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  •  » Mechanical Fans (not electric)

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    10/19/2023 8:13 AM  #1

    Toploader
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    Mechanical Fans (not electric)

    I'm curious on what type of mechanical fan you people run on your Mustangs. I still run the standard, original 4 blade fan.

    1964-1/2 D Code Coupe - 289 V8, 4 Speed Toploader, 3.00 ratio rear, Autolite 4100 Carb, 15" tires, Pertronix ignition
     

    10/19/2023 11:14 AM  #2

    lowercasesteve
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    From: Auburn, Ca
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    Re: Mechanical Fans (not electric)

    I run a cut down '70 351w 5 blade fan.  Works for me.

    Original owner - 351w,T-5, 4whl disks, power R&P
     

    10/19/2023 3:52 PM  #3

    Kevin197
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    From: Connecticut
    Registered: 4/02/2013
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    Re: Mechanical Fans (not electric)

    I have a 17" 7 blade fan and thermal clutch that I got at NAPA. Works great.

     

    10/19/2023 7:32 PM  #4

    MS
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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
    Registered: 1/24/2013
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    Re: Mechanical Fans (not electric)

    74 Maverick 17” flex fan on my 66.  The 69 has very similar aftermarket six blade.

    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
     

    10/20/2023 7:42 AM  #5

    Toploader
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    Re: Mechanical Fans (not electric)

    I've been wondering whether I should upgrade to a better fan and need help in knowing whether I should and what is the best.
    Some years back I did try a 5 blade fan and was not impressed. The engine developed this odd clicking sound at warm up and believe it or not, it seemed to be the fan. It was the strangest thing... The 5 blade fan was one whacky looking piece of art too 🙄

    1964-1/2 D Code Coupe - 289 V8, 4 Speed Toploader, 3.00 ratio rear, Autolite 4100 Carb, 15" tires, Pertronix ignition
       •Thread Starter
     

    10/20/2023 9:03 AM  #6

    Rudi
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    From: Stuck in the 50's Welland Ca
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    Re: Mechanical Fans (not electric)

    Oops sorry I misread the topic and deleted the post.
    My fan is direct drive with no thermal clutch
    I cut down a Ford 17” 5 blade o/e fan of unknown origin to 15 “ to fit my custom shroud. It’s fitted to a Champion three row aluminum rad, never had any overheating issues at high ambient with a/c on.

    Good work ain't cheap, Cheap work ain't good!   Simple Man
     

    10/20/2023 9:09 AM  #7

    BobE
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    Re: Mechanical Fans (not electric)

    Toploader wrote:

    I've been wondering whether I should upgrade to a better fan and need help in knowing whether I should and what is the best.
    Some years back I did try a 5 blade fan and was not impressed. The engine developed this odd clicking sound at warm up and believe it or not, it seemed to be the fan. It was the strangest thing... The 5 blade fan was one whacky looking piece of art too 🙄

    That 'clicking' could be a loose rivet that holds the fan blade to the hub, or a crack in a blade where it mounts to the hub.  Either way, that is not a good sign for anything rotating.  
     

    65 Fastback, 351W, 5-speed, 4 wheel discs, 9" rear,  R&C Front End.
     

    10/20/2023 5:00 PM  #8

    Toploader
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    Re: Mechanical Fans (not electric)

    BobE wrote:

    That 'clicking' could be a loose rivet that holds the fan blade to the hub, or a crack in a blade where it mounts to the hub.  Either way, that is not a good sign for anything rotating.  
     

    Yeah, copy that! 😬

    1964-1/2 D Code Coupe - 289 V8, 4 Speed Toploader, 3.00 ratio rear, Autolite 4100 Carb, 15" tires, Pertronix ignition
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    10/20/2023 5:04 PM  #9

    Toploader
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    Re: Mechanical Fans (not electric)

    Other than loss of horsepower and noise, are there any other negatives with changing to a different fan with more blades?
    I have considered the clutch type, but am on the fence.
    Maybe a 6 blade? Is there an optimum number of blades?
    My car was an AC car originally and the fan was still a 4 blade.

    1964-1/2 D Code Coupe - 289 V8, 4 Speed Toploader, 3.00 ratio rear, Autolite 4100 Carb, 15" tires, Pertronix ignition
       •Thread Starter
     

    10/21/2023 8:41 AM  #10

    Rudi
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    From: Stuck in the 50's Welland Ca
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    Re: Mechanical Fans (not electric)

    Dumb question but , Is there a fan shroud installed?

    Good work ain't cheap, Cheap work ain't good!   Simple Man
     

    10/21/2023 5:09 PM  #11

    Toploader
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    Re: Mechanical Fans (not electric)

    Rudi wrote:

    Dumb question but , Is there a fan shroud installed?

    Yep, sure does.

    Just to clarify... I'm not encountering any overheating problems. I'm just wondering if there's a better fan that I should use.

    1964-1/2 D Code Coupe - 289 V8, 4 Speed Toploader, 3.00 ratio rear, Autolite 4100 Carb, 15" tires, Pertronix ignition
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    10/21/2023 6:14 PM  #12

    Rudi
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    From: Stuck in the 50's Welland Ca
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    Re: Mechanical Fans (not electric)

    I as well as others have been accused of looking for problems when none exist.🤪

    Good work ain't cheap, Cheap work ain't good!   Simple Man
     

    10/21/2023 7:31 PM  #13

    Bolted to Floor
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    Re: Mechanical Fans (not electric)

    I have a Derail knockoff of what Ford put on the car with 6 or 7 blades. It has a fan clutch too. It does a good job of keeping it cool.

    I know they put that 4 blade fan on a lot of cars, but it sure seems like they would have used more blades.

    John  -- 67 Mustang Coupe 390 5 speed
     

    10/21/2023 11:20 PM  #14

    Toploader
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    Re: Mechanical Fans (not electric)

    Maybe I just need to leave well enough alone 😆, but 4 blades seem to not be enough.
    Does anyone know what the difference is between the standard 4 blade fan and the hipo 4 blade fan?

    1964-1/2 D Code Coupe - 289 V8, 4 Speed Toploader, 3.00 ratio rear, Autolite 4100 Carb, 15" tires, Pertronix ignition
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    10/22/2023 10:11 AM  #15

    MS
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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
    Registered: 1/24/2013
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    Re: Mechanical Fans (not electric)

    What is up with the "cut down" fan sizes?  17" is standard.  Why give up air flow?

    Assuming the center 6" of the fan does nothing, a 15" fan covers 149 sq in of area. 
    A 17" fan covers 199 sq in. 

    That is a 25% decrease in the amount of swept area of the fan blades by cutting the fan down from 17" to 15".  I am just trying to figure out why anyone would want to do that?

    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
     

    10/22/2023 5:59 PM  #16

    lowercasesteve
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    Re: Mechanical Fans (not electric)

    MS wrote:

    What is up with the "cut down" fan sizes?  17" is standard.  Why give up air flow?

    Assuming the center 6" of the fan does nothing, a 15" fan covers 149 sq in of area. 
    A 17" fan covers 199 sq in. 

    That is a 25% decrease in the amount of swept area of the fan blades by cutting the fan down from 17" to 15".  I am just trying to figure out why anyone would want to do that?

    I had a 351w fan when I installed it in my '66.  That fan was too wide to fit.  It hit the top radiator hose.  I wanted to get the car running, so I cut it down to fit.  It clears by ~1/2".  It worked well, so I never got around to replacing it.  It works in 100* freeway traffic.  Why replace something that works fine.  It also gives me something to talk about with you guys
     

    Original owner - 351w,T-5, 4whl disks, power R&P
     

    10/22/2023 6:36 PM  #17

    6sally6
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    From: Surfside Beach,SC
    Registered: 4/02/2013
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    Re: Mechanical Fans (not electric)

    Toploader wrote:

    Maybe I just need to leave well enough alone 😆.
    Does anyone know what the difference is between the standard 4 blade fan and the hipo 4 blade fan?

    HiPo idles rougher !
    6s6
     

    Get busy Liv'in or get busy Die'n....Host of the 2020 Bash at the Beach/The only Bash that got cancelled  )8
     

     

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