Will this be a problem: fan vs. Radiator?

[dodgemahal]

I installed a new radiator into my 63 Dart. It seems like a quality piece. It's thicker than the original. Now the fan blades are about 1/4" from the core. Is that too close?

 

[Daves69]

Yikes!

MP recommends 3/4". Many seem to be happy with 1/2" though.

 

[66Valiant528]

If the waterpump ever fails you're looking at a new radiator too. Many times the core can be moved on the mounting brackets. If you have the room to do that, bring it to a radiator shop and have them move the core back on the brackets.

 

[Oldmanmopar]

One thing that should be considered is the the blades pull toward the radiator as they pull air. I had a friend that installed a thicker radiator in a car and when the RPM's came up he destroyed the radiator.

If The engine is mounted on rubber mounts what happens if you hit the brakes hard.

 

[Professor Fate]

Way too close for me. Get a fan spacer and bolts that will place it around 3/4 - 1" away from the core; or if you have a shroud get a spacer that places the fan~1/2 in- 1/2 out of the shroud.

 

[69FBCuda]

Sleep at night = shorter spacer

 

[Hellrats]

One thing that should be considered is the the blades pull toward the radiator as they pull air. I had a friend that installed a thicker radiator in a car and when the RPM's came up he destroyed the radiator.

I did exactly that once. Cut the core right out of my radiator like a buzz saw. Made me sick. Plus it was around $800 to fix it. Lesson learned the hard way.

 

[Hellrats]

I installed a new radiator into my 63 Dart. It seems like a quality piece. It's thicker than the original. Now the fan blades are about 1/4" from the core. Is that too close?

YES!

 

[dodgemahal]

Shorter spacer = great idea! I tried bending the blades towards the rear, but there's so many radius and creases in the metal you can't hardly do it.

 

[dr dodge]

you don't want this

and you'd be surprised how fan blades move towards the engine with rpms

 

[dodgemahal]

you don't want this
View attachment 1716577491
and you'd be surprised how fan blades move towards the engine with rpms

Oh, heck no! I'm convinced. My spacer is only 1" thick. That might be hard to shorten. 66 valiant528 had a good idea to move the core away from the fan by re-doing the brackets. I'll let you guys know how this sorts out.

 

[Professor Fate]

Oh, heck no! I'm convinced. My spacer is only 1" thick. That might be hard to shorten. 66 valiant528 had a good idea to move the core away from the fan by re-doing the brackets. I'll let you guys know how this sorts out.

Don't try to shorten your spacer- just get a shorter one. New or place an ad on the forum for a used one.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3899576607...eZRwJpKXH0Oh/CCtq3Gcc16rQ=|tkp:Bk9SR8i4vpyCaA

Shorter spacer = great idea! I tried bending the blades towards the rear, but there's so many radius and creases in the metal you can't hardly do it.

For heaven's sake, don't try to bend the fan!! you could weaken the blades or throw it out of balance trying to do that- and you don't want to see what happens when a blade fails at speed...

 

[72bluNblu]

Don't try to shorten your spacer- just get a shorter one. New or place an ad on the forum for a used one.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/389957660704?_skw=1/2"+fan+spacer&itmmeta=01M08WFKGTP8XZXFBY9RN7ZXA4&hash=item5acb49b020:g:mi8AAeSwh5lp85L0&itmprp=enc:AQALAAAA0GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xAgo3L17J7oHakGSzxyET+HtIzFLGSkNErP43Jwa7qlAZXEnDl5x2SZseljdDklmVVkYvRf/oecUAgAXO02N1IcHPLUbF4KTR8HpkZ7TUIaluSOZq5hw3XHmzS8EWFcJVQcQEf5I7jxRILEP15bnepJbflJd5e+QCTkbM0hQiUElbwC/YW9zFtqowrNbWpFv/vDoAlw1SN+VSO+7i2z3IEeGYIyL6XPAott2gZ/x9eZRwJpKXH0Oh/CCtq3Gcc16rQ=|tkp:Bk9SR8i4vpyCaA

For heaven's sake, don't try to bend the fan!! you could weaken the blades or throw it out of balance trying to do that- and you don't want to see what happens when a blade fails at speed...

Tree'd me!

Just buy a 1/2" thick spacer! This is just one suggestion, there are many...

Summit 1/2" fan spacer

 

[dodgemahal]

It's okay, Professor. I didn't bend any blades. Thanks for the explanation but I realized it was a dumb idea and stopped right away.

There might be a problem with the spacer option. I'll explain tomorrow. It's late and I'm going nighty-night.