The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Aftermarket Fan Question

Has anyone out there used an aftermarket fan on an advanced design pickup with a 235 in it? I have heard about using a fan from a task force truck with the 235, but those fans are hard to come by around here. Also, I bought a fan from one of the vendors and it did not move enough air to keep the engine cool. I was thinking about using one of the "flex" fans from a local parts store and wondered if anyone had any experience with those specifically in regards to fan/radiator clearance since the spacing is so tight with the 235. Thanks in advance for your help!

I have a plastic flex fan on my 235 and it works great the fan was given to me but I have seen them for sale for $13. cheap fix.

Had a flex fan on my 250 in my 71 for 10 years. Haven't put one on the 55.1 yet--prolly will this summer. You might try jegs. Post what you do as I will need to get one. Thanks.

Yes , I ran 7 blade flex fan on my 235 equipped '49 , it worked fine but was too noisy for my taste plus heat soak in the desert so I pitched it and now use an electric pusher fan ,
_HUGE_ improvement ! .

The flex fan hub that my parts store has only fits the newer style water pump with the smaller shaft, would require machining an adapter. To top that off, flex fans are power hogs, in spite of their advertizing. It takes a lot of power to keep the blades flat. Follow Nate's advice and go electric.

I had the same delima when installing a 59 235ci with the short waterpump in my 52pu. Not enough room between the radiator and the pulley to install any type of fan. So I got the 16" Spal pusher fan, mount as high as I could in front of radiator with brackets supplied. Advise not to buy their kit to turn off an on the fan. Too expensive and the lowest temp "on" they have is 185, too hot for my tastes. Go out and get yourself a cheaper manual control so you can set lower. The temp bulb will sit in the upper radiator hose. You can get the control mechanism at Auto Zone etc. With a 165 degree therm, pusher fan, 50/50 antifreeze,and synthetic it will run all day at 170 degrees any weather.

I have got a problem too, I have an electric fan on my 235 and the radiator has been cleaned but when you put a load on the motor it overheats. Is it that I need to get it recored or is there a problem somewhere else.

Most aftermarket electric fans don't flow enough air compared to a stock fan. Check the cfm rating of the fan you have, and get a better one if needed.

I have been thinking about getting an electric pusher for my 248...my question is do I keep the stock fan or do I loose it when I put the pusher on. Thanks

The 16" Spal fans push about 2300 cfm's. Keep your normal fan and add the pusher electric is what I wish I had room enough to do.

Coondog,
You may have a radiator problem? If your radiator is in good shape you may be able to put on a 5-7 lb cap to increase the boiling point?

52pu, My truck does not overheat to where it is spewing but the gauge pegs out. My electric fan run 1600 cfm. Could it be a combination of problems?

Pegging is not good. I'd say 1600 cfm is not enough air movement. Go for more cfm's if possible. Check all the usual suspects, flush, therm opening as rated, 5-7 lb cap. Timing correct? Exhaust valves set with enough delay to transfer heat. Engines will overheat (creaps up) if the valves are not gapped enough to allow heat transfer to water gasget. Is you vacumn advance working? All these will contribute to an engine overheating.

52pu, This truck is a 1949 6400. Just running downt the road its right on. If you put a load on it like for example I hauled 3.5 cord of cedars on it, when I would go up a hill the guage would start going up instantly, headed back down and it would start to go back down. In the summer I use it for hauling square bales where you are just putting around the field after awhile it overheats. The temp outside makes a difference on the overheating. This seems to me to be more of a radiator problem. Anymore help would be appreciated. As you can tell I really do not want to mess with the fan.

Thanks everyone for all the input. I already have an electic pusher from previously, I was just trying to avoid using it if possible. I'll get out and look for an aftermarket fan that fits and let you all know what works out. Thanks again!