[1lemans]

i used to use flexalite severe duty clutches and found them to be really good.Summit does'nt list them anymore only the heavy duty.Does anyone know where to buy a severe duty flexalite clutch?Sorry don't mean to hijack your thread but had to mention the flexalite severe clutches.They cut in earlier than the hayden clutches.

[AdamIsAdam]

Originally Posted by lust4speed

You can always throw more money at it later on.

LOL
I just had to highlight the gem of a quote. Like my jeep: Just Empty Every Pocket.

I've begun collecting parts and will mix and match to see what fits and what helps.

Thanks!

[AdamIsAdam]

Putting my progress updates back in my own thread here...

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...7&postcount=77

[AdamIsAdam]

Question about spring modification: once the clutch fan is engaged, bending the spring shouldn't matter, right? Meaning, if my car mostly runs around 180 but climbs to 200 in higher ambient temp, the clutch is already engaged, so bending the spring won't help, will it?

EDIT: I just reread this thread and see that the clutch fan is probably operating properly, that is, engaging around 200° water temp (170° air temp, per Hayden).

I will modify the spring as a next step.

Please see my other thread for yesterday's updates...

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=780484

[lust4speed]

Position of the center pin determines the cut-in speed and the engagement percentage. Right now if your fan comes in at 200°, then it might be at full engagement at 220° or so. Think of the center pin as a water valve that you can twist on, and not as a light switch that is either on or off. What we are doing with the spring alteration is starting engagement at a lower temperature by twisting the pin earlier. Along with the earlier engagement will be that the full engagement will occur at a lower temperature. 200° Isn't too bad, some of the fans like to spin up closer to 210° right out of the box.

[AdamIsAdam]

This is pretty cool. A cutaway of a clutch. Then he applies heat.

https://youtu.be/LpzJsav3rsw

[67GTONUT]

OK.... now I understand why moving the spring slightly counter clockwise engages the clutch earlier..... That helped a lot

[Jim Doran]

Nice video and really appreciate the time people take to make quality videos. He did a great job of the cut-a-way and editing. Definitely takes some time;

[tspring1]

What was the difference in the cooling fans AC to non AC for a 66 Lemans 326. I added vintage air to my car and am running the stock non clutch fan. I am on the process of putting everything together and will need to make a decision on my fan soon

[67GTONUT]

I am going to add what I just found to this thread.....

I had replaced my fan clutch back in 2003 with a Hayden Heavy Duty clutch, and it had a really nice difference in temps.... and over the past few years, the car has been slowly not doing quite as well, temps have been slowly getting higher and did not seem in control. Yet every time I spin the fan, seems like pretty good resistance from the clutch.

But instead of taking off this fan clutch and doing the spring tweak, I ordered a new Heavy Duty clutch..... which is on its way. But today, I decided to take apart the car in anticipation of the new clutch....

Well, upon removal of the clutch, I wanted to see exactly how moving the spring counter clockwise effects that center shaft, after seeing the video above, I now understand..... Well.... guess what, I moved the spring.... and noticed that center shaft did NOT move.... that little center shaft is seized and will not turn, so regardless what I did with the spring, or how it would change with heat..... it will not turn, so it will not lock up the clutch any further then where it is now....

So it is a good thing I have a new clutch on the way anyway.....

Just thought I would post my findings for anyone wondering why their old clutch seems fine as far as resistance when spinning the fan by hand, but will not control temps as car gets hotter.....

[AdamIsAdam]

Thanks for the info. Maybe I'll do my spring tonight as well. that is, unless I take it out to the local cruise instead!

[judgeman6970]

interesting fan clutch "mod". I'm going to have to try this on my '71 Olds 442, which always seems to run hotter than I would like....

[AdamIsAdam]

Tonight I modified the clutch fan spring. Here is the before picture:



Here is the first bend I made which didn't appear to do anything visually (I didn't install and test it this way):



And finally here it is when I reintalled it:



I took the car for a 20 mile straight highway ride at a steady 3,000 RPM. Before that would send the temps up around 200 and more even in cool weather. Tonight, the temps were down to 75* and not humid, so not too bad, but the highest the temps got to was about 181*.

I still do not have a fan shroud and have a 18.5" fan. I have a 19.5" fan in the garage awaiting installation if I need it, as well as an OEM shroud that would need heavy mods to fit. Maybe I don't need it at all.

[imposter]

hey wondering how your temps are with the heat

[AdamIsAdam]

Originally Posted by imposter

hey wondering how your temps are with the heat

I'm at the "good enough" stage now. Mostly it's sound 180-190.
You can see my other thread for updates.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=780484

[imposter]

Ok so some great testing has been done by Mr.Shaker, on my 66 tempest, We
started out with a mark 7 15 1/2" 2 row Detroit made USA $800 radiator, along with a stock clutch and reproduction ames fan,180 high flow thermostat, temp would be around 180-200 tops in traffic cruising along on the highway the clutch would engage and disengage as it should between 185-200 seems ok but the fuel would boil and vapor lock intermitently

now i put in a USA/Chinese champion 4 row aluminum MC1080 $303 from Jeggs with a Derale Performance Heavy-Duty Flex Fans 17018 same conditions we have not gone past 190 stop and go Long Island Sunday traffic and it was 90+ with NY humidity along with slight horsepower therapy

next test i put in a plastic summit Flex-a-lite Nylon Mechanical Fans 418 fan same day conditions have not gone past 182 i will continue to leave this set up in for the next drive i have to admit I'm a bit disappointed with the Detroit made mark 7 but i will be shipping it back to them for a look see

[judgeman6970]

I think maybe the higher temps when running the 1st radiator/clutch fan, could have been due to the clutch fan, and not the radiator??

[imposter]

thats the next test

[AdamIsAdam]

Did we post this fan comparison before? Just circling back here for those who were interested:

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...&postcount=149