Fan selection comments - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

NicoSlam · 01-31-2011, 09:15 AM

I have to go with a mechanical fan for my 383. I have the appropiate shroud but would you go with a flexilite fan or one with a clutch as original? I purchased the Brothers dual electric fan set up and with my setup, it does not fit betweeen the engine pulleys and radiator.

Spoof · 01-31-2011, 10:28 AM

Perhaps a poor suggestion, but maybe swap out the tall water pump (if that's what you have) and put in a short wp. That may give you the room for your elec. fans.

Shyguy · 01-31-2011, 10:53 AM

I have found for the set-up in my '71 with a '73 454 the stock clutch fan setup works best.

norml495 · 01-31-2011, 11:25 AM

I went to the boneyard, and got a fan assembly from a '98 Caddy DeVille. Pretty good fit -- had to bend up some sheet metal for top and bottom brakets-- but it's great. One fan works with the ignition, and the other comes on when the a/c compressor comes on. If no a/c, then get a water temp switch that comes on at a speciffic temp. This unit takes up very little room. Good luck, Norm

Alex Hayley · 01-31-2011, 11:34 AM

What is the distance between the outer most pulley and the radiator?

**'70_402** · 01-31-2011, 11:48 AM

i always used the stock fan/clutch setup... worked great...

**Stocker** · 01-31-2011, 12:25 PM

My one experience with a flex fan went badly, with overheating problems. I put a clutch fan back on and have not overheated again.

Jeffs70 · 01-31-2011, 01:20 PM

I have a 383 also and used an electric fan. what I did was mount my fan on the inside of the radiator shroud with some spacers to push it in closer to the radiator. but as seeing you said you purchased a dual setup It may not work the same

capev86 · 01-31-2011, 02:51 PM

i got lucky....replaced the dinky stock 2 blade fan on my 72 burb c20 with the 7 blade unit off my dad's old 72 burb c10 that had hd cooling and a/c. it fit the fan shroud, looks stock and pulls plenty of air through that 4 core radiator i installed.

19seventeeCustom · 01-31-2011, 03:24 PM

I use the short w/p with dual electric fans controlled by a toggle switch in the cab,, never once had an overheating problem

norml495 · 02-02-2011, 05:04 PM

I checked, and from the radiator core surface to the the outside surface of the fan assembly(closest to the engine) is 4 inches. You will have a lot more room than mine, because I moved the entire engine/trans/transfer case assembly forward, about 1 3/4 inches. This was to accomodate the 700R4, without shortening the rear driveshaft, and lengthening the front one. I also changed over to serpentine setup, from a '91 chevy wagon. Let me know if you want some pix, and I can send them to your email. Norm

01-31-2011, 09:15 AM	#1
NicoSlam Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Antonio TX Posts: 251	Fan selection comments I have to go with a mechanical fan for my 383. I have the appropiate shroud but would you go with a flexilite fan or one with a clutch as original? I purchased the Brothers dual electric fan set up and with my setup, it does not fit betweeen the engine pulleys and radiator.

01-31-2011, 10:28 AM	#2
Spoof Registered User Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Victoria,BC, Canada Posts: 1,300	Re: Fan selection comments Perhaps a poor suggestion, but maybe swap out the tall water pump (if that's what you have) and put in a short wp. That may give you the room for your elec. fans. __________________ 71 GMC 1500 LWB

01-31-2011, 10:53 AM	#3
Shyguy Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeast Missouri Posts: 2,436	Re: Fan selection comments I have found for the set-up in my '71 with a '73 454 the stock clutch fan setup works best. __________________ '67 Chevy C-20 short stepper - build complete, 454/SM-465. '75 C-30 Single Cab DRW-350 small block/NP-435. '77 GMC-6500 Dump Truck, 427 Tall Deck. '92 GMC K-3500 Duallie, 454/4L80E.

01-31-2011, 11:25 AM	#4
norml495 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Prescott,Az. Posts: 11	Re: Fan selection comments I went to the boneyard, and got a fan assembly from a '98 Caddy DeVille. Pretty good fit -- had to bend up some sheet metal for top and bottom brakets-- but it's great. One fan works with the ignition, and the other comes on when the a/c compressor comes on. If no a/c, then get a water temp switch that comes on at a speciffic temp. This unit takes up very little room. Good luck, Norm

01-31-2011, 11:34 AM	#5
Alex Hayley Registered User Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: NC Posts: 987	Re: Fan selection comments What is the distance between the outer most pulley and the radiator?

01-31-2011, 11:48 AM	#6
'70_402 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Pampa, Texas Posts: 1,554	Re: Fan selection comments i always used the stock fan/clutch setup... worked great... __________________ https://www.ebay.com/itm/29620574751...mis&media=COPY

01-31-2011, 12:25 PM	#7
Stocker 20' Daredevil (Ret) Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 13,670	Re: Fan selection comments My one experience with a flex fan went badly, with overheating problems. I put a clutch fan back on and have not overheated again. __________________ - Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay

01-31-2011, 01:20 PM	#8
Jeffs70 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Valley Springs, Ca Posts: 857	Re: Fan selection comments I have a 383 also and used an electric fan. what I did was mount my fan on the inside of the radiator shroud with some spacers to push it in closer to the radiator. but as seeing you said you purchased a dual setup It may not work the same __________________ My Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=442487 My Picture Gallery http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...0&ppuser=36004 Last edited by Jeffs70; 01-31-2011 at 01:21 PM.

01-31-2011, 02:51 PM	#9
capev86 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Eliot, Maine Posts: 1,314	Re: Fan selection comments i got lucky....replaced the dinky stock 2 blade fan on my 72 burb c20 with the 7 blade unit off my dad's old 72 burb c10 that had hd cooling and a/c. it fit the fan shroud, looks stock and pulls plenty of air through that 4 core radiator i installed.

01-31-2011, 03:24 PM	#10
19seventeeCustom Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Downtown Posts: 573	Re: Fan selection comments I use the short w/p with dual electric fans controlled by a toggle switch in the cab,, never once had an overheating problem

02-02-2011, 05:04 PM	#11
norml495 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Prescott,Az. Posts: 11	Re: Fan selection comments I checked, and from the radiator core surface to the the outside surface of the fan assembly(closest to the engine) is 4 inches. You will have a lot more room than mine, because I moved the entire engine/trans/transfer case assembly forward, about 1 3/4 inches. This was to accomodate the 700R4, without shortening the rear driveshaft, and lengthening the front one. I also changed over to serpentine setup, from a '91 chevy wagon. Let me know if you want some pix, and I can send them to your email. Norm



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