Looking for a steel fan for small block.

[AL'S 92YJ]

Is there an all steel fan (rigid) that works on a reverese rotation (serpentine) system that does not use a fan clutch? I am not wanting to put a flex fan on if I can help it. I have looked through quite a few mags and searched on here and have not come across one so any help would be appreciated. The engine is a Ram Jet 350.

Thanks,
Allen

[positrack@earthlink.]

I just checked the Summit, Jegs, and PAW catalogs and found crap. They all show flex-fans in rev. rot. but no rigid, clutched or otherwise. That's kind of hard to believe as common and popular as the serpentine belt systems are. Still, I'd call Summit if I were you before you do anything else because they stock an awful lot of crap that they don't print in the catalog. It's happened to me several times. I'll bet they can get you one.

Summit-(800) 230-3030
Jegs-(800) 345-4545
PAW-(818) 998-6000

BTW, what's wrong with having a fan clutch?

[pcorssmit]

A. Just run a fan clutch, they work.

B. You should be able to buy a fan-clutch eliminator (the "clutchless fan clutch") at an auto parts store, and run a normal reverse rotation fan.

Pete

[AL'S 92YJ]

positrack@earthlink---I will give them a call and see what they say. I am also suprised that I have not found one I figured they would be plentiful.

pcorssmit-- I might have to bite the bullet and run a clutch.

As far as not wanting to run a fan clutch... I guess I am kind of old fashioned and want it direct. I don't usually find water and It gets so freaking hot down here It seems like the clutch would wear out faster.

[positrack@earthlink.]

I forgot about those fan clutch replacing spacers. That would be the best way to go if you really want to get rid of the clutch.

If I were you though, I'd just run it. They move just as much air with a clutch as a solid mounted fan but they disengage when they aren't needed. They really do save power and gas and reduce engine noise.

I don't think it's ambient heat that kills 'em so much as sustained high engine speed. I lost one a few years ago driving cross-country in my '76 3/4-ton Chevy. I was cruising at 90-100 MPH for quite a while, and with 4.10s, the motor was really singing. That was the death of the original clutch but since I was spinning the motor at 4000-4500 RPM for several hours, I really can't blame it. I can tell you though, when it locked up at that speed, it felt like somebody'd popped the parachute and it sounded like a jake-brake. It's amazing how much power (and gas) a big fan sucks at high RPM without a clutch.

Just don't buy a cheap one if you have to replace it. I replaced this one with an Autozone cheapie and it lasted exactly 24 hours (I think they sold me one for a car by mistake, it was the smaller, lighter style). Cheap junk. The original lasted 25 years.

[j5]

Some advice from someone who didn't run a clutched fan on the 350 and eventually snapped the shaft off. I'd run a clutch. The fan separated tore through my bcool, radiator hose and sheered the nose of the water pump off.

[positrack@earthlink.]

Ooooohhh! That's harsh!

I was worried something like that would happen when mine locked up. I was a fair distance from the next exit and I didn't have a clue where to find a parts store. Luckily, mine just locked up like 1 solid piece and stayed that way.