Those of you running electric fans, how close is the fan to the water pump pulley? I mocked mine up yesterday, I think it's a fox body Mustang fan, and it looks mighty close to me. I had to offset so it wouldn't hit the pulley, but it still looks close to me. Will it cool right being offset this much? Or do I need to center it on the rad? Or will I be better off to just get an aftermarket fan?
The two fans in my 89 Ranger are closer than that to the waterpump pulley. That was the reason for using two, a single was about 2" too long to fit. I've only got about 1-1/2" clearance between the radiator and pulley.
THAT is the reason I cut up my radiator mount and pushed the radiator 1-1/2" forward. I put in a thicker aluminum radiator and lost what little space I had between the fan and pulley. Now I have plenty of room...
The tape is hard to read, I've got about 1 inch or 1 1/4" between the pulley and the fan motor. Unless something moves, it should be ok, you think?
Mine is tighter than that, but I was using a turnbuckle to keep the motor from moving. I think you'll be ok but if you get on it and hear a noise get out of it quick. And the centering? Doesn't really matter. It would be better if the shroud covered the whole radiator.
On my old radiator, I had less than a pinky-finger space between the fan and the pulley. It ran fine and never hit even when I gunned it.
Thing has me puzzled is why you have so little room here, my with the 331 and an 88 Crown Vic waterpump (same length as all the others) I have a 3-1/2 spacer between the fan & pulley to get it close enough to draw properly.
good thing is the engine doesn't move forward 1 1/2" is good, my mustang is tighter and has never touched. One thing you can do is buy some button head allen bolts and cut the nub down on the pump. This will give you a little more room and make it look like if they did touch is wouldn't grab the fan.
That is more the enough room. Our '72 daily driver Maverick has just enough clearence for me to stick my finger in. It has been on there for about 6,500 miles now and has never touched the pulley or bolts. It is also offset, which I included a picture of. Today it was in the 90's outside and I had to sit quite a while in drive through line at lunch break. The car never got over 190. The fan is a universal one from Auto Zone.
Before I moved my radiator forward, even with the stock radiator, I had to mount it offset like Jamie's... After moving the radiator forward, this is the space I have now (old picture, top radiator mount is not this crappy temporary one...I also no longer have power steering, and that lower radiator hose has been replaced with a chrome one, and...etc. etc.)
