Fan Blade explosion.....Mopar carnage!

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    Author Topic: Fan Blade explosion.....Mopar carnage!  (Read 14519 times)

    Offline 67vertman

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    Fan Blade explosion.....Mopar carnage!
    « on: October 04, 2014 - 12:19:19 PM »
    If you are running a 40+ year old fan blade, check it closely and on a regular basis. Coming home from a cruise-in last night the fan blade on my 440 decided to “explode”.  No warning or signs that it was in distress.  :faint:

    I am not sure why it let go, but it looks like one or more of the bolt holes must have developed a crack(s) and the rotational mass of the blades caused it to fly apart.  All the bolts are still attached to the fan clutch, and all the blades are attached as well, so it didn’t become unbalanced.

    Damage is minimal (considering what could have happened) in my opinion, and consist of the following.
    Aluminum Radiator (Griffith) $400
    Battery $120
    Battery ground cable $40
    Fan blade and shroud $200, but I am now going with an electric fan, as I don’t want this to happen again.
    Minor paint damage to the inside of the hood and air cleaner were the fan blades hit.








    « Last Edit: October 04, 2014 - 01:03:45 PM by 67vertman »
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    Ron - Born and raised in Southern California

    I got the 1970 Cuda, but still need the hot blonde to ride shotgun!

    First car -1969 Road Runner 383 4sp

    Current ride - 1970 Barracuda 440-6 4 sp Dana 60  (4:10)


    Offline brads70

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    Re: Fan Blade explosion.....Mopar carnage!
    « Reply #1 on: October 04, 2014 - 12:47:58 PM »
    Bummer! Clutch fan it looks like? Too bad we are not closer. I'm taking off my electric fan and triple pass aluminum rad to go with a bigger rad. I found the electric fans just don't provide enough airflow. That and the controller crapped out on me only running on slow speed then quit altogether. I had to wire the fan direct to the battery on the side of the road.  :pullinghair:
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    Brad
    1970 Challenger 451stroker/4L60 auto OD
    Barrie,Ontario,Canada
    Proud to own one of the best cars ever made!!!!!

    My restoration thread 
    http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=59072.0
     My handling upgrade post
    http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=73985.0

    Offline 67vertman

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    Re: Fan Blade explosion.....Mopar carnage!
    « Reply #2 on: October 04, 2014 - 01:06:58 PM »
    Brad, that's not good about the electric fan.  I need to do some research and I will talk with Griffith on Monday to what they recommend.  I didn't have any cooling issues with the original set up.
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    Ron - Born and raised in Southern California

    I got the 1970 Cuda, but still need the hot blonde to ride shotgun!

    First car -1969 Road Runner 383 4sp

    Current ride - 1970 Barracuda 440-6 4 sp Dana 60  (4:10)

    Offline brads70

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    Re: Fan Blade explosion.....Mopar carnage!
    « Reply #3 on: October 04, 2014 - 02:06:52 PM »
    I would insist on Spal or nothing. http://www.a1electric.com/catalog/cat_spal.htm
    Basically I found the more amps the motor draws the better the fan. Low amp fans do not move air.  Then the next problem is your alternator capacity. It won't be enough! I killed my battery this summer driving to Carlisle ( 8 hour drive) I got about an hour and a half remaining and I had to get another battery on the road to finish the trip. I had a supposedly 95 amp alternator on there and it couldn't keep up. I rigged in a toggle switch to ground to make it home. I turned it off while on the hwy to charge the battery.
    My suggestion after spending lots of money, I then bought one of these, http://www.qualitypowerauto.com/catalog.php?item=557
    ..... replace yours with a mechanical fan!
    I bought this one because of the RPM rating. http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/der-17018/overview/
    They also make them to fit on your clutch set up,http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/der-17118/overview/
     but if you go that route I'd suggest a new clutch, they are cheap enough. Here is the shorter Jag clutch if you need the extra 3/4" of clearance
    http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/hda-2765/applications
    « Last Edit: October 04, 2014 - 02:09:51 PM by brads70 »
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    Brad
    1970 Challenger 451stroker/4L60 auto OD
    Barrie,Ontario,Canada
    Proud to own one of the best cars ever made!!!!!

    My restoration thread 
    http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=59072.0
     My handling upgrade post
    http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=73985.0

    Offline HP_Cuda

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    Re: Fan Blade explosion.....Mopar carnage!
    « Reply #4 on: October 04, 2014 - 04:11:59 PM »
    No leakage from the rad after that explosion?

    Think of it like lightning, won't strike twice in the same place. Especially witha new fan, electrics are a huge pain and I have found them to be unreliable on several cars.

    B
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    1970 Cuda Clone 440 4 speed - sublime green
    1970 Cuda 383 4 speed - yellow - SOLD

    Offline 67vertman

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    Re: Fan Blade explosion.....Mopar carnage!
    « Reply #5 on: October 04, 2014 - 06:34:52 PM »
    Quote from: HP_Cuda on October 04, 2014 - 04:11:59 PM
    No leakage from the rad after that explosion?

    I wish, the hole is BIG and all the fluid leaked out.  The motor didn't die right away as the small wire that grounds it to the body was enough to keep the car running.
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    Ron - Born and raised in Southern California

    I got the 1970 Cuda, but still need the hot blonde to ride shotgun!

    First car -1969 Road Runner 383 4sp

    Current ride - 1970 Barracuda 440-6 4 sp Dana 60  (4:10)

    Offline dodj

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    Re: Fan Blade explosion.....Mopar carnage!
    « Reply #6 on: October 04, 2014 - 10:42:59 PM »
    Quote from: brads70 on October 04, 2014 - 12:47:58 PM
    I found the electric fans just don't provide enough airflow. T
    :iagree:
    Research it before you commit to electric. Everybody that I know, including myself, went back to clutch fans after 'experimenting' with electric fans. :2cents:
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    Scott
    1973 Challenger  440 4 spd 
    2007.5 3500 6.7 Cummins Diesel, Anarchy tuned.
    Good friends don't let friends do stupid things. ........alone.

    Offline don340-4

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    Re: Fan Blade explosion.....Mopar carnage!
    « Reply #7 on: October 04, 2014 - 11:36:30 PM »

      Ron, is that fan one of those Mopar Performance fans that they claim uses less hp than the oem ones, I have had one on my Challenger for a few years now, maybe I should take a look at it. Thanks for the pictures, scary. Don     

          :wavingflag:
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    Don
    1970 Challenger R/T SE
    1970 Challenger Western Sport Special
    1969 Plymouth Road Runner
    2012 Ram 1500 R/T

    Offline Gus cuda

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    Re: Fan Blade explosion.....Mopar carnage!
    « Reply #8 on: October 05, 2014 - 10:58:31 AM »
    Wow! Reading this i cant help but think, what if you were under the hood tweaking something when this happend. That could be really bad.
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    Offline 1 Wild R/T

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    Re: Fan Blade explosion.....Mopar carnage!
    « Reply #9 on: October 05, 2014 - 11:36:22 AM »
    Quote from: don340-4 on October 04, 2014 - 11:36:30 PM
      Ron, is that fan one of those Mopar Performance fans that they claim uses less hp than the oem ones, I have had one on my Challenger for a few years now, maybe I should take a look at it. Thanks for the pictures, scary. Don     

          :wavingflag:

    Looks like a seven blade fan which is OE the MP piece was five blades...
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    Offline Chryco Psycho

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    Re: Fan Blade explosion.....Mopar carnage!
    « Reply #10 on: October 05, 2014 - 11:49:07 AM »
    I usea lot of the Flex a Lite 6 blade fans
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    Offline burdar

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    Re: Fan Blade explosion.....Mopar carnage!
    « Reply #11 on: October 05, 2014 - 11:53:49 AM »
    I think if you can adapt a factory electric fan/shroud, you'll have better luck. The aftermarket fans just don't seem to move enough air. I'm looking into a Ford Taurus fan/shroud for my 22" rad. A Ford Contour dual fan setup will fit a 26" rad.
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    Offline 67vertman

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    Re: Fan Blade explosion.....Mopar carnage!
    « Reply #12 on: October 05, 2014 - 01:14:24 PM »
    Quote from: don340-4 on October 04, 2014 - 11:36:30 PM
      Ron, is that fan one of those Mopar Performance fans that they claim uses less hp than the oem ones, I have had one on my Challenger for a few years now, maybe I should take a look at it. Thanks for the pictures, scary. Don     

          :wavingflag:

    No, it was an OE 7 blade fan.  It looked good when I cleaned it up and painted it two years ago, no cracks in the bolt hole area.  I had it running at the cruise in, as someone wanted to hear it run and I had the hood open, I didn't notice a problem then and am glad it didn't explode then.
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    Ron - Born and raised in Southern California

    I got the 1970 Cuda, but still need the hot blonde to ride shotgun!

    First car -1969 Road Runner 383 4sp

    Current ride - 1970 Barracuda 440-6 4 sp Dana 60  (4:10)

    Offline 67vertman

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    Re: Fan Blade explosion.....Mopar carnage!
    « Reply #13 on: October 05, 2014 - 01:18:57 PM »
    Quote from: burdar on October 05, 2014 - 11:53:49 AM
    I think if you can adapt a factory electric fan/shroud, you'll have better luck. The aftermarket fans just don't seem to move enough air. I'm looking into a Ford Taurus fan/shroud for my 22" rad. A Ford Contour dual fan setup will fit a 26" rad.

    I have heard that the Mazda fans also work and cool well.

    I am now leaning towards going with a mechanical fan and fan clutch, after hearing that the electric fans don't cool as well.
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    Ron - Born and raised in Southern California

    I got the 1970 Cuda, but still need the hot blonde to ride shotgun!

    First car -1969 Road Runner 383 4sp

    Current ride - 1970 Barracuda 440-6 4 sp Dana 60  (4:10)

    Offline 67vertman

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    Re: Fan Blade explosion.....Mopar carnage!
    « Reply #14 on: October 05, 2014 - 01:20:10 PM »
    Does any company make a stock fan shroud for a 26 inch radiator? 
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    Ron - Born and raised in Southern California

    I got the 1970 Cuda, but still need the hot blonde to ride shotgun!

    First car -1969 Road Runner 383 4sp

    Current ride - 1970 Barracuda 440-6 4 sp Dana 60  (4:10)
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