Bent fan blade ate the radiator

[dbcjmc]

Hi Folks,

Searching the forums, it's clear this isn't the first time a fan blade took chunks out of a radiator. This radiator is going to the radiator shop for repair on Monday.

Two quesions.

1. What would cause one fan blade to bend?

2. If I buy an electric fan to replace it, how/where do I hook up the wire?

See pics. Thanks!

db

[=Enigma=]

That's just plain odd. Perhaps a defect in the plastic?

[KDMatt]

That's just plain odd. Perhaps a defect in the plastic?

For sure!

I always thought it was the metal fans that had a bed rep!

From what I understand, hooking up an electric fan is a pretty simple task. It should come with a "programmable" thermostat and gets wired up to the battery. Most auto parts stores have kits in stock.

Is the radiator still usable? ... It didn't puncture anything major did it? Just a case of bending the fins back and putting on a new fan?

[FastWoman]

Your fan clutch might have been locked up, and perhaps you were spinning your engine at high RPM?? If so, that fan blade might have flexed far enough to catch on the radiator and roll under, causing the bend. I've never heard of this happening on a Z, but it did happen on my '66 mustang when I upgraded from a 2 row to a 3 row radiator (which left less clearance between the fan and the radiator).

[mayitin]

Check your motor mounts if one is broken it will cause to twist under torque. This happend to me one I change it problem was cure.

[nahurry]

same here! i had a motor mount bolt broke off in the motor and didn't know it till it was too late. i went to do a quick u-turn and the motor lurched forward and the plastic fan blade punched a hole in my radiator.

[Zs-ondabrain]

Same thing here, On my 510.

The bottom bolts on the radiator came off (or I forgot to tighten them) and when I hit 2nd gear hard, the radiator lunged right into the fan blade.

[dbcjmc]

Hi Folks!

Yep! You're right! Broken motor mounts indeed! Firs picture shows the rubber torn away from the mount housing.

I had a pair of motor mounts from Black Dragon laying around waiting for me to put them in. But another surprise! They don't fit. The locating pin is around 1.5mm off from where it should be! That's about the 4th part that doesn't fit quite right. I'm off to find OEM mounts while the radiator gets repaired.....

Cheers, db

[John Coffey]

Fan blades only bend after they hit something.

[sblake01]

Fan blades only bend after they hit something.

Like the top tank of that radiator ...... Edited September 21, 2009 by sblake01

[ezzzzzzz]

I had this happen on my 240Z after I installed a stock plastic fan shroud. Slight misalignment caused the balde to contact the shroud. That blade was pulled outwards and hung up. I had no overheating issues and it never contacted the rad. It was discovered when I was checking the oil level. I replaced the fan & clutch and trimmed the shroud. No more problems.