FAN ?...

[keith1562]

I have a 72 Mach 1 with a 351 cj. My car currently has a flex fan and

a shroud. Did these cars come with clutch fans, if so are they thermostaticly controlled ? By the way, it is a non-airconditioned vehicle.
Thanks,
Keith

[keepemsharp]

Hello Keith my 73 351 CJ with AC did not have a clutch fan.it was a pretty sturdy fan though.note the word was.i recently swapped it out with a light weight aluminum one.Which i am not sure how well it will work.i have been meaning to ask on the site myself but i have many other issues to address.Is the flex fan you speak of plastic?if so has it worked keeping the car cool,i used one of those plastic deals in a circle track car i have but thats in 3000 pcs.it worked on the track but i always needed to run a shroud,it draws air thru the rad.i guess we are both looking to reduce rotating mass,one would think you could get some more ponies under the hood that way.i dont know about the thermostatically controled deal though.someone will roll along and help they always do.

[1969jimmach]

Not a big fan of the flex fan pardon the pun but I had 1 on my truck and in lost a blade going down the road.Didnt get the radiator but did put a nice dent in the hood.And they flatten out going down the road there goes your air flow.

[Masterblaster7212]

I bought one of those thermostatically controlled fan clutches for my 70 mach 1 and even though I am experiencing overheating problems I have noticed that the fan does not tighten up at all noticeably on the shaft after getting hot.

I have decided to keep the original big block stock fan and put in a linger spacer and get rid of the fan clutch altogether in order to try and lower my engine temperatures as most likely I am dealing with some internal corrosion problems in the engine.

A rebuild will take care of it later on but I havent decided to keep the 351 4v Cleveland or go with a 428 CJ or restomod it all the way and later in a few years install a 5.4Liter cobrajet (new engine at $27,000)+ new tranny set up when I recover from all the money outlay I am experiencing right at the moment.

[1969jimmach]

I bought one of those thermostatically controlled fan clutches for my 70 mach 1 and even though I am experiencing overheating problems I have noticed that the fan does not tighten up at all noticeably on the shaft after getting hot.

I have decided to keep the original big block stock fan and put in a linger spacer and get rid of the fan clutch altogether in order to try and lower my engine temperatures as most likely I am dealing with some internal corrosion problems in the engine.

A rebuild will take care of it later on but I havent decided to keep the 351 4v Cleveland or go with a 428 CJ or restomod it all the way and later in a few years install a 5.4Liter cobrajet (new engine at $27,000)+ new tranny set up when I recover from all the money outlay I am experiencing right at the moment.

I think you will be ok with the rigid fan I have just had bad experiences with flex fans.

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[don29163]

We replaced a ton of those flex fans. It was a recall by Ford, a blade would fly off. They were nicknamed Mechanic Killers. As they flexed, the metal fatigued and cracked.

[Steven Harris]

Currently I run stock components on my car although my car is not running. I will replace the mechanical fan with at least a thermostatic clutch fan by the time the car is running. Here is an interesting swap for an electric fan that I am currently in the hunt for and will ultimately make the swap to this set up.

http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2006/10/Mark8Fan/

Jimmach, I like that little signature truck. Can't find all of the keys to do that but I will master that.

[Masterblaster7212]

The guys at Colorado Mustang tell me that my car is supposed to have a flex fan stock on the 351 cleveland 4V engine on my 70 Mach 1 .....Is that right??

I hear you all speaking of the flex fan as not being any good, I am not drag racing it just cruising with A/C when finished.

Any one know for sure on this????

What fan is stock for the car?........I know my 7 blade ford fan with a thermostatic fan clutch is not right.

Since I just purchased a good used Ford Flex fan I am hoping it solves the overheating problem I am having.


UpDATE: My mechanic tells me that I had a 302 engine waterpump on my car and not the correct pump for the cleveland engine.........IS this even possible to mount one on my engine like that?