318 Flex-A-Lite or Clutch setup

-

C2ndLTpigeon

Mopar or no Car!
Joined
May 18, 2019
Messages
1,140
Reaction score
895
Location
Indio California
I have a 73 Valiant 318 car which im planning on upgrading my current 26 in radiator to a Cold Case 2 row 26 in aluminum radiator. Now there radiator is 3 in thick and with the current clutch fan set up I currently have looks like it may not work. So im looking at Flex-A-Lite fans and wondered if anyone knows what size I can run with the factory shroud and what size spacer may be needed. It is originally an AC car and AC has been deleted and changed to non AC pullies.
 
What was the factory fan diameter? I would "think" probably 18 inch with a one inch spacer.
 
After looking a little more seems mine is a 7 blade 18 1/2 in fan since it is a CA AC car. So it would of had the max cooling fan. Now I wonder if I stick to a clutch setup can you buy a clutch that is shorter and wont stick out to far at the radiator when I change it to a bigger one?
 
What are you hauling that needs that monster rad for a 318.
I mean, Wiki says Indio is at MINUS 12 ft elevation, so the stocker should work just fine, heck a 22" should be just fine.
 
Last edited:
There are some real pancake thin clutches out there, I think MB has some and Jaguar comes to mind. The fan is outboard of the nested clutch. Not much thicker than the fan blades.
 
What are you hauling that needs that monster rad for a 318.
I mean, Wiki says Indio is at MINUS 12 ft elevation, so the stocker should work just fine, heck a 22" should be just fine.

The 318 is not stock, I do not run a heater so my water pump is plugged off so a little less coolant and no means to dissipate heat if I ever had too. I deleted the ac but may reinstall it. Stop and go traffic in the summer will probably make the car run hotter. With all the work i've done to the car upgrading the radiator is just a few dollars more.
 
There's a lot of threads about them here. Try fan clutch or thin fan clutch in search.
 
The 2947 is the thinnest one I have found. It is a real bear to install. No clearance. I had to use studs. Don’t do it if you don’t have to.
 
The 2947 is the thinnest one I have found. It is a real bear to install. No clearance. I had to use studs. Don’t do it if you don’t have to.

You have to use studs to attach it to the water pump? Do you have a picture of your set up I could reference?
 
Yep, I had to use studs to get it installed. Couldn’t get bolts in there. It is a major pain. I would buy a radiator that you could use stock parts if I had it to do over. Don’t have any pictures. Fan shroud hides it.
 
I decided to get a 26 in radiator from Cold case. I may have to go that route since the new rad is 3 in and the current one is about 2 in. Just have to see what I can fit in.
 
One more thing, I was using a 7 blade with the 2947 clutch. If you use a 5 blade fan I suspect the installation would be easier.
 
One more thing, I was using a 7 blade with the 2947 clutch. If you use a 5 blade fan I suspect the installation would be easier.
After doing a little more looking into it, looks like people have good luck with the 2947 clutch, I will see how bad it is to install with my stock 7 blade, if its a pain I may look into the 5 blade as you mentioned.
 
After doing a little more looking into it, looks like people have good luck with the 2947 clutch, I will see how bad it is to install with my stock 7 blade, if its a pain I may look into the 5 blade as you mentioned.

i run the 2947 , with bolts , I have run studs too . It is a ***** either way-----------------------------2 rows of 1 1/4'tubes . think its 3'' thick -----
IMG_0470 (1).JPG
 
Originally the Hayden 2765 Jaguar clutch fan was the hot ticket. It was the thinnest clutch fan you could get. But then people discovered that it wasn't heavy duty enough, and people's car were running hot with them. I still have one on my car that I need to swap out. The Hayden 2947 is the heavy duty model, with the same thin profile as the Jag clutch.
As mentioned, installing one is like a game of finger hockey. It takes patience, but can be done. I was able to install mine with the correct bolts. Best thing to do would be to get your radiator installed, and see what kind clearance you are working with.
 
What fan are you running ?

17'' CLUTCH SET UP --------HAVE AN 18'' ON THE BENCH , BUT A FULL MECH. HAS SHOWN TO BE ABOUT 6-8 DEGREES BETTER ON MY HEAP, BUT SUPPOSSED TO COST ABOUT 20 H.P.
IMG_0475 (1).JPG

-------------------------------------------------------------17'' ^^^^^^
 
-
Back
Top