[Z Code 400]

I cannot get my car toeven get up to 185°F with the Lincoln, 7 blade fan, even in 100°+F ambient temperatures, but it willrun 220° all day long (even when it is 39°F outside) with Severe Duty clutch and 7 Blade Fan shwon in my previous post above.

That's why I switched. It's just sitting on the bench now. I figure we will try it on my 11 year old son's 331 CID Camaro project and see if that engine likes it any better. It might work on that car, as it has the smaller, A/C style pulleys...Robert

[59safaricat]

Z-Code,

Does that Lincoln fan have a part #? I asked my buddy who is a Ford fanatic and has a wall full of books packed with part#'s and interchange #'s. He couldn't find a factory flex fan for a 68 Lincoln. All 68 Lincoln fans required a clutch, according to his vast info.

[Z Code 400]

Safari,

It's a rather obscure piece. Your friend is correct that all Lincolns were originally equipped with clutch fans during that era. However, there is an explanation. A friend of mine worked for a local Ford dealer for many years. When I was looking for a big 7 blade flex fan, he suggested the one that Ford put on Lincolns.

Apparently, there was a TSB for an overheating condition that provided for a 13 fpi radiator an 7 blade flex fan. The part number, C8SE-8546-B, later crossed to the same 18" fan that was used on the 428 CJ cars, which was available under part number D0TA-C.

Beware of the 19" 7 blade flex fan used on the Boss 429's under part number D0OE-A. That will not fit in the factory fan shroud of a second generation Firebird.

Hope this helps...Robert

[JSchmitz]

Robert, Could you post a picture of your Lincoln flex fan?

[Z Code 400]

JSchmitz,

No problem. It is, of course, almost identical in configuration to the 7 blade flex fan found on Pontiac Grand Safari Wagons. The difference is, the 'Lincoln' fan is much, mush more quiet at all rpm levels and moves more air...Robert

P.S. The 'Lincoln' fan is pictured below...

[blue goats]

'Use the fan clutch or the flex fan, but don't use a fixed stock fan." Mick aka lust for speed
Why? I have a stock for something 6 blade GM ? fan. My 69 GTO never goes over 170 in the worst traffic . It is mostly stock 4sp ,ac (not installed at this time),4 row PY rad, and I run this car hard most of the time.

[mchell]

I just went back to my stock flex fan from a 5 blade clutch fan (heavy duty clutch).... the flex fan reduced my temps by 20 degree's....I always thought I was running a tad hot with the clutch fan setup...

[theYman]

I swapped out my clutch fan for a flex fan last summer. My car runs cooler even in stopped traffic at 103 degrees. I'll never go back to a clutch.

[Z Code 400]

7 Blade Lincoln Flex Fan on-duty in my 1975 Formula. Note the Ford pattern visible between the factory Pontiac spacer. This is the spacer that came from the factory Pontiac 'Power-Flex' 5 blade fan. The difference in airflow is unreal and the Lincoln fan is the most quiet of any solid, flex or clutch-type fan tested...Robert

P.S. Pontiac used a 7 blade felx fan on Safari Wagons as part of the heavy duty cooling pacakge...Robert

[Garage Goat]

I'm not saying flex fans are junk. I ran a plastic one for years with good success. I've also ran several kinds of aftermarket, and factory, metal flex fans. None of them held a candle to a good clutch.


I tottally agree with you. From experience a good clutch fan will out perform a flex fan any day of the week!!

[1qikta]

I ran my stock 6 blade fan with a HD clutch (AC Req) for a long time until I was looking for more power. I then picked up a factory mopar lightweight 5 blade fan and went down to a standard (no ac) clutch.

The chassis dyno gave me an additional 8 rwhp...

[mchell]

Originally Posted by 1qikta

I ran my stock 6 blade fan with a HD clutch (AC Req) for a long time until I was looking for more power. I then picked up a factory mopar lightweight 5 blade fan and went down to a standard (no ac) clutch.

The chassis dyno gave me an additional 8 rwhp...

do you drive your rig on the street much??.....any comparison of a stock flex fan vs. clutch fan on the dyno??....curious what i might be losing (if any) going back to the flex fan...I did not see any ET difference going from flex to clutch fan when I initially changed.

I drive mine on the street often so a 20 degree drop was fairly dramatic....

[1qikta]

Originally Posted by mchell

do you drive your rig on the street much??.....any comparison of a stock flex fan vs. clutch fan on the dyno??....curious what i might be losing (if any) going back to the flex fan...I did not see any ET difference going from flex to clutch fan when I initially changed.

I drive mine on the street often so a 20 degree drop was fairly dramatic....

I drive to local cruise ins. Never really had a temp issue though.But,I only tested the one scenarion above.
You are not going to see an ET difference..only a slight mph increase with the additional power.Et for me is all about 60' especially with a heavy car.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MOPAR...Q5fCarQ5fParts

[Z Code 400]

On our 427 Ford Tunnel Port Drag Car, we ran flex fan, fan clutch and no fan and ran the same E.T., same MPH and same 60' every time and that was on an honest 550 HP car.

Since that time, we chase the fan that gave us the best tempreature management...Robert

[mchell]

Originally Posted by 1qikta

I drive to local cruise ins. Never really had a temp issue though.But,I only tested the one scenarion above.
You are not going to see an ET difference..only a slight mph increase with the additional power.Et for me is all about 60' especially with a heavy car.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MOPAR...Q5fCarQ5fParts

same for me...all about the 60' when you are trying to launch a 4000 lb rig...just wondering what your experience was....

did I talk to you at the BOP race in Gainsville???...dark blue T/A ?

[1qikta]

Yep that was me..

I think you were originally from Minnesota? Maybe I got it wrong I talked to a bunch of guys from Fl.

[71 T/A]

I've tried both flex fans and clutch fans and the clutch works better. I'm using a non thermal fan clutch on both my 69 GTO and 72 Formula and they out perform thermal clutches by running 10-20 degrees cooler.

[mchell]

Originally Posted by 1qikta

Yep that was me..

I think you were originally from Minnesota? Maybe I got it wrong I talked to a bunch of guys from Fl.

yeah.....that was me...you going again this year??....I am going to attend..

[Z Code 400]

Originally Posted by 71 T/A

I've tried both flex fans and clutch fans and the clutch works better. I'm using a non thermal fan clutch on both my 69 GTO and 72 Formula and they out perform thermal clutches by running 10-20 degrees cooler.

You might be onto something there....I have always used the thermal clutches and I understand they cause the engine to run hotter. We used to sieze the non-thermal ones up and then jump the belts on our oval track cars, so we reckoned the bigger, severe-duty thermal clutches were better. Truth is, the cars ran cooler with a flex fan and our lap times never changed so we stuck with it....Robert

[71 T/A]

I know someone who runs 11.70s with a 73 Trans Am who has used a nonthermal fan clutch for 7 years with no problems. He said I'd run cooler with the nonthermal and he's right. Plus, they're only $20-$30.