. Now if it was a pure track car I would probably run electric fans.
wonder how much diff. there is in a 6 blade, to a 7 blade, both 17" , anyone know ?
 
I found a factory 20" diameter deep pitch clutch fan on Ebay supposedly from a 70s 400 with A/C. I combined it with a Hayden clutch and it fit but I also had a shroud with a 22" opening. Made a big difference in cooling my car.

DSCF6624.JPG DSCF7257.JPG DSCF7263.JPG DSCF7264.JPG
 
Frok the MP books, the viscous 5 blade fan is the unit that has the best & most factor.
Not the 7 blade fan.

The electric fan issue is a balancing act of needed cfm vs. amps used since the Alt. is going to be used at a heavier load to feed the power requirements.
This heavier load is seen as drag & it will cost HP.

Shround and fan ... if the fan blade was s a half inch in or out with f the shroud, you will be in good shape.
 
I installed a 6 blade 18.25" Flex a lite fan, skipped the clutch and installed a spacer.
This way you always have cooling, unless really nasty things happen.

This things moves some air, at idle there is a good air flow which also keeps the under hood temps lower.
At higher rpm's the blades flexes and reduces drag, to save some hp to go to the wheels. :)
Noise is not bad at all, I don't notice any excessive noise coming from this fan at all.

I believe this "direct drive" setup is the most reliable of all.
 
I installed a 6 blade 18.25" Flex a lite fan, skipped the clutch and installed a spacer.
This way you always have cooling, unless really nasty things happen.

This things moves some air, at idle there is a good air flow which also keeps the under hood temps lower.
At higher rpm's the blades flexes and reduces drag, to save some hp to go to the wheels. :)
Noise is not bad at all, I don't notice any excessive noise coming from this fan at all.

I believe this "direct drive" setup is the most reliable of all.
I have one of those flex fans sitting on the shelf. I tried it in a 600h.p. , 406 , sbc I had, wouldn`t keep it cool. I don`t have room for a bigger fan, than 17" w/ my current shroud, or a clutch fan.
 
Frok the MP books, the viscous 5 blade fan is the unit that has the best & most factor.
Not the 7 blade fan.

The electric fan issue is a balancing act of needed cfm vs. amps used since the Alt. is going to be used at a heavier load to feed the power requirements.
This heavier load is seen as drag & it will cost HP.

Shround and fan ... if the fan blade was s a half inch in or out with f the shroud, you will be in good shape.
extra amps not an issue w/ mine, I have 130 amp one wire on mine.
 
My engine had a flex fan on it when I bought it, and I've never found a reason to change. I've used these since 1985 and never had a failure. Meanwhile, I've had two clutch fans fail, so I'm not one of these folks who buys into the whole "clutch fans are more reliable" argument.
 
I installed a 6 blade 18.25" Flex a lite fan, skipped the clutch and installed a spacer.
This way you always have cooling, unless really nasty things happen.

This things moves some air, at idle there is a good air flow which also keeps the under hood temps lower.
At higher rpm's the blades flexes and reduces drag, to save some hp to go to the wheels. :)
Noise is not bad at all, I don't notice any excessive noise coming from this fan at all.

I believe this "direct drive" setup is the most reliable of all.
How hot does it actually get in the Netherlands?

It stays in the 90s F (32C) here in the summer months.
 
Never had a mechanical clutch can fail on me.
I have had multiple flex fans come apart on me.
 
Summer time in the Netherlands can go up to 30 deg, rarely above.
This will be just a few days in the week it might be that high, so yeah out here it is easier to maintain a cool engine.
 
I run a 6 blade mechanical fan the big heavy steel fan. I was thinking about trying the MARADYNE TEXAS TWISTER it is a 12ounce nylon fan. I had some 165 KW diesel generators with plastic fans I ran them hard never had a failure. I know the diesel never saw 6000 rpm So what do you think,:lol:I'm not scared
 
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