Electric Fan Hitting Shroud
#1
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Car: 1987 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Engine: 5.0L LG4 -- Soon to be mild SBC 350
Transmission: T5 - 5 Speed Manual
Axle/Gears: Stock open diff 3.42
Electric Fan Hitting Shroud
I just installed a 4 row aluminum radiator into my '87 Trans Am. Not a fancy one, but better than my leaky plastic-tank OEM radiator. It's partially back together, I need to make brackets to bolt it to the stock mounting points rather than the zip ties I used to get it home from where I did the work.
My issue is that my electric fan now seems to be hitting the inside of its shroud, even though I am fairly sure we tightened the bolts that mount it to the upper mounting bracket all the way. Does anyone have any idea why the fan might touch the shroud now or what could cause it in general? We didn't knock it around or anything, but could it be imbalanced? Could it be imbalanced because it is on a slight angle since the new rad is taller and thicker than the stock one?
When I get home I am going to make sure those bolts are tightened, then I can add some pictures. Until then, thank you for any help!
My issue is that my electric fan now seems to be hitting the inside of its shroud, even though I am fairly sure we tightened the bolts that mount it to the upper mounting bracket all the way. Does anyone have any idea why the fan might touch the shroud now or what could cause it in general? We didn't knock it around or anything, but could it be imbalanced? Could it be imbalanced because it is on a slight angle since the new rad is taller and thicker than the stock one?
When I get home I am going to make sure those bolts are tightened, then I can add some pictures. Until then, thank you for any help!
#2
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Car: 1991 BandittII Firebird
Engine: 5.7 HSR
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9 bolt
Re: Electric Fan Hitting Shroud
A 4 row rad seems a bit over kill for a 305 or a mid 350.
Are you running a pusher or puller fan? Are you using a factory single/double fan setup? If you are and your using wire ties the plastic fan mounts which are fairly flexible could be tweeked a bit causing the fan to scrape. My 2 row Champion plus puller fan mounted to an aluminum fan shroud is about 2-3" from the water pump pulley, with the 4 row could there be interference with the water pump pulley/bolts?
Are you running a pusher or puller fan? Are you using a factory single/double fan setup? If you are and your using wire ties the plastic fan mounts which are fairly flexible could be tweeked a bit causing the fan to scrape. My 2 row Champion plus puller fan mounted to an aluminum fan shroud is about 2-3" from the water pump pulley, with the 4 row could there be interference with the water pump pulley/bolts?
#3
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Car: 1987 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Engine: 5.0L LG4 -- Soon to be mild SBC 350
Transmission: T5 - 5 Speed Manual
Axle/Gears: Stock open diff 3.42
Re: Electric Fan Hitting Shroud
A 4 row rad seems a bit over kill for a 305 or a mid 350.
Are you running a pusher or puller fan? Are you using a factory single/double fan setup? If you are and your using wire ties the plastic fan mounts which are fairly flexible could be tweeked a bit causing the fan to scrape. My 2 row Champion plus puller fan mounted to an aluminum fan shroud is about 2-3" from the water pump pulley, with the 4 row could there be interference with the water pump pulley/bolts?
Are you running a pusher or puller fan? Are you using a factory single/double fan setup? If you are and your using wire ties the plastic fan mounts which are fairly flexible could be tweeked a bit causing the fan to scrape. My 2 row Champion plus puller fan mounted to an aluminum fan shroud is about 2-3" from the water pump pulley, with the 4 row could there be interference with the water pump pulley/bolts?
the rad is on an angle so I am wondering if that puts the fan off-balance? Could I bend up the bit of core support that doesn’t allow it to sit totally vertical to slide the radiator back straight if the fan is off-balance?
#4
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Car: 1991 BandittII Firebird
Engine: 5.7 HSR
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9 bolt
Re: Electric Fan Hitting Shroud
A pusher fan would be mounted on the outside of the rad pushing air through the rad
the rad is on an angle so I am wondering if that puts the fan off-balance?
Could I bend up the bit of core support that doesn’t allow it to sit totally vertical
Last edited by 91banditt2; 06-22-2023 at 12:01 PM.
#5
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Car: 1983 Z28
Engine: L69
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Electric Fan Hitting Shroud
Something to check. I have ordered AC Delco (single fan) blade assemblies from Rock Auto but have gotten two that were warped. It was enough to cause the fan blade to not rotate inside the shroud without rubbing.
#6
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Car: 1987 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Engine: 5.0L LG4 -- Soon to be mild SBC 350
Transmission: T5 - 5 Speed Manual
Axle/Gears: Stock open diff 3.42
Re: Electric Fan Hitting Shroud
As per the fan being warped, this fan is the one that has been on it since before I bought the car. It never made a noise until we got the new radiator in. I suppose we could've warped it when taking it out/putting it in though, which would suck.
#7
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Re: Electric Fan Hitting Shroud
the fan bracket is distorted out of shape from non-original mounting-just rework the mounting points so the four bolts are straight and bracket will spring back into shape.
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