Hole in my Hood >=(

[Bronco638]

I've heard of a Flex-a-Lite fan coming apart and a blade lodged in the onwer's throat (who happened to be working over the engine at the time), killing him. You're very lucky it didn't let go while the hood was open or you were working in there.

 

[410Fortune]

See!
WOW, can you imagine?
I will stick with the super expensive stock fan

 

[rookieshooter]

I would be contacting the Flex-a-lite Co. with your photos. and the cost of repairing...of course this would sent from your attorney like 410 said. Just curious do you have any idea at what R's you were turning at the time? Did It happen at a shift change?
I think some people run a flex fan when they do an engine conversion and don't have room for a clutch fan or just trying to save weight. I wonder if there would be any change on a dyno between a clutch fan / flex fan? Glad your allright. Thats a scary feeling when that happens. I've had catasrophic clutch explosins in my drag cars. and thats with the bellhousing next to my feet. Engine set back in frame.
After reading about your prob. and the one about the guys throat, I will be using the stock clutch fan in my B11 proj. Was thinking about a Flex. NO MORE !!

 

[410Fortune]

Flex fan flattens out at higher RPM freeing up some power, but a working stock clutch will accomplish the same goal.
In my BII I need all the cooling I can get, so a full shroud and factory fan/clutch is required. I also have a 10" pusher on a switch just in case I am towing up a long grade and temps start to rise.

 

[rookieshooter]

Sounds good to me... clutch fan and shrould. This problem should be made aware of everyone!!!! No reason anybody should get hurt over a damn fan. I rest my case.

 

[BeauJ]

Well the saga continues: I ordered the fan Thursday morning from Summit Racing, which I've dealt with many time and never had problems. I ordered the fan and told the lady to make sure it is REVERSE ROTATION. She said no problem. Get the fan today, open it, and sure enough it is REGULAR rotation. So now I won't get another fan until Tuesday.

What I think did it was one of the waterpump pulley bolts was a little loose, and I think it caused it to flex just enough to hit the shroud, then boom. The waterpump pulley bolts now have lock-tite on them.

 

[james t]

JCWhitney dood. Throw a scoop over that hole and call it a day.

Seriously that sucks man. If ANYTHING touches that fan while its running it will explode. The loose bolt theory sounds like a good one.

 

[section525]

Those pictures are amazing. Have you thought about professional photography?

 

[BeauJ]

Those pictures are amazing. Have you thought about professional photography?

I've got a better idea: How about your remove your body from the frame, find an engine/tranny combo with the new frame, bolt it on, and hope it cranks up???

 

[section525]

How about I ban you for being a horse's ass and having a secret love affair with Boomin.. which.. we all know about.

 

[Brian_B]

This is why my dad taught me to never lean over an engine when its running or to stand in line with the fan at the side.

Put a big hood scoop over the hole or have one of those big ricer air filters sticking out.

 

[BeauJ]

Here we are: This Wedsnday will be 2 weeks, and I'm still fanless. Summit really screwed me on this one. I wrote a very long email to them and told them I do not want an automated/pre-written response, because I'll just keep sending it to them from my many email accounts until they write something personally. They F-d me out of $80+the trouble of having to borrow my moms truck/bum rides. I've bought a lot from Summit, but I might try Jegs after I see what they say in response to my email.

 

[jgilbs]

Dude, its a speed hole - it makes the car go faster

just trying to ligthen up the situation, that really sucks man. But as others said, it couldve been a lot worse. Guess Summit and Flex-a-lite are 2 companies I will never be buying from.

Try calling summit. I can never get ahold of compaines through email. Call and tell them the situation, if you dont get a free fan, ask for a supervisor, if still not, ask for their supervisor and so forth. Depending on how old the fan was, they should def replace it for free, if they dont want to give you one, mention how you need a new hood now, and you can take them to court and maybe then they can pay for both, or a new truck . Don't settle for anything less - make them pay for it. If you buy a product from someone, you expect it to work, not self-destruct and take part of your truck with it.

 

[BeauJ]

A little update on this. I've been going through Summit for about 3 years now, and didn't have any problems until the fan issue. Within that 3 years, I received a $20 gift certificate. Yesterday in the mail, I get a $25 GC out of no where. With the whole fan issue, they re-embursed me for ALL shipping cost and the extra cost of the reverse fan (Next days shipping x 2 and fan cost = $80). I don't blame Summit for the issue, just people handling orders with absolutely no automotive knowledge and just punch in numbers.

 

[95offroadx]

lets see some pictures of your lightnin!