1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

flex fan question

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Old Oct 12, 2002 | 06:58 PM
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flex fan question

hi
what is your opinions should i buy a flex fan with or without a clutch? not the ones that are buiilt into the fan the ones that bolt on separately. Summitt sells them.
my car has been starting to overheat in stop and go traffic. I need to do something.
also would a 2nd generation fan work on a first?
thanks
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Old Oct 12, 2002 | 08:29 PM
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I've heard that the 2nd gen fan works... But about the clutch question, IMO its better not to have the clutch so that the fan is always on, better cooling like that. I put a bolt through my clutch so my fan is always on and it's always cool no matter what.
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Old Oct 13, 2002 | 12:20 AM
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Cubfan,
I have a hayden semi-flex fan on my car right now, without the clutch. It has got to be one of the best investments (for the price) I have made yet. It cost about 25 bucks from Pep Boys. My engine temp hasnt even glanced at half way since I installed it, and I live in Arizona!
IMO get one, without the clutch. It will always be on when your engines running, and it sounds sooooooooooo wicked kinda like a small supercharger.
if you get one, make sure you have a battery tie down. I didnt now I have a new battery.
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Old Oct 13, 2002 | 01:33 AM
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robs power though
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Old Oct 13, 2002 | 02:51 AM
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robs my battery too!
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Old Oct 13, 2002 | 08:43 AM
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If anyone needs a 12A stock fan I got 2 or 3
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Old Oct 13, 2002 | 09:03 AM
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Originally posted by Gatorgunner
Cubfan,
I have a hayden semi-flex fan on my car right now, without the clutch. It has got to be one of the best investments (for the price) I have made yet. It cost about 25 bucks from Pep Boys. My engine temp hasnt even glanced at half way since I installed it, and I live in Arizona!
IMO get one, without the clutch. It will always be on when your engines running, and it sounds sooooooooooo wicked kinda like a small supercharger.
if you get one, make sure you have a battery tie down. I didnt now I have a new battery.
Can you rev it all the way up to redline with that fan?
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Old Oct 13, 2002 | 11:04 AM
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The stainless flex fan's from summit are designed to flatten out at higher rpm's, so they shouldn't be much of a drag at all when you rev it up. I don't know if they actually work right and do that since I dont have one yet. But I'm sure they cool much better than the stock fan.
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Old Oct 13, 2002 | 02:53 PM
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I run a semi flex fan,(hayden) the 17' inch fans fit right inside the fan shroud, you will also need to get a 3' inch spacer too. I notice NO difference in power. No more, no less. just more fan noise. I use no clutch either. Better cooling. and less weight on water pump bearing. I also added some redline ' waterwetter' to the radiator fluid.
Temp goes to 1/4 and stays there.
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Old Oct 13, 2002 | 03:51 PM
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get an electric fan
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Old Oct 13, 2002 | 05:50 PM
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i can rev to redline just fine
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Old Oct 13, 2002 | 05:54 PM
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Yea Get an electric fan
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Old Oct 13, 2002 | 09:37 PM
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i would like to get an electric fan, but i dont have a hundred bucks lying around, and the fans at the junk yards are crappy
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Old Oct 14, 2002 | 12:54 AM
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Electric fan.

Flex fans are one of the craziest dumb ideas ever sold to the automotive world. They rob an incredible amount of power. The theory that "they flatten at high RPM" is kinda stupid because low speed high RPM is when you NEED the fan. That's okay though because the blades don't actually flex much, if at all.

Again, definitely get an electric fan. RX-7s have big problems with alternator belt life due to the fact that once the air pump is removed, the water pump is driven by a very short wrap of the slack side of the alternator belt. Some people put on a double alternator belt pulley which does not fix the problem, which is poor alternator placement and/or too much load on the water pump pulley.

Moving the alternator is difficult. Taking the load off of the water pump pulley is easy - use an electric fan.
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Old Oct 14, 2002 | 01:01 AM
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I agree 100% with Dr. Gonzo ^
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Old Oct 14, 2002 | 01:55 PM
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I'm having the same issue. How do you test the stock clutch fan? I guess it's supposed to run a certain rpm vs the engine rpm...

If the car is getting hot and the stock fan works correctly, then you're having a cooling system problem. Take the radiator to a radiator shop and have it cleaned. Also don't use more anti-freeze than 50%. Anti freeze does not cool as well as water.
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Old Oct 14, 2002 | 03:36 PM
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Yea, I agree, very poor cooling performace would be caused by a cooling system clog, or just running shitty coolant (like me )
And yea, what peejay said.
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Old Oct 14, 2002 | 05:57 PM
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need help, i also have stock fan but with no clutch
Car does not heat up at low speeds but once i hit 80-90
temp goes up way to fast.
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