Viscous Fan Clutch - alternate part

Buddy

Well-known member
Nov 6, 2006
2,839
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Central NC
Are you saying the Chevy clutch is prone to failure? Or are you talking about the Chevy fan?

I think he's talking about the plastic rover fan exploding. I've seen it happen, that's why I got the metal one. But the one I saw explode was also at almost redline and I think had bad motor mounts.
 

fishEH

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Jan 26, 2009
6,930
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Lake Villa, IL
I think he's talking about the plastic rover fan exploding. I've seen it happen, that's why I got the metal one. But the one I saw explode was also at almost redline and I think had bad motor mounts.

I see. Never heard of a rover fan exploding before. How about that.....
 

p m

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Apr 19, 2004
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Are you saying the Chevy clutch is prone to failure? Or are you talking about the Chevy fan?

I'd say that a combination of HD Chevy clutch with that metal fan is going to reduce the water pump lifetime in half. But that's pure speculation on my part.
And plastic fans breaking apart are more frequent than you may think.
 

Buddy

Well-known member
Nov 6, 2006
2,839
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Central NC
I'd say that a combination of HD Chevy clutch with that metal fan is going to reduce the water pump lifetime in half. But that's pure speculation on my part.

Very possible, but even if it cuts the life down to 25,000 miles. At my current rate of usage that should give me at 18-20 years and if the truck is still running by then I'd say I got my money's worth. I'm not saying it's for everybody, but it works for me.
 

p m

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Very possible, but even if it cuts the life down to 25,000 miles. At my current rate of usage that should give me at 18-20 years and if the truck is still running by then I'd say I got my money's worth. I'm not saying it's for everybody, but it works for me.
True. I put about 10-15kmi a year on my trail truck, hence my comment.
 

MM3846

Well-known member
Feb 18, 2014
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LI, NY
i tried the HD fan an it lasted a trip around the block before i yanked it out for the standard duty one.
 

robertf

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Jan 22, 2006
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I think he's talking about the plastic rover fan exploding. I've seen it happen, that's why I got the metal one. But the one I saw explode was also at almost redline and I think had bad motor mounts.

First one was while trail running in Clayton ok. Didn't notice it until I got home

Second time was while taking off from a stop sign on my way to work. Good motor mounts both times. Maybe 3000 Rpms? It was as I shifted. Rev limiter is 5200. Is that what you are considering redline? Was at least 1500 below that.

It's cheaper and easier in the long run to just get the right parts, unless those parts are ignition related
 
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Buddy

Well-known member
Nov 6, 2006
2,839
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Central NC
Is that what you are considering redline? Was at least 1500 below that.

I have no idea about what happened to yours I was not there. I was specifically talking about the one I saw explode and take out the entire fan shroud and almost the radiator.
 

robertf

Well-known member
Jan 22, 2006
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I have no idea about what happened to yours I was not there. I was specifically talking about the one I saw explode and take out the entire fan shroud and almost the radiator.

my point is, these trucks don't have a redline ;)
 

nynor

Well-known member
Jan 3, 2005
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salt lake city, ut
Not only it is not "normal duty," it is not even heavy duty - it is "severe duty."

http://www.amazon.com/Hayden-Automotive-2786-Premium-Clutch/dp/B000C3DD5E

huh.... you are correct. well, it doesn't sound any noisier than it was before. it is actually fairly quiet. the clutch was definitely stiffer to turn than the one that was in there (imagine that), but it didn't seem ridiculously stiff.

i did a very thorough inspection of the fan blades.

as a side note, the upper radiator hose failed on my way to work. i was able to find one locally, which my lovely wife picked up for me. i changed it out on my lunch break. i'll be ordering the entire hose kit, as the lower seems like it will be next. i'll just have an extra upper hose on the shelf.

again, thanks gents.

d.
 

MM3846

Well-known member
Feb 18, 2014
1,231
164
LI, NY
Too much noise?

noise isn't the word for it. it literally sounded like I was driving an industrial size air handler. I was scared to push the throttle down bc I knew how fast that fan was moving. I had the HD fan on my Jeep and it wasn't even close to how ridic this one was.
 

skucera

Member
May 13, 2014
5
0
Harrisburg, Oregon, USA
noise isn't the word for it. it literally sounded like I was driving an industrial size air handler.

Funny, but that description sounds like the sound my old MG Midget 1500 made when its viscous fan clutch locked up solid. The 13 blade fan sounded like a gas turbine at the airport, and I could hardly hear the engine burble over it. Everyone asked, "What is up with that car?" One friend thought I'd put a little helicopter gas turbine in it somehow, and he wasn't joking.

Alright, back to your much more serious problem....

Scott