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Replacement fan for V6 ?

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Buildflycrash, Dec 31, 2007.

  1. Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    I have had it on my jeep for about 8 years or so. It is a Flex-a-lite. I got it from Summit racing for about $30-$35, there still about the same price. I will check for a part # and size tomorrow. As far as how well it works, heck you can hear the thing whirrring for about 50 feet in any direction and it sucks air thru the radiator at probably twice the rate of the stock one. It is a SS 6 bladed fan with a black powder coated center section.
    Here is a pic:
    [​IMG]
     
  2. Txjake

    Txjake I wrenched with Sparky

    My 70, which was stock, had a four blade with a spacer.

    FWIW, Speedway Motors sells a similar four blade fan, for dirt track cars.

    McRuff is right, the stock ones are meaty.
     
  3. Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    I just checked the fan awhile ago, it is a 15". I can't read the part # on it anymore. It is a Derale or Flex-a-lite, with standard rotation blades. You will also need a 1" spacer to replace the factory 1/2" spacer due to the extreme pitch of the blades. I checked Derale and Flex-a-lite's website, mine looks to be a Derale (thought it was a Flex-a-lite) from the shape of the blades and the way there riveted on (staggered versus in a straight line) Derale's are also black and SS while Flex-a-lite doesn't offer the black fan.
    Both are good fans though, so either one should work fine so long as they are 15" standard(clockwise) rotation models and you change to a 1" spacer behind them. Both fans are rated to 8000rpm or higher. Hope this helps!!!!!
     
    Last edited: Jan 3, 2008
  4. Txjake

    Txjake I wrenched with Sparky

  5. trickpatrick

    trickpatrick Done? LOL

    I have the flex-fan also on my Dauntless.
    The spacing might be different on my jeepster, but it doesnt look like it.
    No room for clutch fan tried it.
    They sell them in most Flaps.
    My buick skylark 231 oddfire had the 4 blade fan stock.
    Sitting on a shelf with lot of 231 parts now.

    My opinion but I would stay away from elect. fan if possible.
    If I planed on crossing water every trip it would be worth it,
    but I have seen so many prob.s with them.
    ruined alt's at the top of the list.
     
  6. snowwjob1

    snowwjob1 Member

    I have a stock 4 blade fan and spacer that i got from Vangaurd that i did not use i can send it to you for shipping if you need it.
     
  7. Buildflycrash

    Buildflycrash More or Less in Line. 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Thanks all. Looking at the photos I see the fans have slots for the bolts. Sort of universal replacement lookin'. When I get mine in I'll post the Info here
    Thanks again.
     
  8. windyhill

    windyhill Sponsor

     
  9. Eric B.

    Eric B. Confused???

    Mine only has 4 blades with no clutch, just bolted to the waterpump.
     
  10. Zunk'sTux

    Zunk'sTux New Member

    So, is there a fan clutch that fits are jeeps? I was thinking of this myself. It looks as if one would fit on mine. I just didn't know what aplication to ask the parts man for.
     
  11. Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    There are clutch fans that will bolt to the V6 water pump. The problem is clearance btween the water pump and the radiator...
     
  12. trickpatrick

    trickpatrick Done? LOL

    I was just at a u pull it, and there were tons of good ones.
    One on a S10 looked good.

    I have the flex fan and it works fine but is allways working, noisy, and takes some power away.
    Also gas mpg.
    It also stirs up dust at times on the trail.

    I got a mercury sable electric fan at u pull it for 15 buck's.
    Looked like it would drop in but nooo.
    would have to cut back rad suport to get it in there.

    If I am going to do that still thinking a clutch fan would be best choice for me.

    I am not positive on bolt pattern for S10 fan but it probably is right bolt pattern would have to trim support to slip it in.
     
  13. SkysTheLimit

    SkysTheLimit Member

    interesting topic to finally pop back up considering the timing of it for me. This weekend I just finished fabbing up my new radiator mounts for my jeep as the PO had the bottom of the old radiator welded to the frame and the top supported by the bars that run back to the firewall (wonder why it started leaking?). Anyway, fan clearance has been a huge issue in this whole mess. go too big on the spacer and you are into the radiator and the lower frame cross member. Too shallow of spacer and the fan hits the vacuum advance on the distributor. Anyway, got everything done, painted and mounted up yesterday. Had to go with 1-1/4" fan spacer to clear the vacuum advance by about 1/16" and then that leaves about 1/4" of clearance to the frame crossmember and bottom of the radiator at the bottom part of the fan. I have a Flex-a-lite flex fan and its either 15 or 17", I can't remember. Anyway, my two questions are 1) why do I need a 1-1/4" spacer to barely clear the vacuum advance and other guys are running 1" just fine? 2) does the flex fan really move that much more air that the dust generation from under the Jeep gets bad, and is it really that loud as you all say? I have headers and dual pipes on my rig, think you can hear the fan over the exhaust?
     
  14. SkysTheLimit

    SkysTheLimit Member

    oh, and I can try to post pics if anyone is interested.
     
  15. Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    The flex fan is sorta noisy, it sound like the whine of a turbo spooling up. Its not really so loud as a totally different pitch and is heard above everything else. Please post pictures, clearance shouldn't be as tight as you mentioned.
     
  16. SkysTheLimit

    SkysTheLimit Member

    Kinda like a turbo spool huh. That's kinda neat. I have a powerstroke with the turbo and I like the turbo whine, so maybe it'll be okay. You think my clearances are too close and something bad is gonna happen, or u just curious to see pics to see why everything is like it is? I'll take pics tonite.
     
  17. jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    I'd say that's too close all the way around and that's asking for trouble.
    but I don't know the type of driving you are planning for the Jeep.
    if going off road, it's not going to clear in my opinion.
     
  18. wheelin69

    wheelin69 Member

    *edit*
    I was wrong, nothing to see here monkeys
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2008
  19. lynn

    lynn Time machine / Early CJ5 HR Rep Staff Member


    Mike
    I ran a '73 grille on my '71. Moved the radiator forward and down using some angle iron. This allowed a ton of space up front I'll look for some pics... if I can't find any, maybe Don could take a few pics of the set up.
     
  20. jeepdaddy2000

    jeepdaddy2000 Active Member

    I believe the bolt pattern is pretty generic. I'm running a heavy duty five bladed fan from an early F250. Coupled with a shroud, the thing pulls an insane amount of air at idle.