7 Blade Fan

[short69]

Has anyone switched to the 7 blade flex-a-lite fan? I am getting kinda frustraded because I just put in an electric fan hoping it would keep me cooler than I was with the stock flex fan but it made it worse! before I would get close to 190* but would never go over. now i'm at 200 and somtimes push 210. Today the weather was like 105 and its only getting hotter so I think i'm gonna switch to an aftermarket flex fan. Any help would be much apreiciated!! Thanks

[cdowns]

first off what are you using to get those temp readings?? if its a dashboard gauge that could be your percieved problem//a good accurate thermometer is a good shop tool to have
how old is the radiator and has it ever been boiled out and pressure tested by a radiator shop?? a clean well flowing radiator cools alot better than one with many years of accumulated deposits//the over the counter cooling system flushers is money flushed down the drain IMO

[short69]

well, i just replaced the engine last october with a GM crate 350 and got a brand new 4 row rad at that time. I also got a new thermometer and connected it the the cylinder head. by the way I have a 160 thermostat

[cdowns]

never seen a thermometer stuck in a cylinder head// the ones i use after removing the rad cap i stick into the coolant to verify temps

[short69]

i was talking about the temp guage that has the sending unit in the heads instead of the intake or water pump

[Longhorn Man]

Forget the flex fans all together.
Get yourself a fixed blade fan, and a good fan clutch. Even without a shroud, a new rad, good pump, and a good fixed fan on a clutch, will keep it cool. 200 degrees is ok, get over 220, and you can start lookin for a place to pull over.

I'm assuming the cooling issues is at low speeds, buimpin around town and the like, if it is getting too hot at freeway speed, air isn't the issue at all. There's plenty of air going through the rad at 70 MPH.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

Forget the flex fans all together.
Get yourself a fixed blade fan, and a good fan clutch.

Though I would strongly recommend a fan shroud...

I really, truly dislike flex fans.

Try to get a fan designed for a large GM car (think old rear-drive Buick, Olds, Caddy) or full-size truck. My 7-blade works great.

[Longhorn Man]

Oh I agree, a shround is very nice, and kinda important.... but, that combo SHOULD keep even a medium hopped up motor cool on the hottest of days. (not factoring in any A/C you may have goin... then the shroud is that much more important)

[short69]

thanks a million for the solutions.clutch fan huh. Ok Thats what I'll do. yea I knew that the optimal engine temp is around 195 but i've been really paranoid cuz i blew a couple head gaskets last summer.

[cdowns]

you can change all the parts you'd like but if you dont check your 35year old gauge for accuracy. well whats the point??

[Longhorn Man]

cdowns make a good point.... in my defense... considering he was giving actual temperatures... and not "The last tick on the guage before it hits red"... I ASSUMED it is an aftermarket guage.
And we all know what happens when you ASSume...
If this is a factory junk ass 35 year old guage, verify it with an aftermarket unit before spending a penny.

[brak]

an electric fan, when setup properly, should perform as well if not better than the stock fan, so Before you ditch the electric fan, answer me a couple questions...

Is it a single or dual fan, and what size?

Is it mounted in front (pushing) or behind (pulling) the radiator?

Have you checked to make sure it is rotating the correct direction?

are you using a adjustable temp relay?

[Bamm]

Hey man, do yourself a big favor and do a search on here for flex fans and read the horror stories. I agree with Longhornman, the heck with a flex fan. A good clutch fan and you should be fine. And Cdowns is right on also, I blew a headgasket in my '88 s-10 because I was going by the almost 20 year old "factory" gauge that read I was just fine, til the truck started missing, then it was too late. Just shows ya you can't trust those gauges all the time. Now would be a cool time to have an excuse to get new auto meter gauges for the dash. ..............................Bamm