WHY BOTHER if you take a chance of throwing it through your hood when it lets go?!?! 
flex fans
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 445
Likes: 2
From: Thomastown Mississippi
flex fans
I like the looks of the flex fans and was thinking of installing one on my Vette. Anyone use one of these? Are there any pros and cons to running one? Would I need to add a spacer between the water pump pulley and the fan? It's a '77 Vette/stock 350. Thanks for any info.
Kenny
Kenny
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 360
Likes: 0
I had one from February to September. It kept the temps at around 200 to 215 on the hot days in stop and go traffic (+105* F).
Yes you are going to want a spacer, other wise your fan won't be far enough under the shroud.
Yes you are going to want a spacer, other wise your fan won't be far enough under the shroud.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
I think about the only good thing a flex fan does is take weight off the end of the water pump bearing, making for longer water pump life. Outside of that, they add noise...a lot depending on the blade design, no real better cooling at most operating temps, and as already said, they can come apart. While I've never seen one come apart, I have seen many with stress cracks in them and that gives you pause.
Again, as already said, a properly working fan and fan clutch are hard to beat unless you go with electric fans. Chevrolet engineering was pretty damn good in designing the cooling system, especially considering the limited front cooling area they had to work with...big blocks included.
Again, as already said, a properly working fan and fan clutch are hard to beat unless you go with electric fans. Chevrolet engineering was pretty damn good in designing the cooling system, especially considering the limited front cooling area they had to work with...big blocks included.
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 712
Likes: 4
From: caraquet N.B Canada
The flex fan i used to have almost lost a blade. When i was polishing it prior to a show 250 milles from my place i notice that one blade was half broken.
Now i use this one and it does cool down because i have a blackout kit in front and it never over heated.
Now i use this one and it does cool down because i have a blackout kit in front and it never over heated.
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 20
From: The only Corvettes in Highett Victoria
Go electric
BassCat,
Just take a look under the bonnet of EVERY car on the market today and see what they are using to cool the radiator and ask yourself why. If you're making the car non-stock, then don't waste your money on a flex fan. Go electric! There have been plenty of threads on the sourcing and fitment of cheap and efficient electric fans and shrouds and this is the way you should go. If flex fans were the answer, then the OEMs would be using them.
Regards from Down Under
aussiejohn
19 months to go
Just take a look under the bonnet of EVERY car on the market today and see what they are using to cool the radiator and ask yourself why. If you're making the car non-stock, then don't waste your money on a flex fan. Go electric! There have been plenty of threads on the sourcing and fitment of cheap and efficient electric fans and shrouds and this is the way you should go. If flex fans were the answer, then the OEMs would be using them.
Regards from Down Under
aussiejohn
19 months to go
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 445
Likes: 2
From: Thomastown Mississippi
Thanks for the replies. I think I'll just stick with the stock set-up. Don't like the thought of one coming apart under my hood. I've got the engine compartment looking pretty good, and just thought a new fan would finish it off, but it's not worth the risk. Thanks again.
Kenny
Kenny
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 924
Likes: 2
From: Kearneysville West Virginia
Neither, I am just tossing out my only experience with flex fans. I am just saying that it was a factory stainless steel flex fan and I had no problems with it over a long period of time and a lot of miles. Just my experience, nothing more.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
Noisy, HP robbing, blades come off....
See CarCraft, May 2000. They did a fan test. Engine on a dyno:
alternator, no fan 496 hp
3 different flex fans 460, 466, 476 hp
OE 6-blade rigid fan 449 hp
nonthermal clutch fan 485 hp
thermal clutch fan 487 hp (HD version 476 hp)
electric fan 494 hp
The way I see it you either want a stock thermal fan or electric.
See CarCraft, May 2000. They did a fan test. Engine on a dyno:
alternator, no fan 496 hp
3 different flex fans 460, 466, 476 hp
OE 6-blade rigid fan 449 hp
nonthermal clutch fan 485 hp
thermal clutch fan 487 hp (HD version 476 hp)
electric fan 494 hp
The way I see it you either want a stock thermal fan or electric.