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#1
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Looking for a fan recommendation
Oh look! another cooling thread!
For the last several years I've not had really any issues cooling my car. Except in cooler weather it would never run on the thermostat, but it's temps were always within a comfortable range unless the car just sat and idled for 20+ minutes. Around town in moderate traffic it would run 190, on the highway at 3000+ rpm it would always run steady at 194, even in 90+ degree weather, up grades etc. Late last summer I noticed the temps were a bit warmer than typical and that's been confirmed this summer as well. At a recent car show outing, temps went to 230+ on the line getting in to the show. The drive back after the car had cooled showed 205 on the highway and continuing to creep. I'm fairly certain the cores on my factory radiator have given up the ghost. Combined with the wrong fan for my application, that's not helping the situation. I'll be purchasing a new aluminum rad instead of having my stock unit re-cored. The current setup is a 1969 Firebird with as cast KRE D's and a hydraulic roller that sits between a stump puller and old faithful. Stock HD radiator (ac car originally) with the upper close-outs and lower baffle installed. Stock fan shroud and a GM 330533 flex fan. This is a 7 blade 18" unit which I believe would have been on a second gen camaro. The factory fan should be a 9796372 whic is a 19.5" 7 blade with a thermo clutch. Problem is I'm not really finding this part anywhere, nor am I really able to find a similar replacement. What do you guys have for a recommendation here? I can go electric fan as well and my FiTech would control that. I'd probably need to upgrade the alternator going that route however. I do also spin this engine to about 6k and it does get beat on, so I need a fan that will hold up if mechanical.
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-Jason 1969 Pontiac Firebird |
#2
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The Flex-a-Lite 1818 is said to be good to 8000 rpm.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/flx-1818 The 4818 has a silver center. https://www.jegs.com/i/Flex-A-Lite/400/4818/10002/-1 Sometimes there are some of the big 7-blades clutch fans, on Ebay. But I assume there are a few guys here who have one they'd part with. https://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-Chevy-ch...8AAOSw3Qlc~QkY https://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-GM-7-BL...UAAOSwqLFdLLb1 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Camaro-Chev...f9ed69abe95b04 https://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-CHEVEL...UAAOSwk9FcVMBj Quite a few that don't list size. Some say that a 2797 Severe Duty Hayden clutch will cool better than most. https://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/ha...an+clutch,6812 Last edited by ponyakr; 07-19-2019 at 01:43 PM. |
#3
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Maybe get the radiator installed first, and test how it cools with just that change? If you're suspecting a declining radiator, maybe that's all it is. I'm a proponent for electric fans, mainly due to not having the opportunity to chunk a mechanical fan/clutch combo into the radiator at high rpms... And I had a friend that had a fan come though the hood at low rpms, about 10 minutes after being over the engine with a timing light... But using electric has it's own issues too. Finding something that fits, isn't an obstruction at higher speeds, and is commonly available in case of failure, etc. Just to name some...
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'65 Tempest 467 3650# 11.30@120.31 |
#4
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I had one of those. Really loud and had to wear leather gloves when installing. I affectionately called it "The Meat Slicer". It literally made my car sound like the garbage man pulling up to the curb and dumping the trash containers. I went with a rigid race fan by Derale and a Hayden HD clutch. https://www.jegs.com/i/Derale/259/17319/10002/-1
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Triple Black 1971 GTO Last edited by NeighborsComplaint; 07-19-2019 at 01:27 PM. |
#5
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This is what I had in my Firebird (see signature) https://www.summitracing.com/parts/flx-188/overview/ With an electric water pump & a BeCool; radiator, I'd run 190 while driving 70+mph on the highway. Around town or in traffic it would stay at 160 (my thermostat rating)
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'73 T/A (clone). Low budget stock headed 8.3:1 455, 222/242 116lsa .443/.435 cam. FAST Sportsman EFI, 315rwhp/385rwtq on 87 octane. 13.12 @103.2, 1.91 60'. '67 Firebird [sold], ; 11.27 @ 119.61, 7.167 @ 96.07, with UD 280/280 (108LSA/ 109 ICL)solid cam. [1.537, 7.233 @93.61, 11.46 @ 115.4 w/ old UD 288/296 108 hydraulic cam] Feb '05 HPP, home-ported "16" D-ports, dished pistons (pump gas only), 3.42 gears, 275/60 DR's, 750DP, T2, full exhaust My webpage http://lnlpd.com/home |
#6
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I'm with this
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Any changes made during this time period to AFR or timing curve? Clay |
#7
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Bought mine last year.
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- Mike '69 Firebird 400 - Goldenrod Yellow, 455 +.060, '6s-7' heads, Comp Cam 276AH-10 (51-309-4), TH400, Ford 9-inch w/3.08, 800cfm Q-jet, Stock Intake, Hooker Headers, Flowmasters '68 Coronet 500 Convertible - Medium Gold Metallic, stock 318 +100,000 miles |
#8
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I just got lucky and found two 7 blade 19.5s at a show for $5 each. Original GM. I used one and have the other. Its from 403 era firebirds. If you had a need for it let me know. I would give up it cheap to a fellow member.
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1967 Firebird 462 580hp/590ftlbs 1962 Pontiac Catalina Safari Swapped in Turd of an Olds 455 Owner/Creator Catfish Motorsports https://www.youtube.com/@CatfishMotorsports |
#9
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Quote:
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http://www.thefirstgensite.com/library/fans/fgffans.htm I have measured my shroud and it is 21" in diameter. A 17.5" fan would not be effective in such a shroud. My understanding is that the end of the fan should be no more than 1" away from the shroud.
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-Jason 1969 Pontiac Firebird |
#10
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What's the part number on it?
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-Jason 1969 Pontiac Firebird |
#11
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I don't recall off the top of my head, do a search in Street for topics by me. Should be recent. I give both PNs. I used the earlier model.
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1967 Firebird 462 580hp/590ftlbs 1962 Pontiac Catalina Safari Swapped in Turd of an Olds 455 Owner/Creator Catfish Motorsports https://www.youtube.com/@CatfishMotorsports |
#12
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A tape measure, a Sharpie, hacksaw, and a drill are about the most tools you should need for the brackets.
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'73 T/A (clone). Low budget stock headed 8.3:1 455, 222/242 116lsa .443/.435 cam. FAST Sportsman EFI, 315rwhp/385rwtq on 87 octane. 13.12 @103.2, 1.91 60'. '67 Firebird [sold], ; 11.27 @ 119.61, 7.167 @ 96.07, with UD 280/280 (108LSA/ 109 ICL)solid cam. [1.537, 7.233 @93.61, 11.46 @ 115.4 w/ old UD 288/296 108 hydraulic cam] Feb '05 HPP, home-ported "16" D-ports, dished pistons (pump gas only), 3.42 gears, 275/60 DR's, 750DP, T2, full exhaust My webpage http://lnlpd.com/home |
#13
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My car used to have what looks exactly like that fan installed by previous owner. My car would not keep cool in slow moving traffic or even climbing hills. The fan ran almost continuously. I had it set to kick on at 190. My coolant t-stat is 180, but it would never run at that temp. Temps frequently went into the 230 range in heavy traffic. I couldn’t run ported vacuum because it would just get too hot at idle. Temps would cool when at 50+ mph, but very slowly.
I switched to a 19 or 19.5 inch 7 blade GM flex fan and the engine was running at 190, would climb to 220 in heavy traffic. Still could not safely run ported vacuum advance. Initial timing was 15 degrees plus whatever the vacuum can added. I then added an OER shroud from summit, and it now stays at 180. Only time I’ve seen it hit 190 to 195 ish was on 95+ degree, humid (dew point 74 degree) and 45 min of stop and go traffic on a hill. Also, it is now running ported vacuum advance with 10 degrees initial. Combo is a 1969 firebird 400 with a 1968 400, Voodoo 703 cam, th400 and 3.55 rear with 26.5 inch tires, stock high compression iron heads. Has the upper baffles, but not the lower one. Stock radiator—i’m Not sure how old. Stock 1968 8 bolt water pump. I was surprised at how well the factory setup worked on mine. No aluminum radiator or expensive billet water pump. I had been considering a clutch type fan, but with how well this is working, I’m not sure I need to change it. However, you’re at higher altitude and your cooling requirements may be different. |
#14
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Yeah aside from the non-stock fan, my entire system is as it was delivered from the factory. Visually the radiator looks okay. There's some minor scale build up that you can see inside and the coolant flows and drains clean. I just think the cores are going on it.
I think right now I'm liking Scott65's recommendation to just try the new radiator and see where I land. May be that the parts currently on the car will get me back to good, or even better than I've been seeing. If not, I've got lots of options here to look at.
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-Jason 1969 Pontiac Firebird |
#15
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I have a 1970 Pontiac big-car 19.5" clutch fan (with a new Hayden clutch) on my '65 GTO....works great compared to the Flex-A-Lite fan that was on there previously, which made the car sound like a garbage truck or a 1990's Mercedes. On my '67, I pulled the stock 18" clutch fan in 1991 or so and installed a 19" GM flex fan from a wrecked 1969 Cadillac. That fan is deadly quiet, and pulls more air than the bigger clutch fan on my '65 due to the steep pitch of the blades. That , and shrouds on both cars took care of any cooling issues.
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Jeff |
#16
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Quote:
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-Jason 1969 Pontiac Firebird |
#17
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Hey Jason, I think you know my setup. Today I just spent 4 hours driving around in town with the A/C on and of course you know we're at 101 today. Car climbed a little in stop and go traffic, to 205. When I started moving at 40-50 it would cool back down to 190. Think I'm going to turn the temp sensor down on the electric fans so they come on at higher speed sooner and see if that makes a difference.
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#18
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Yeah I've seen that setup. The Flex-a-lite 295 doesn't really fit the smaller F-Body core as well. I think it would be doable, but there's be a lot of cutting of the shroud to get it over the water tubes etc. If I went that direction I'd probably go to the Flex-a-lite 180 which is just about the correct size. I think it leaves 1/4 to 1/2 inch of unsealed surface on the F-body core.
I should mention, I'm pretty decided on the cold case radiator. I've not really seen bad reviews, so I'm going to give that one a go. Also for people wanting to know about torqhead's experience, it's currently over 100 degrees today here in Colorado.
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-Jason 1969 Pontiac Firebird |
#19
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I have a 19 inch GM fan in great shape. It takes the Hayden heavy duty clutch. 10 bucks and shipping and it’s yours
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468/TKO600 Ford thru bolt equipped 64 Tempest Custom. Custom Nocturne Blue with black interior. |
#20
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Thanks I'll keep that in mind. I'm going to try just the radiator first with my current fan.
appreciate it!
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-Jason 1969 Pontiac Firebird |
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