my fan got hungry

[Colohusker]

Sunday was trying to finish up the son's Duster and get the carb tuned in. I've got probably 150 miles on the new engine and car that we got as a roller last year. I knew that the fan was a little close for my liking, but didn't have a problem so far, so thought the 5/8" space would be okay.

So, revved the RPM's up after adjusting the carb, and all of a sudden everything turned green. Guess the fan must have pulled forward a little at high rpm's or just plain wanted to grab a bite. So, with thanks to this site, got a radiator for an 87 fifth avenue, and had a shroud for one already that I picked up this summer.

The old radiator I believe was the original /6 one that was 3 1/4" from mounting surface to inside surface. The one for the 87 is 1 3/4" from mounting surface to inside surface, so should have plenty of room now.

Anyone interested in a slightly used fan and radiator?

 

[iggys68dart]

dang thats close sems to me something is wrong with motor placement or something i am sure someone will be able to help you out

 

[Purple Haze]

AH yes have fond memories of when it happen on my 73 Duster. Did you check your fan clutch, mine went bad a had a wobble when it happened to me?

 

[yellowdartdave]

Blades have too much 'curl' at the tips ??

 

[Burntorange70]

OUCH! Sorry to see that.

 

[Colohusker]

No, the motor placement is correct, running the shortest fan clutch I could find, it's referenced in another thread, stock water pump on a 318. No wobble on the new fan clutch that I can detect or on the water pump shaft.

I ordered 2 radiators, one for the 87 and one for a 70 Duster 340. The 70 Duster was thinner than the one that got munched and would have worked, but the 87 gave me another inch so went with that one.

I think it was just the rpm's on the fan pulled the blade forward just a bit too much and just glad it happened in the driveway instead of on the road.

Not worried about it at all now, just thought I'd share my fun weekend.

 

[player1up]

318's eat radiators for breakfast glad you got it fixed. That slim radiator looks nice! are the cores the same thickness as the old rad? You'll have to report back on how it cools.

I always wondered why the tank was 2x as thick as the core on my duster...I ordered on of the aluminum radiators for mine... $163 after shipping from that shepherd autoparts, but I've not installed it yet b/c I'm waiting on my e-fan setup to get here.

 

[Colohusker]

Yep, the cores are the same 1 1/2" I think. I didn't measure them. So far about 500 miles since the replacement and no issues. As far as cooling, the wrong time of year to test that, although I have noticed that my temp won't go above 180. It stays between 160 and 180 where before it would occasionally nudge up to 195 or so. I have a 195 thermostat in so need to investigate why it's not getting up to that temperature.

Overall, much better than the /6 radiator that was in there, a lot more clearance than before and seems like it keeps it cooler, maybe too cool since could use more heat out of the heater.