MikeBZ Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 I've only had my Z running for a little while. I've taken it around the block for a few shake down runs. But today I got on it a little (4500 rpm) and my stock clutch fan let go and took out my radiator.... Luckily I only put water in it and was close to home. Its the stock clutch fan that came with my 71. And a stock type replacement radiator. No shroud, and the fan was 1.25 inches away from the radiator.. Was it too close to the radiator, or was the fan just having a bad day ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators BRAAP Posted October 9, 2010 Administrators Share Posted October 9, 2010 Is your radiator secure to the core support/body structure on the passenger side? Is the radiator core separated from the mounting surround that is attached to the core support? Pull on the radiator to see if it is loose. Hard to tell from the pics but it looks like the radiator took more than one strike from more than one fan blade in that one isolated region of the radiator indicating the radiator moved rearward, into the fan, or the engine moved forward into the radiator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossman Posted October 10, 2010 Share Posted October 10, 2010 Check that your motor mounts bolts are tight and that the rubber is in good shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeBZ Posted October 10, 2010 Author Share Posted October 10, 2010 Is your radiator secure to the core support/body structure on the passenger side? Is the radiator core separated from the mounting surround that is attached to the core support? Pull on the radiator to see if it is loose. Hard to tell from the pics but it looks like the radiator took more than one strike from more than one fan blade in that one isolated region of the radiator indicating the radiator moved rearward, into the fan, or the engine moved forward into the radiator. The radiator is not that old, and is mounted very firmly using the 4 stock mounting bolts. The core support is solid as is the radiator core and surround. There is one major wound to the radiator I think the other cuts are from the fan blades breaking and flying off. Do you know how much clearance theres supposed to be between the fan blades and radiator stock ? I dont know if my clutch fan is original, I think they started using plastic fans in late 71 or 72. Earlier were metal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeBZ Posted October 10, 2010 Author Share Posted October 10, 2010 Check that your motor mounts bolts are tight and that the rubber is in good shape. Hadn't thought of that, I went out and shook the car back and forth by the engine and the mounts seem pretty firm. I also put a jack at the back of the trans and the trans mount is good too.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc052685 Posted October 10, 2010 Share Posted October 10, 2010 Nah, my money is on old dry roted fan. They can cause some pretty crazy damage when they go. Look at the remaining blade, bet there are little cracks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktm Posted October 10, 2010 Share Posted October 10, 2010 A blade letting go would not cause the damage pattern on the radiator. All the blades letting go would cause damage in the engine bay, not just the radiator. The radiator shows signs of impact with the fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc052685 Posted October 10, 2010 Share Posted October 10, 2010 Yeah, it could. That mark looks like a single blade comming in contact after partially shearing off. The baldes are pulling tward the radiator after all. That pretty much sets off a chain reaction of shrapnel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19762802+2 Posted October 10, 2010 Share Posted October 10, 2010 (edited) Yeah, it could. That mark looks like a single blade comming in contact after partially shearing off. The baldes are pulling tward the radiator after all. That pretty much sets off a chain reaction of shrapnel. Wouldn't that mean their would be dents in the hood and possibly sheared vacuum lines etc. I thought it was possible that they broke off also, but I think there would have been more evidence left behind if they did. Is it possible that the fan flexed? sort of like a RC cars tires when they accelerate, like flaring out and then it made contact with the radiator then broke? EDIT: also you might want to check if your water pump has some play in the shaft, You'll have to take off the belt to check it. Edited October 10, 2010 by 19752802+2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc052685 Posted October 10, 2010 Share Posted October 10, 2010 Wouldn't that mean their would be dents in the hood and possibly sheared vacuum lines etc. Not necessarily. My money is still on it just being an old fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted October 10, 2010 Share Posted October 10, 2010 (edited) Â Â Judging from your photo....your FUEL? or Coolant? line is too close to the fan, and is unsupported. Â That could have struck the back of the blades and weakened them, which led to mass destruction. Â Â Edited October 10, 2010 by cygnusx1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeBZ Posted October 10, 2010 Author Share Posted October 10, 2010 Wouldn't that mean their would be dents in the hood and possibly sheared vacuum lines etc. I thought it was possible that they broke off also, but I think there would have been more evidence left behind if they did. Is it possible that the fan flexed? sort of like a RC cars tires when they accelerate, like flaring out and then it made contact with the radiator then broke? EDIT: also you might want to check if your water pump has some play in the shaft, You'll have to take off the belt to check it. There isnt any major damage to the underside of the hood, a few knicks and dings but nothing indicating pieces of fan blade at high velocity. The water pump is brand new, no play. Â Â Judging from your photo....your FUEL? or Coolant? line is too close to the fan, and is unsupported. Â That could have struck the back of the blades and weakened them, which led to mass destruction. Â Â It's the angle of the photo, theres a good three inches space between the blade and the stock fuel line. (I set the fan back on the pulley for the photo, I know its not bolted on) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psdenno Posted October 10, 2010 Share Posted October 10, 2010 I'll cast my vote for an old/weak plastic fan blade that deformed out of shape and made contact with the radiator just long enough to shatter and not long enough to scribe a complete circle into the radiator. Although my first guess was the water pump. Had the engine been loose enough to move that far forward, there would be other problems evident. Dennis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted October 10, 2010 Share Posted October 10, 2010 Yeah then it's either FOD, old plastic, or the motor shifted...not much else. Â It looks to be about the right distance from the rad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m4xwellmurd3r Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 (edited) Was your fan painted? I don't know a ton about plastics and such, but I would think that some paints could damage the plastic? I know with paintballing, if you use windex on your masks lense you MUST replace it because it can cause it to shatter since windex puts little micro cracks in the plastic. You would never know it till one of them took a direct shot and CRACK you've got paint in your face and you don't know what happened...or worse. and I know i've spray painted some small plastic parts before and they seemed to lose some of their rigidity Edited October 11, 2010 by m4xwellmurd3r Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MONGO510 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 (edited) Where are the mounting holes in the flange? Looks like the nuts were loose and allowed the fan to hit the radiator and then broke the flange. Mongo Edited October 11, 2010 by MONGO510 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeBZ Posted October 11, 2010 Author Share Posted October 11, 2010 Was your fan painted? I don't know a ton about plastics and such, but I would think that some paints could damage the plastic? I know with paintballing, if you use windex on your masks lense you MUST replace it because it can cause it to shatter since windex puts little micro cracks in the plastic. You would never know it till one of them took a direct shot and CRACK you've got paint in your face and you don't know what happened...or worse. and I know i've spray painted some small plastic parts before and they seemed to lose some of their rigidity Yeah the previous owner painted it silver, dont know how long ago. Could have been a factor, but I think I just had an old fan who's days were numbered...... Where are the mounting holes in the flange? Looks like the nuts were loose and allowed the fan to hit the radiator and then broke the flange. Mongo In the 3rd pic I posted I did not bolt the fan back on the pulley, I just set it on for the photo. When I took the fan off after the damage all of the mounting bolts were tight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pharaohabq Posted October 18, 2010 Share Posted October 18, 2010 Your Fan clearance is about the same as my 280Z fan. so it's looking much much more like it's just a old, brittle and now quite busted fan. Sucks it took out the rad with it. Definitely made me check my blades. mine are still mildly flexible, but I wasn't trying to break it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.