Clutch fan vs belt drive

[Anonymous]

I am thinking of going with a clutch fan instead of having a belt driven fan. Is there a performance, either hps or mpg gain to be had? Yes I have a fan shroud so over heating shouldn't be a problem.
Thanks,
Ken

 

[fordguy67]

There is always some gain to be had when you pull the strain off the motor from turning that fan at highway speeds. I would check to make sure you have enough clearance between the fan and the radiator, but you probably already have.

Someone should be along shortly with more emphasis on what gains are to be had.

Ben

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Ben,
I should have included the Clutch fan is P/N FLX-5537B and Fan is FLX-5717. They are both Flex-a-lite parts and designed to replace the factory Maverick pieces.

Thanks again, Ken

 

[cobraguy]

IMHO an electric fan will give you better bang for your buck.

 

[tony1963]

I vote the fan clutch. It will disengage when cold or running down the road with airflow across the radiator, making less noise, too.

Only way to go.

 

[Williboy]

I wish I could use a clutch, but not enough room. I was sold on them years ago when I took off my clutch fan for a regular fan on a '70 Olds Cutlass. It was like driving with the emergency brake on!!! I quickly swapped it back.

 

[Gene Fiore]

Ken, I am using an electric fan in my Maverick. Clearance is minimal but I found a setup that works. If interested I can get you the brand and part#.

 

[Ronbo]

I was sold on them years ago when I took off my clutch fan for a regular fan on a '70 Olds Cutlass. It was like driving with the emergency brake on!!!

Ha ha ha ha!!! Mine was a 72 and I went with one of those fancy aluminum flex fans. I think the effect was more noise than emergency brake, it "sounded" like the car was working twice as hard. It got even worse when one of the blades flew off on the highway. Man that freaked me out, I was halfway from Bragg to Massachusetts on the Weds before Thanksgiving. I found an open parts store and the guy "gave" me a new fan. Holiday spirit I guess.

If you can find a good one, I'd go electric. I hear Nissan's have a pretty decent set up.

Ron

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Gene,
I bought the clutch and fan at Summit today. I will let you know what I think and if I'm disapointed, I'll take you up on the electric fan info.
Thanks for all your input,
Ken

 

[Anonymous]

Well, today I got home and installed the clutch fan and new fan. What a performance difference. The car rev'd a bit quicker and it accelerated a little quicker. I haven't had a chance to drive it on the highway yet, tomorrow I'll do that. I think I have done all the basic bolt on's now for a new engine.
Ken

 

[MPGmustang]

Sorry for the novice questions, but

i'm thinking about the clutch fan myself...

problem is about clearance issues... does it stick out farther than a belt driven fan? to install one on a car that didn't come with one, where does it go? (on summit it looks like i replace the water pump turbine)

can you post a pic of your setup?

Thanks,
Richard

 

[Anonymous]

MPGmustang,
Good question, my Mav had a 2" spacer between the nose of the water pump pulley and the back of the fan (toward the engine). I still had 1 3/4 inches of room between the fan and the radiator. The clutch fan replaced the spacer, the new fan bolted on the back side of the clutch leaving the clutch portion facing the radiator. I will take a picture this weekend and send it too you.
If you use a clutch fan, you'll need a complete fan shroud and the fan that bolts to the clutch. The fan that bolts directly to the water pump will not fit on the clutch, at least mine didn't.
I also noticed the fan I removed was really wearing out. The blades that are riveted to the center piece was loosening up. So it was a good time to replace it anyway.
I hope I anwsered your question,
Ken

 

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry, I don't know how to post a picture of the clutch fan. If someone does, I'll send it to you and let you post it.
Thanks,
Ken

 

[Anonymous]

I will say this about adding a clutch fan and correct fan, my milage and performance increased. I have driven, probably not easy , 160 miles on just a half tank of gas. The starting and acceleration has improved noticeably.
This is a simple mod that I would highly recommend.
Ken

 

[choppermike]

here is my story- I too wanted a fan clutch in my 65 mustang, so I picked up one at the junk yard off an 80 Cougar w/200. Needless to say it didn't fit. It was about 1/2" too long. Knowing the 250 was a longer engine I went to the parts store and asked for a 79 Granada FC for a 250 and worked great with room to spare.

 

[MPGmustang]

Here's the pic that i recived from Ken

It does help, i barely have a 1/2" spacer on ATM and NO room infront of the fan so i doubt that this can work for me... i have a 3 row radiator instead of the stock, i'm sure if i did have the stock that i could run one easily... probably the 79 250 Granada. My Fan ATM is a V8 6blade fan non-flexing... it's a heavy load but here in AZ it gets hot, esecially when the A/C is on.



Choppermike, like ur sig

 

[Anonymous]

MPGmustang,
I would go with an electric fan. I did a mpg calculation yesterday. My milage improved from ~18 to 20.5 with no other changes.
Ken

 

[pedal2themetal45]

HI
The clutch fan is still a belt driven fan..
just wanted to add that.
Tim

 

[Frankenstang]

Resurrecting this thread because I want to install a clutch fan. I may have to consider electric, but clutch fan is my preference to try first.

If there is anyone running a clutch fan with a 200 I've got a couple questions or concerns that need clarification...

It was my impression that on a clutch fan the leading/front edges of the fan sit almost as far forward as the face of the clutch. Anyone know if that's right? (ie is the surface where the clutch mounts to the blade recessed from the blade tips/front edges?)

I'm looking at a flex-a-lite 15" fan currently, and wondering if a 17" could fit? My current fan is the 6 blade fixed and best I can tell it measures about 15"...it looks like 16" would be okay, but 17" looks like it could be too close. AFAIK 289's or BB used a 17", but not sure it would fit or if it's possilble for the fan to be 'too large' on a stock dimension 200 radiator (ie outer fan diameter larger than radiator width...bad?).

If anyone running any style clutch fan on a 200 could please give me an approximate measure of the overall length added to the snout of the engine...like an approximate measure from the face of the water pump pulley (fan mounting surace) to the face of the clutch at the radiator)???...it would be greatly appreciated!
I have a little less than 3" of space currently between these two surfaces (pulley face and radiator)...not sure if I can get a clutch fan in that short of a space?

I prefer to look into the clutch fan intially for the more stock look as well as my preference to less electrical dependence. My main goal is to stop some of the parasitic loss on hp, but also to balance my current excess cooling capacity. With a newer aluminum radiator, recovery tank and 195* stat (which seems to have done fine during the past summer)...she won't stay warm enough when it's 50* or less here in Texas...and that's even with the heater core currently bypassed
Thanks in advance for any assistance!

 

[bubba22349]

It was my impression that on a clutch fan the leading/front edges of the fan sit almost as far forward as the face of the clutch. Anyone know if that's right? (ie is the surface where the clutch mounts to the blade recessed from the blade tips/front edges?)

On the older Ford stock type units the clutch is the longest part (blades sit about 3/8 to 1/2 inch behind) so measure from it's hub to front to see if you have the room. On the pre 67 cars with a 200 I don't remember seeing any with factory air (they all had dealer installed units) so doubt there were any clutch units made for them. You might check out the later 60's and 70's Fords also the 81 Fairmont my daughter drove as her first car had one on it. Some imports may have something that is shorter and the fan is even with the front of clutch unit too, though many are also part of the water pump. I do think that the clutch fans are a great way to go. Good luck in the hunt.