About 5 mi from home, I hit I-75 heading south. Less than 1 mile into it, at around 70mph (2700RPM?), I heard a wind-up noise and a loud bang. I lost power steering and I think I lost power braking (it all happened so fast).

During the loud bang, the hood JUMPED. It was still latched, but it bent up several inches into the air (and returned back to normal-ish).

Pulled over, expecting to see pistons or the carburetor shredded .
Instead, I saw my fan sitting at the bottom of the engine compartment.

Fan blade assembly w/pulley had come out of the water pump (I guess the shaft came out).
Fan blades, fan cowling, radiator, and water pump were trashed. It even made a difficult to see impression on my hood.

This is what I get for telling myself "I plan on switching to an aluminum radiator by summer."

Any ideas on how common this situation is???

Now I'm thinking Be Cool w/twin electric fans...

That stinks. I haven't heard of that happening to a fgf before.

Go back to stock!

never heard of...a first. If you have classic insurance it should cover it.

I do have classic car insurance... Mechanical failure didn't seem like the kind of thing I should try to put in a claim over. If I don't repair the hood (just a minor, hard to see mark), I'm just looking at radiator, water pump, fans...

Those clutch fans are very heavy. If it was out of shape or off balance just a little bit I imagine it would put an enormous strain on the water pump shaft. I'd go with a flex fan next time if you can get away with it.

Then again, it might have had something to do with that camaro rear spoiler too.

Ahhhhh damnit. I have a Camaro spoiler?!?!

I've heard of people even call them boat anchors! lol

DITTO FLEX FAN!

the hood would be covered by claim I think, not the engine parts.....but the hood damage...if its not bad , live with it.

The Camaro rear spoiler should be covered under body damage, too.

Looks like a turbine compressor wheel that ate a bird.

Hey, look who just joined the club!



No, I think that would be considered willfully destroying property!

Learn from others here that found out the hard way. Cheap, lightweight "flex" fans do not move any way as much air as the factory 7 blade and clutch that you destroyed. And others have found that electrical fans have the same issue.

I am running a OEM 7 blade with an aluminum radiator on my 490 HP 455. I have not even had the chance to re-install my 400 model baffles or lower air dam.

No cooling issues what-so-ever, even sitting in traffic with temps near 100.

BTW: I had an aftermarket flex fan fail in a way similar to yours due to metal fatigue of the metal fan blade

Salmon38! Interesting...! Definitely going aluminum, though still thinking about dual electric fans. If they don't perform the way I need them to, I'll go back to 7 blade.


Camaro spoiler, though?? This is my first bird... I googled around a little and haven't picked up on the telltale signs of a Camaro spoiler..!

Picture the electic fans in your mind. Small, low torque, 12 volt motors moving lightweight plastic fans.

No way can that compare to the air movement of a large metal bladed fan connected to engine fan belt system.

We have a freindly 'debate' going on about front and rear spoilers on fgf's. Spoilers were never an option for fgf's, so any front or rear spoliers (such as the one on your car) are 'Maro original or aftermarket products. Although Bjorn swears they help hold his car down over 200 MPH or something...

Ohhhh I didn't realize they were an option!
I've seen so many with them that I just made the assumption that they belonged.

I guess it's time for me to grab a crowbar and get crazy

Earlybird can help you out with that right away!

Taking a camaro Spoiler off a bird will take almost 15hp out of your bird. Camaro parts are horsepower gainers....

You could call it a firebird Z28 instead of a firebird 400.

The spoiler is so sexy, though... I think the chicks dig it.


Who am I kidding? I bought this car thinking there was one of those... "magnets"... in it...

But all it does is attract dudes in parking lots, red lights, and, dangerously, while driving.

One aspect that nobody mentions about spoilers is one that I have experienced with every "sporty" car that I have owned with one...


It tells me EXACTLY where the end of my car is. Really helpful when backing up.

And it makes a real good handle for pushing when the other Camaro parts on the car fail.

That's a good one robert. Nothing wrong with a spoiler. It's when you go swapping camaro noses on your bird to make it look better. I like your ride. Shame about the water pump coming apart. Hopefully you'll be back on the road enjoy that nice ride soon.

There's all sorts of fans out there. A large single fan or dual fans can be sufficient for even a 455. One key is to make sure the shroud covers at least 80% of the radiator area.

The engine driven fan is based on the engine speed. The electric fan runs at a set speed (sometime are 2 speed) regardless of engine speed. Guess when you need cooling the most? When speeds are low such that the natural flow through the radiator is not enough, hence the fan.

From another site (could also add, electric won't damage your hood):

Why do we need fans?:

A fan is necessary because at lower vehicle speeds (or when stopped) airflow through the radiator is not adequate to keep the operating temperature at desired level.

Types?:

Mechanical Fan - Always runs relative to engine speed regardless of cooling needs. Constantly moves when engine is running and never when not running.

Clutch Fan - Same as mechanical fan, except stays disengaged until a specific temperature is reached.

Electric Fan - Usually has 1 or 2 constant speeds, not dependent on engine speed or with some controllers does not even require engine to be running at all.

Effects in certain situations:

Warmup: Quicker the engine reaches normal operating temperature, less wear on engine. Advantage: Clutch and Electric Fan.

Low vehicle speed, high ambient: Since very little airflow goes through the radiator when the car is near stationary, the fan is intended to make up for this. If properly sized, a fan not having to run based relative to engine speed can cool more efficiently. Advantage: Electric Fan.

Engine Off: Peak underhood temperatures are reached several minutes after shutoff. These temperatures age non-metallic parts faster, shortening component life. Advantage: Electric Fan (if programmable after engine shutoff period).

Fuel Economy: Fans not turning when unnecessary (highway cruise) means no parasitic loss. Electric fan requires higher voltage alternator, but clutch fan must allow some slippage. However those losses do not compare to the constant running mechanical fan, Advantage: Clutch and Electric Fan. When they are turning Electric still uses less, Advantage: Electric Fan.

Power: See Fuel Economy.

Belt Failure: If fan belt goes, fan becomes non-operational. Advantage: Electric Fan (unless same belt drives Alternator).

Alternator Failure: Fan loses speed and draws other electrical function down shortening limp home distance. Advantage: Mechanical or Clutch Fan.

Temperature Sensor Failure: Clutches can fail or a temperature sensor for the electric fan can fail causes the fans to not activate. Advantage: Mechanical Fan.

Loading of waterpump: Attaching a rotating mass on the end decreases bearing life. Advantage: Electric Fan.

FWIW... I tried an electric fan. The lincoln mark 8. Supposedly produces the most cfm of any out there. Had to upgrade the alternator to 120amp, buy and install heavy duty switch harness and also installed dual temp sensors for high and low speeds in the radiator. After all the work and money to install, it still didnt cool the engine enough. Installed a new aluminum radiator, correct pulleys, 7 blade clutch fan and spacer and it cools 20 degrees cooler now.
BTW... spoilers are cool

ya, dont 'spoil' the spoiler look....

I've been running a 5 blade flex fan forever without any real problem but after reading some of the parasitic drag comments thought I'd give some others a try so see. Clutch fan was too dam heavy hanging off the front of the water pump shaft. Electric made me too nervous wiating for it to kick on. Went back to my little flex fan. Think I might someday try a 7 blade flex just for the extra. They say the blades flaten out at speed to reduce drag.

Actually it wouldn't surprise me to hear that Pont dealerships back in the day mounted camaro spoilers on Firebirds. I'm not saying they did, just that it wouldn't surprise me if they did, just because it was the only option at the time for 7s and 8s. I have other views for 69s though seeing how there was a choice.

"Taking a camaro Spoiler off a bird will take almost 15hp out of your bird. Camaro parts are horsepower gainers...."

Josie, are you serious with this post? You made me choke on my beer when I saw this.

ok, again...the spoilers DO work...no matter how much fun some make of them...here is the "story" with some excerpts if you dont want to read the entire piece.

http://www.camaro-untoldsecrets.com/articles/rpo_d80.htm

FirebirdMike! Nice analysis!

Cool article Bjorn, thanks for posting it. I wonder how the 69 TA spoiler would work on a 67/68? Would it provide more down force than the 68 Camaro spoiler?

Bjorn! Interesting post!

I thought I had posted that before...but of course ,not everybody might have seen it...

rear TA spoiler...
dont think its the same width as 67,68....69 is wider IIRC...but doesnt Nash have a TA on his?

Disagree on clutch vs a good flex fan.
Used both off-n-on for over 30 yrs without cooling/breaking issues up to 6000 rpm's.

yeah I was messing with everyone. Figured someone would be upset with that comment

Not sure what to say about that clutch fan letting go. I have to think it was some kind of defect in your water pump impeller letting go. With millions and millions of GM cars produced with a clutch fan, we'd have seen a few more instances like this if this was actually a clutch fan design defect. Clutch fans ARE heavy, but again, with the millions produced, I've never seen one do this.

On the spoiler topic, the Car Life test where the 1969 Camaro was tested was also the issue where they tested a number of 1969 cars equipped with factory spoilers. The 1969 Judge exhibited rear end LIFT, which is why everyone seems to think the 1969 Trans Am and Judge spoilers actually HURT downforce! While this is actually true for the 1969 Judge, not so on the 1969 Trans Am. Pontiac added a front spoiler to the 1969 Trans Am to take care of front end lift.

The 1969 Judge was basically a cosmetic package on top of a Ram Air GTO. It was stickers and a wing. The 1969 Trans Am was a far more serious machine, fully functional.

So if you were to put functional spoilers on a 68 coupe which rear spoiler would work better?

the `maro rear spoiler...

but if you do add it by itself , you`ll get front end lift ,unless you add the 'snowplow' too....as other wise you get downforce in the rear = more lift front...steering gets loose

again ,this is all at 'speeds'...if you go 70 and less nothing to worry about.

StealthBird - It was definitely failure of the water pump, releasing the shaft, setting the fan free to fly.

Well Liam,
It looks like you're going to be ok then, according to Bjorn, because it looks like you have the ultra rare option front camaro air dam too. Hey I got a camaro back seat in red if you're looking to convert the rest of the car too.

(don't sweat it buddy, just busting your chops some)