1979 cooling fans?
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Greer SC
Re: 1979 cooling fans? (ElCid79)
Just replaced my clutch fan with a flex. I have AC and HD cooling. The listings were 14" and 15". Mine took the 15" flex, I had to align the fan shroud carefully but it was about as tight as it gets, no interference, cooler, quieter car (up front that is)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 1
From: Fishkill NY
Re: 1979 cooling fans? (Cothrom)
Hay, when you replaced you fan clutch with a flex, you ran lower temps? How much lower? Was the temps lower on the highway too?
[Modified by SLICKMAN, 8:24 PM 8/13/2002]
Just replaced my clutch fan with a flex. I have AC and HD cooling. The listings were 14" and 15". Mine took the 15" flex, I had to align the fan shroud carefully but it was about as tight as it gets, no interference, cooler, quieter car (up front that is)
[Modified by SLICKMAN, 8:24 PM 8/13/2002]
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Greer SC
Re: 1979 cooling fans? (SLICKMAN)
Lower temps both highway and putting around in traffic. Here in S.New Hampshire we've been blessed with a wicked heatwave summer so far. I installed the flex mainly for noise, earlier this year I was running stock exhaust, could hear the fan at 60 MPH. My car would run hot in 80+ degree weather with AC on with new clutch fan. After I installed the flex I noticed a drop from around 200 +/- to the 180 range (plus I couldn't hear the damn thing at highway speeds!) Then I bought Hooker header/sidepipes, then I couldn't hear anything at all! :lol:
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Re: 1979 cooling fans? (ElCid79)
FWIW, here is a diagrammetic pic of the optional electric fan offered in 1979. The pic does not show dimensions but you can pretty well judge its size by comparing to the shroud.
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/paul79//auxfan_002.jpg
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/paul79//auxfan_002.jpg
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,030
Likes: 17
From: White Pine / Dandridge TN
Re: 1979 cooling fans? (ElCid79)
Max size fan is either 17" or 18" I belive. You could probably measure to get accurate data. I exchanged my stock fan and fan clutch for an aftermarket electric fan. It makes a huge difference in temp and power along with improvement in mpg. I did not use the fancy and $$$ dual fans. Just used a single 16" electric fan that I got used for $45.00. During this heatwave I've not gone over 180 degrees regardless of driving conditions. I ran my vette on the dyno with and without the fan/clutch and picked up 13hp and 17lbs-ft of torque after removing the fan and clutch.
Jim
Jim
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,030
Likes: 17
From: White Pine / Dandridge TN
Re: 1979 cooling fans? (SLICKMAN)
Slickman,
Since I live about 15 minutes from all the Nascar race teams, I can get all types of parts from the used parts store near me. I picked up this fan used, but it looks similar to most of the fans in Summit, Jegs etc.... Just look for a 16" fan with around 2700cfm. They sell new for around $80.00 or so. I also used a Painless Wiring electric fan wiring harness that sells for about $50.00. It includes the wiring, relay, circuit breaker and temp sending unit. I used aluminum angle iron and flat iron from Home Depot that cost all of about $5.00. That's it. The entire project cost just over $100.00 and made a huge difference. I can't think of to many things I can do on the vette for $100.00 that have this big an impact. To boot, installing an electric fan cleans up the engine bay by not having a fan and clutch or the bulky factory shroud that is a PITA to install and remove.
P.S I do want to add on thing, my a/c is not running ( I have a vert), so I have not used this setup with a/c. Once I do get the a/c working, if need be I plan to install a small 8" or so accessory fan to assist. Being that my temp runs so cool, I think I can still stay under 200 degrees without another fan. I can get on of these small fans from my local salvage yard for about $10.00.
Jim
Since I live about 15 minutes from all the Nascar race teams, I can get all types of parts from the used parts store near me. I picked up this fan used, but it looks similar to most of the fans in Summit, Jegs etc.... Just look for a 16" fan with around 2700cfm. They sell new for around $80.00 or so. I also used a Painless Wiring electric fan wiring harness that sells for about $50.00. It includes the wiring, relay, circuit breaker and temp sending unit. I used aluminum angle iron and flat iron from Home Depot that cost all of about $5.00. That's it. The entire project cost just over $100.00 and made a huge difference. I can't think of to many things I can do on the vette for $100.00 that have this big an impact. To boot, installing an electric fan cleans up the engine bay by not having a fan and clutch or the bulky factory shroud that is a PITA to install and remove.
P.S I do want to add on thing, my a/c is not running ( I have a vert), so I have not used this setup with a/c. Once I do get the a/c working, if need be I plan to install a small 8" or so accessory fan to assist. Being that my temp runs so cool, I think I can still stay under 200 degrees without another fan. I can get on of these small fans from my local salvage yard for about $10.00.
Jim
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