failed fan clutch
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,626
Likes: 2,553
failed fan clutch
My fan clutch developed a seal leak on my 69SB. Found a great deal on Ebay. It's not a matching numbers car so function was more important than originality. Installed it, drove it on some local roads, had no problem. Took it out on the highway and at about 3,500 RPM heard a loud bang up front and found myself driving over parts of my car. Pulled over found 1/4 of my fan shroud was gone and everything is covered with silicone from the fan clutch. Didnt appear to be any play in fan clutch or water pump bearings and the fan was not interfering with any part of the remaining fan shroud. Drove the car home, pulled the fan clutch and discovered the whole front cover with the coil thermostat was gone! The front cover had destroyed my fan shroud, bent a fan blade and cracked my hood. Has anybody else ever experienced a failure of the front cover detaching from the main body of the fan clutch?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
My fan clutch developed a seal leak on my 69SB. Found a great deal on Ebay. It's not a matching numbers car so function was more important than originality. Installed it, drove it on some local roads, had no problem. Took it out on the highway and at about 3,500 RPM heard a loud bang up front and found myself driving over parts of my car. Pulled over found 1/4 of my fan shroud was gone and everything is covered with silicone from the fan clutch. Didnt appear to be any play in fan clutch or water pump bearings and the fan was not interfering with any part of the remaining fan shroud. Drove the car home, pulled the fan clutch and discovered the whole front cover with the coil thermostat was gone! The front cover had destroyed my fan shroud, bent a fan blade and cracked my hood. Has anybody else ever experienced a failure of the front cover detaching from the main body of the fan clutch?
It might have been a good deal because someone took it apart and tried to fix it for their car, and then didn't trust it and sold it. I'm sorry that 'good deal' turned out to be a several thousand dollar boo boo.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 992
Likes: 56
From: Baldwinsville, NY
How needs Ebay
I picked up one of these for my 78 two years and 6K miles ago.
http://www.partsamerica.com/productd...pe=176&PTSet=A.
A-zone and NAPA have similar units. We used a NAPA one on by B-Law's 81.
http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPage...-+Thermostatic.
http://www.partsamerica.com/productd...pe=176&PTSet=A.
A-zone and NAPA have similar units. We used a NAPA one on by B-Law's 81.
http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPage...-+Thermostatic.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 992
Likes: 56
From: Baldwinsville, NY
Who needs Ebay
I picked up one of these for my 78 two years and 6K miles ago.
http://www.partsamerica.com/productd...pe=176&PTSet=A.
A-zone and NAPA have similar units. We used a NAPA one on by B-Law's 81.
http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPage...-+Thermostatic.
http://www.partsamerica.com/productd...pe=176&PTSet=A.
A-zone and NAPA have similar units. We used a NAPA one on by B-Law's 81.
http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPage...-+Thermostatic.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 929
Likes: 5
From: Marietta GA
I personally have never heard of an exploding fan clutch but it can't the first time. Was it new in the box, or used? If it was new, you should be able to get a replacement under warranty (of course that leaves open the question of the other damage to your vehicle). I am always leery of used mechanical parts, for reasons like this.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,626
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The seller had a quantity of 100 available. They are "supposed to be new BorgWarner" units. The box is plain brown cardboard with no markings on it to indicate the manufacturer. They sent me another one but I'm not comfortable using it and will return it. As you indicate, how do I get someone else to foot the bill on what it's going to cost me to repair all the damage.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
I would suggest staying local if possible when buying your parts. I worked for Advance Auto and I know from experience that they would reimburse you for your repairs in such a situation. Dealing with a retailer on Ebay is another story. 
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
If the seller did not store the clutch properly,guess anything is possible...many are stamped on the face "Store this face down"....
Don't go cheap on cooling system parts...it's just not worth your time/labor....
Don't go cheap on cooling system parts...it's just not worth your time/labor....
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,626
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Actually the cover had "store this side face down" on one side and the same phrase on the other side of the cover in German. This phrase pertains to seal leaks on the shaft side over extended storage periods. The seal was completely dry before the cover failed.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
This is better..GM AX.....hard to find...old stock..
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
I'm running the GM AX on my 78 that has A/C with L82...
