Which Fan?

[78 Big10 454]

Was heading down the freeway when I thought my square was starting to fall apart. Heard metal clanging and the truck ran rough all the way home. Popped the hood and saw that half my fan blades were gone. Now the question of the day - replace with a stock unit or head over to NAPA and get a flex fan. All opinions are greatly appreciated!

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Flex fan will kill power but won't come apart. Get a quality factory replacement.
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[cory d]

my truck came with one of these http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FLX-1818/ . its really quiet btu i dont think i need as aggresive of a fan

[frotosride]

I'd say go electric....I got dual 12" fans on mine and as long as you get fans that pull the most cfm and lowest amp pull you wil never know they are there. Plus if you ever loose a blade you don't have to worry about if actually damaging anything especially the radiator.

[cory d]

or cutting a coolent line if you dont have a shroud

[gchemist]

If you get a Flex fan, you'll be laughed off the board!!

Spal, Viper, Mark VIII and Honda electric fans are top notch.

[MalibuSSwagon]

I've heard some scary things about flex fans.

Honda electric fans? How good are they for our trucks, I have several from parting out 90's Accords and Civics, they seem to be on the small side.

[tucsonjwt]

Stock AC Delco fan, but check your fan clutch also. I replaced my fan clutch with a Delco last summer and stayed with the stock fan. It cools my BB very well in the desert heat. My $.02 is if the stock fan and clutch cool well, why go with the power draining electric or even a flex fan? All of the radiator repair guys I have talked to in the past say stick with the stock setup. That Delco fan clutch was pricey (about $100) from an online OEM vendor, but worth it. Post back if you need a listing of the online OEM vendors.

[motornut]

i had a 1 of 4 blade take out both new lines from the master to the crossmember valve
lucky i was able to coast to a stop,never even thought of the ebrake
but did it shake,all i heard was a big bang
popped the hood couldn't see i lost a blade,just everything covered in brake fluid

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by gchemist

If you get a Flex fan, you'll be laughed off the board!!

Spal, Viper, Mark VIII and Honda electric fans are top notch.

I have a flex fan... With underdrive pulleys. But this wa put on when I was 16 and shiny things were cool. Soon going with a spal duel electrics and get my 1000hp back from that power robbing flex fan
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[Telecasterjoey]

Is the flex fan not stock?
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[INSIDIOUS '86]

No it isn't buy I hate ugly heavy clutch fans and at the time I was worried about my 400 block staying cool. Plus back when I got it I was on a mowing lawns budget and electrics were only a dream lol
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[Telecasterjoey]

Got flex and clutch mixed up! Thanks
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[donut]

My vote, OEM. After all, it's lasted almost 35 years.

[1Bad65GMC]

I agree with tusconjwt, go with stock and check your fan clutch.

Since you lost your blades and it threw everything out of balance you might check your water pump as well, look for excessive play at the bushings.

Stay away from flex fans, they are noisy and effect gas mileage.

[78 Big10 454]

Thanks for all your input. I have a NOS GM fan clutch sitting in the garage. However, the fan is no longer stocked by GM, according to my local BowTie dealer. The search goes on.....

[gchemist]

Lighter plastic fans work too. All you have to do is flip the blade direction. I changed the fan on my 96 Jimmy. I went to a lighter more efficient Explorer fan. In Texas, the heat was killer last year. The lighter fan did a great job on cooling. The A/C works better too.



Smaller electric fan setups work better in cooler climates. In Southern states, we go for the biggest fans we can add. I run dual LS1 fans now. I'm upgrading even more to a Mark VIII setup this summer.

[cory d]

what is a decent fan that doesnt sound like im driving a fan boat and has less parasitic power loss. my truck rarely sees temps over 80 too

[esbstuff]

FYI some GM fans are under recall. May check with the dealer to see if its still going on. They will need the number off your old fan, so take the pieces with you.

[78 Big10 454]

Even if my fan is under recall, it is no longer a stocked GM part...

[1Bad65GMC]

I have used the 96 Taurus fan on LS1 swaps because it moves so much air. The cheapest way is probably to head over to pick and pull and find some there. The last ones I picked up were a duel fan set up off a Mercedes. Just bring some measurements to be sure it fits where you want it. Make sure the mounting tabs are even distance from the radiator or if not it that it will work with what you have.

[tucsonjwt]

Do a search for your stock part number on Google and you may find it. The online OEM vendors often still have out of production parts.

[S10Fan]

I'm running a stock fan/clutch setup from a 79 C-10 with a 350. Transferred those parts over to my 454 nearly 3 years ago with zero cooling issues. I did replace the fan clutch when the swap was made. No sense in maybe having to do the job twice.

Also, with the correct fan shroud in place the fan is mostly hidden anyway. Fan shrouds have solved a lot of cooling issues.

[1Bad65GMC]

Good point S10Fan about the shroud.

@ Telecasterjoey, actually GM did use a giant flex style fan. Though not on trucks, on cars like Cadillacs in the 70's. It did not have as aggressive a pitch to the blades and the spring steel was not as rigid so they were quieter than a regular flex fan. Just an FYI.
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[78 Big10 454]

Good news. I've got a buddy with a wrecking yard nearby and he hooked me up with a free fan out of a late model Impala. Swapped in the new fan clutch and I'm back in business. Thanks for all your replies. This Board is the best!!