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| | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,215 Moderator | | Moderator Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,215 | I'm not the first person who has trouble getting the fan to fit between the engine balancer and the rad. I have a 261 with a short waterpump. I have 2 1/2 inches between the waterpump mounting face and the rad. I have a 6 blade x 18" fan with a 1" arbor. The blades angle back and hit the balancer by 1/4", maybe 3/8". I still have good clearance ahead of the fan. Does the correct 4 blade x 18" fan angle back? My shop manual shows that it doesn't. I'm not sure where the 6 blade came from, it was on the truck when I got it, are they used on A/C trucks or cars? | | | | | Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 224 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 224 | all of that is why i prefer the adapter plate to raise
the water pump up to where it should be the short shaft pump does not address that issue. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 |
Before I put in the adapter plate and pump (last summer), I used a 6-blade fan (bought in 1972 from NAPA) that was small enough diameter that it did not hit anything.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | I don't have that engine & am not familiar with the issue but will the fan clear if you turn it around? The blade pitch will be the same (pulling air instead of pushing as many people think happens when you turn the blade around) but should angle forward, away from the balancer, instead of back. If you have enough clearance in front it might work????? 
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| | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,215 Moderator | | Moderator Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,215 | Tiny, tried that, it's symmetrical, doesn't work. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | Some folks use a plastic fan and trim it to size. I think Tony "Truckedup" talked about that in a post. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,215 Moderator | | Moderator Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,215 | Fred, that thought crossed my mind. how well balanced should the fan be? One other issue, the rad slopes back a bit toward the engine at the top, my front clearance is a bit less. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | I think that there was also a discussion about the plastic fan flexing, I guess towards the front as it pulls the air through. I would think that the plastic is lighter and thus easier to balance.
Do you have your front clip on yet? The inner and outer fenders will influence the angle of the radiator support.
Fred | | | | | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 324 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 324 | Why not put a 14" electric pusher fan on the front of the radiator and be done with it? | | |
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