After replacing my water pump and getting everything running again, I noticed that my fan was turning slower than usual. I shut down the engine and was able to spin the fan freely (3-4 rotations) by hand, so it appears that the fan clutch is shot.

I read on another forum (after the fact) that fan clutches are supposed to stored upright (with the shaft horizontal) to keep the silicone from leaking out. This leads me to ask (a) how does the fluid stay in when the *&%$#@! is spinning at 3,000 RPM and (b) how does the fluid stay in when the *&%$#@! is being shipped to the parts dealer? I left mine lying flat on the garage floor while I was changing the pump but didn’t notice anything leaking out.

Now, I’m not one to second-guess the engineering of my forefathers but I’m debating on replacing the clutch with a spacer. My understanding was that the purpose of the clutch was to reduce parasitic drag on the engine at higher RPMs (highway speeds) where the fan is not needed as much. I think a spacer would help the engine run a little cooler by eliminating the clutch, even if it means a small loss of power. Not all cars even have a fan clutch (my ’77 Camaro doesn’t).

Anyone have experience with running a car with a spacer vs. a fan clutch?

Thanks.

 

Running a fan clutch gives you extra horsepower over running a spacer. A win-win situation.

 

Not sure where I acquired this notion, but I thought if you remove the clutch you should also change to a flex fan which at least robs a little less hp then the clutchless clutch fan would. I have no clutch (another one of those "mods" that was brought to my attention after I owned my vette for a couple of years! ) and I wonder if I would notice the diff if I went back to a clutch fan...

 

i've used a locked up fan clutch on several occasions. This is really the only time my car cools to my satisfaction during the heat of the summer.

 

Turtlevette,

How did you lock your fan clutch?

 

a hammer works well.

some i've had in the past have just locked up in failure mode.

 

Neo,
the fan clutch won't be too hard to spin when cold. let the engine get hot or at least to operating temp. Turn the motor off, then try to spin it. You should be met witha LOT more resistance.

 

but if it doesnt work you can drill thru it and
put bolts thru it.....bubba but works

i did that on a 77 morte carlo once......
it generates a LOT of fan noise, but it stayed cool
in north dakota on a 110 deg day

R.