The Ford Barn

ahshoe · 02-21-2020, 08:58 PM

Finishing a new project.Wondering if 3/8" clearance from the fan to the radiator is too close.I doubt that the fan blades will flex as
it is a summit fan with almost 1/8"steel thickness through out.I am playing with diffetent fan spacers so I can pretty much come up with a bigger distance if necessary.

dmsfrr · 02-21-2020, 11:59 PM

With misc flex in the body, frame and motor mounts of your undescribed project, 3/8 could be too close. If you had a fan shroud that fit between the radiator & engine the fan could be farther back. (unless it's a roadster / hotrod sort of project???)
Or, electric fans that are made to mount that close to / on the radiator.

Alaska Jim · 02-22-2020, 02:46 AM

Usually the recommended distance with out a fan shroud is about 3/4 of an inch.

50fordcoupeman · 02-22-2020, 01:41 PM

I agree with Jim. 302 in my avatar with flex fan and no shroud. Blade to radiator is 1" and absolutely no heating issues. Good luck with your project......

JimNNN · 02-23-2020, 02:41 PM

On my Mercury, I assembled a full shroud from two partial aftermarket shrouds that I bought from Speedway. This was to accommodate a new aluminum radiator. Works fine when the engine is cold, but I'll have to readjust the shroud because when the engine is norm. op. temp., quick throttles out of gear cause a screeching of the fan on the shroud fasteners.

My situation is torque related, which is less of a an issue with yours, but when things warm up they change shape a little, and you don't want to tear up a good radiator with a fan blade. I'm not saying 3/8 isn't enough, just that it's getting a bit close.

Alaska Jim · 02-23-2020, 04:33 PM

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JimNNN, when using a fan shroud, the fan should be positioned so that the blades of the fan are half way into the shroud for optimum performance and cooling at idle and at speed, if not positioned this way, your shroud is not able to do it's job.

JimNNN · 02-23-2020, 04:39 PM

The are positioned that way. The blades are just too close to the wall of the shroud...I need to shift the shroud a bit one way.

JasonOC · 03-05-2020, 02:31 PM

To be safe, better go for 3/4" at least.

Dodge · 03-15-2020, 03:39 AM

I ran mine that close for several years and all was good until I broke a motor mount
Then it had a run in with my Aluminum double pass $600 radiator.

Just saying........

02-21-2020, 08:58 PM	#1
ahshoe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern Iowa Posts: 350	How close is too close? Finishing a new project.Wondering if 3/8" clearance from the fan to the radiator is too close.I doubt that the fan blades will flex as it is a summit fan with almost 1/8"steel thickness through out.I am playing with diffetent fan spacers so I can pretty much come up with a bigger distance if necessary.

02-21-2020, 11:59 PM	#2
dmsfrr Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Abq, NM Posts: 3,607	Re: How close is too close? With misc flex in the body, frame and motor mounts of your undescribed project, 3/8 could be too close. If you had a fan shroud that fit between the radiator & engine the fan could be farther back. (unless it's a roadster / hotrod sort of project???) Or, electric fans that are made to mount that close to / on the radiator.

02-22-2020, 02:46 AM	#3
Alaska Jim Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Palmer, Alaska Posts: 1,575	Re: How close is too close? Usually the recommended distance with out a fan shroud is about 3/4 of an inch.

02-22-2020, 01:41 PM	#4
50fordcoupeman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: LaGrande Oregon Posts: 865	Re: How close is too close? I agree with Jim. 302 in my avatar with flex fan and no shroud. Blade to radiator is 1" and absolutely no heating issues. Good luck with your project......

02-23-2020, 02:41 PM	#5
JimNNN Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 522	Re: How close is too close? On my Mercury, I assembled a full shroud from two partial aftermarket shrouds that I bought from Speedway. This was to accommodate a new aluminum radiator. Works fine when the engine is cold, but I'll have to readjust the shroud because when the engine is norm. op. temp., quick throttles out of gear cause a screeching of the fan on the shroud fasteners. My situation is torque related, which is less of a an issue with yours, but when things warm up they change shape a little, and you don't want to tear up a good radiator with a fan blade. I'm not saying 3/8 isn't enough, just that it's getting a bit close.

02-23-2020, 04:33 PM	#6
Alaska Jim Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Palmer, Alaska Posts: 1,575	Re: How close is too close? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) JimNNN, when using a fan shroud, the fan should be positioned so that the blades of the fan are half way into the shroud for optimum performance and cooling at idle and at speed, if not positioned this way, your shroud is not able to do it's job.

02-23-2020, 04:39 PM	#7
JimNNN Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 522	Re: How close is too close? The are positioned that way. The blades are just too close to the wall of the shroud...I need to shift the shroud a bit one way.

03-05-2020, 02:31 PM	#8
JasonOC Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2020 Posts: 4	Re: How close is too close? To be safe, better go for 3/4" at least.

03-15-2020, 03:39 AM	#9
Dodge Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Sonoma, CA. Posts: 1,496	Re: How close is too close? I ran mine that close for several years and all was good until I broke a motor mount Then it had a run in with my Aluminum double pass $600 radiator. Just saying........