Flex Fan Install

[Tynan918]

Wanting to replace my stock coil fan with an aluminum flex fan...

'84 Monte Carlo 305 SBC

I have a stock fan shroud and a long water pump...

What fan size and spacer size would I need ?

 

[mikester]

Hate to say it but the flex fan you purchased looks like it might be the wrong one now that I see that you have a serpentine setup. You also might have an issue with the spacer. You need to know if the holes in the water pump for the fan are SAE or metric. Its been a while since I put mine together but for some reason I think I had to buy metric bolts. BTW, the hole pattern is different on reverse pumps so youre limited to the style spacer you use. Good thing you bought a universal one.
Not to sound like an opinionated narcissist but might I suggest asking guys on the forum what works with your application BEFORE you buy the parts ? Theres a ton of guys on here that have built many cars and know them inside and out. Ive been helped by folks here more times than I can count and 99% of the answers have been spot on. Just sayin...

 

[joesregalproject]

Hate to say it but the flex fan you purchased looks like it might be the wrong one now that I see that you have a serpentine setup. You also might have an issue with the spacer. You need to know if the holes in the water pump for the fan are SAE or metric. Its been a while since I put mine together but for some reason I think I had to buy metric bolts.
Not to sound like an opinionated narcissist but might I suggest asking guys on the forum what works with your application BEFORE you buy the parts ? Theres a ton of guys on here that have built many cars and know them inside and out. Ive been helped by folks here more times than I can count and 99% of the answers have been spot on. Just sayin...

They don't give good advice, they are just a bunch of haters and Karens.

 

[08Malibu]

Out of my playing field... I'm '84 car and engine.

My 86 305 has a conventional belt arrangement. It just uses a ribbed belt over a v belt.

 

[pagrunt]

They don't give good advice, they are just a bunch of haters and Karens.

 

[JimmyD]

I have used flex fans in the past with no issues but I always bought the ones with stainless steel blades I had a buddy that used one with the aluminum blades and the aluminum fatigues one of his blades cracked off and went through his steel hood

I had the same thing happen on my '67 C-10. Stainless fan blade broke off, went through steel hood, before I could get off the road it wobbled so bad that it pulled the bolts out of the water-pump and destroyed my 4 core radiator !!! No more flex fans for me.

 

[Tynan918]

As previously stated, that's not 1984. Order accordingly.

So my setup requires a reverse rotation flex fan ?

 

[ELCAM]

So my setup requires a reverse rotation flex fan ?

Yes.

 

[motorheadmike]

E-l-e-c-t-r-i-c.

This thread is making my eyes bleed.

 

[Tynan918]

Theres a ton of guys on here that have built many cars and know them inside and out. Ive been helped by folks here more times than I can count and 99% of the answers have been spot on. Just sayin...

There are...but you also have your narcissists...

but might I suggest asking guys on the forum what works with your application BEFORE you buy the parts ?

That's how I can get an answer...

I've sat hours to days in limbo doing what you're suggesting, just to be told not to do something I find out later can be done...

I just want the information I'm asking for, not a lecture...like this flex fan...

The whole reverse rotation thing is completely understandable and I will ask about and look into that next. Thank you mikester

But I hear all the cons, and I see preventive measurements that can more secure the fan from flying out...

Another note is I don't race this car and don't plan to anytime soon. The most I do is 5,000, if that... These fans operate at a max of 8,000...which I never even come close to...

Case in point...I posted my vehicle, my motor, and my question and here we are, post #37+ and I still have no answer to my question, except scoti at least telling me how to measure things to figure out what size spacer I need... Ridiculous...

Other than that, it's "why I shouldn't because of this and that", and turns into the many posts in my threads and the topic of discussion rather than my questions ...

Things that can have preventive measurements taken to secure it more from happening...for instance any spacer 3" or bigger will cause the fan to wobble, hence throwing one threw a hood or radiator... Or even more fundamental, tighten it down snug and use threadlock...

Just saying, say your peace and be done, and if if it raises an interest or concern to me, I will address it...

 

[scoti]

As previously stated, that's not 1984. Order accordingly.

This is correct. You might have an '84 car & possibly an '84 engine, but the engine has updated brackets.
You'll need/want to base your parts acquisition on the year model of the brackets.