if you read in the instructions for the after market flex fans they will recomend replacing them every year or face to possiblity of the blades brakeing off.
I still have a clutch fan on my F100 plus it has a fan shroud to help. Not saying it couldn't happen but I don't usually stand over the fan revving my engine up very high either. I have thought of an electric fan and might go that way one day but money is too tight to worry about it now. Funny thing I saw once back in High School. I was in auto shop and there was about 10 of us serious and then about 5 black guys in a little click that never turned a wrench. We were looking at a customer's car one day and the engine was idling. It was a Chevy. The year book club came around taking pictures and the so called leader of this other click that never turned a wrench saw the photographer taking pictures of a couple of us looking under the hood. He came running over, pushed in between me and another guy, stuck his arm under the hood like he was pointing something out to us. He stuck his right pointing finger right into the fan of the alternator! Took about an inch off his finger. lol Dummy clint
I was telling my buddy about this experience and he said "That fan was the devil anyways." He was referring to earlier this year. After installing the new radiator in the car and bleeding it out, I went to put the cap back on. Since the aluminum radiator is a bit thicker than the old one, when I went to turn the cap, I stuck my fingers right into the fan. I got extremely luck that I hit just above the rivets where the metal is smooth. I got severely bruised fingers, but at least they were intact. Initially though, I closed my fist and jumped back, I was so afraid to open my hand...
Take it for what it's worth, but flex fans are nothing but trouble! I had an aftermarket one on my 1977 F-100 that came apart going down the road and destroyed the radiator, A/C condenser, and put a gouge in the hood where one of the blades was literally sticking out it. The fan was less than 2 days old and the engine was no where near 10grand. Super Shops (where I bought it) nor the manufacturer would do anything other than offer me a new replacement fan either. I either run an electric fan or a stamped steel one now and have had no problems what so ever. -Scott H.
My grandpa had a '56 Thunderbird back in the early 60's with a mildly built 312 in it. He was out playing around with it one night, and was running it hard through the gears when he heard what sounded like shotgun going off, then something flew right through the hood so fast he couldn't tell what it was. He pulled off, raised the hood, and you guess it, fan blade came off. He said the hood had a nice clean tear through it, like someone stuck a knife through a piece of tin foil. '56 T-Birds aren't made of tin foil!!!
So here's a good question. I have a '77 comet I6. Any good electric fan suggestions? I plan on going to Art School soon (I want to airbrush cars/bikes/trucks) and need my fingers.
There are several fans that should fit. Autozone has them for around $40. Also get them cheap on ebay.
Would an '88 Mustang LX 2.3's fan work? It seems kind of small (we have a parts car because it got thrashed by an Explorer).
that should be a clutch fan. if it bolts to the water pump and fits between the motor and the rad. it should fit. it probly is reverse rotation so check that also. clutch fans are a good way to go. they slip on the drive shaft of the fan so they dont spin as high rpms and a flex fan does. also the fan on that mustang should be plastic. if it is check for cracks around the base of the blades. if they are cracked then dont use.
Taurus fan is not a bolt-on swap on a 6 cylinder car. It will hit the water pump. The cheapest electric fan Autozone has online is a 6-1/2" for $89 and it only has 340 cfm or just enough to blow out a birthday candle. There's nothing wrong with the 4 blade factory fan, other than it use about 4 or 5 horse power and if you don't stick your finger in them. If you want electric...you need about 2000 cfm. Remember...9 times out of 10 you get what you pay for.
Here is the first one I saw on ebay. $15. A little smaller than I would use, but there are deals out there. I saw two at my Autozone, one for $40, and a bigger one for $60. The one I am currently running came from a junk yard for $10. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HotR...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27b1674300
