Onemoparnut

The worst part is the motor mounts weren't even broken when I took them out. I assumed that they were broke because how else could the fan hit the radiator? Then after I replaced the mounts I knew I had another problem because the old mounts were in tact. I guess all of what I am going through is from bad rad support bushings and a bent radiator support from a previous accident before I owned the truck.

Mark Nixon

I don't know if this was an attack on a person for his views, or not?
Regardless of if it was, I'll take the advice and opinions of an engineer, who likely had access to way more interesting ways to brutalize these trucks.

I'd also thank you for refraining from bashing on a person who's more than willing to offer some pretty interesting theories from an engineering standpoint.

I've ripped a lot of these trucks apart and I see some pretty interesting damage due to turning these trucks up.
Some of it you'd never find even in a DOT inspection.
You'd be real surprised what loosens up or cracks in over 200,000 miles, especially if it's hooked to trailers all the time.

Mark.

Onemoparnut

I don't think T was attacking anyone Mark I think he was just saying some of my problems are self inflicted.

Mark Nixon

Self inflicted problems? No way!
Sorry, I tend to get a bit jumpy sometimes and maybe I misread things.

Mark.

NJTman

Yes you did..misread things

That was "tongue in cheek" for saying that Terry knew his stuff..... ya pineapple !

I think Terry Elders is the ultimate in cool, as he's still willing to help us enthusiasts (while he's physically not well) in our devotion to this series of trucks, even after all these years have passed. Terry has said from his personal experiences to leave well enough alone, as they worked really hard at getting things as right as they could be for the time.

What Bill has said is true.

Some of the problems that we encounter are caused by us tinkering with stuff that was already tinkered with back at the factory, ultimately made to work reliably.... or as reliably as any vehicle can be considered.

Onemoparnut

Ok well here is a little update since it has been a while. I am still having the same problem with the fan hitting the radiator. I have changed the fan, fan clutch, motor and trans mounts, radiator bushings and the radiator support mounting bushings. When it hits it is hitting at the bottom and it gets hung up on the bottom edge of the frame of the radiator. It is only when I let the rpm climb up near the gov rpm that it hits. I and beat it hard and keep the rpm low like 2500 and not have an issue. So today I was getting up in the rpm and it hiy again but this time it put a hole in my new radiator. I was able to fix the radiator and get it going again luckily. I put my electric fan back on it and up graded some of the electrical system that supports it. Hopefully I will be able to keep it together now. I am so fed up with this problem I have been looming to buy a newer vehicle just so I am not relying on this heap as my daily driver any more. (The wife does not favor this idea at all lol...). I know I am over looking something but I am not sure what at this point. I wvwn put a good size pry bar behind he fan pulley and pried against a timing cover bolt to see if there was any play in and out and there was none.

NFlCamper

Maybe a single blade is loose on the hub. Are they riveted to the hub? Rivets loose? Blade flexing under high rpms?

NJTman

Maybe you need to get a group of us together to see if we could brainstorm what's going on in person.

Granted, you changed the fan blade, but maybe you're just putting it on backwards.....


JK


pick a saturday my wife is working, and I'll come down to try to help. Every other weekend, so next weekend... NG, but the following is

JimmieD

Just some stray thoughts here... I would make a sketch in side view of all related parts. Show relationship of engine, crank hub, front pulleys/timing belt, fan hub, fan blade, radiator, radiator support, radiator support bushings, frame members etc. See what/where it's physically possible to cause the problem by movement. Within that, try to visualize just what type of movement, of what, is necessary to cause the problem?

Due to possible unknown previous accident or 'Upgrades' by whomever it could be a bent radiator support, wrong radiator support, improperly installed radiator support, wrong radiator, wrong front clip for actual original year model, improperly installed radiator, bent frame, wrong fan and/or fan hub or any combination of factors.

Is the radiator on the correct side of radiator support? Is it behind, on engine side, when it's supposed to be in front? [I have a '90 W-350 Ram but it's a 360 gasser so how mine's mounted isn't relevant]. Is it absolutely for sure the correct year model and type of radiator for the vehicle? Is it a diesel radiator as opposed to a gasser radiator or what? Correct fan hub and fan assembly?

Seems to me that a flex type of movement is least likely to cause damage or contact of fan blades with bottom of radiator? Much more likely for any flex anywhere to cause contact between upper section of radiator and fan blades, simply because of leverage and ability to move.

With vehicle at rest, is fan blade contact area perfectly aligned with area of damage on radiator in a horizontal line? Or is radiator contact area above or below actual fan blade contact area when at rest? Can you find another truck locally of the same year/model to inspect and compare with?

Onemoparnut

Nothing is loose on the fan

Onemoparnut

I appreciate it T the fan is on properly and I did some comparison measuring against a friends truck and I have the same clearance between the engine and the radiator as his truck.

93-12Smoke

What about the fan hub bearing? Locked up and maybe spun in the housing?

Make sure the whole pulley spins when the belt isn't on it and there is no play in it.

Onemoparnut

The pulley spins free and smooth as could be. I put a pry bar behind the pulley and put pressure on it to see if I could move the fan toward the radiator and there was no movement at all.

93-12Smoke

Can you post a picture of where the fan his the radiator? I'm trying to picture possible scenarios in my head but need some help

Onemoparnut

I don't have any pics and now the truck is back together with my elecrtic fan so I can't see in there to get a pic. The fan hits at the bottom in the center of the radiator. There is a steel support on the top and bottom of the radiator that goes between the tanks and the bottom one is what the fan catches.