While the cooling system is on my mind .. . I thought Id ask if anyone has
ever fitted a flex fan to a Triumph TR 3 / 4 engine?
I cant remember ever seeing one.
I can think of two problems with doing such a thing right off hand:
1 the normal fan is mounted with some rubber isolators around the bolts. I
suppose this acts like a harmonic dampener to some degree. Bolting up a rigid
flex fan would negate this dampening effect. (Although I ran my engine for a
couple years with no fan on it, and it did fine. It was balanced to one degree
or another after the rebuild though. So YMMV)
2 the is the issue of that huge central bolt / hand crank adapter. I suppose
most flex fans dont have a giant hole in their center to allow this to pass
through.
By the way . . . as a data point for everyone else out there, I have the
yellow TR6 plastic fan installed on my TR4. I did have to enlarge the center
hole a bit, and shimmied the radiator forward as much as possible for
clearance.
I admittedly have very little clearance between the fan and the radiator . . .
but Ive been driving it daily this way for about 6 months now.
It works GREAT. You couldnt overheat that car by letting it sit and idle for
half an hour in 90+ degree weather. On the other hand, under heavy braking,
Im still a little fearful of chopping a hole in my radiator.
I certainly wouldnt autocross it as it is now.
Okay. .lunch is over .. I have to get back to work.
Cheers to ya.
Scott Tilton
1963 TR4 everyday
Leesburg, VA
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