Explorer serpentine fan clutch spacer

allenfahey · Aug 18, 2016

Does anyone know where I can get a 1" fan spacer for the Explorer serpentine system. I have the 4.0 radiator and need a spacer. It isn't a typical bolt on like the stock fan. It is a big threaded nipple off the water pump.

Broncobowsher · Aug 18, 2016

Most end up with a deeper fan shroud. The extra space between the fan and the core helps create a more even airflow through the core and better cooling.

SavageBurro · Aug 18, 2016

I have an explorer 5.0 w serpentine setup using a champion radiator and a slightly modified explorer 5.0 shroud from the pick n pull. (At least I'm pretty sure its an explorer 5.0 shroud - Could be from a 4.0 explorer). In any case, the fan is about 50/50 in and out of the shroud. While I wouldn't mind the fan being a tad closer to the radiator - it pull plenty of air. I too was thinking about getting a spacer but I don't need it with the shroud. I can send you pics of the few tweaks I did to make the shroud fit if you like. There are a few little gaps around the edges that I may or may not seal up. With a 1" body lift, it fits pretty good. The fan is a bit closer to the top than the bottom. Stays plenty cool when running (never over 190) but has heat soak pretty bad when shut off. I'm pretty sure that's just a matter of getting the hot air out (hood vents and/or trim inner fenders). Lemme know if you want a pic of the shroud.

allenfahey · Aug 20, 2016

I guess I'll extend the 4.0 stock shroud. I figured if there was a spacer that would be a whole lot easier.

agboy91 · Aug 21, 2016

SalvageBurro, I'd like to see pictures of your set up. I need to make the extended shroud as well. I have the explore 5.0 setup with the stock radiator. Thanks.

beaux312 · Aug 21, 2016

I used a fan off a 01 F150. it is about a 1.5" longer

Broncobowsher · Aug 21, 2016

beaux312 said:
I used a fan off a 01 F150. it is about a 1.5" longer

Which engine?

Bluebolt · Aug 21, 2016

V6

Broncobowsher said:
Which engine?

After a quick look at Rock Auto it's probably the 4.2 V6.

SavageBurro · Aug 25, 2016

I'll dig up some pics.

lonesouth · Aug 25, 2016

i'm running a stock shroud, explorer fan, stock radiator, 351w and no overheating. are you sure you need it?

SavageBurro · Aug 25, 2016

I will still dig up some better pics but here is pretty much how I homefab mounted the shroud to the radiator. Please forgive the extremely crude drawing.

bronconut73 · Aug 25, 2016

lonesouth said:
i'm running a stock shroud, explorer fan, stock radiator, 351w and no overheating. are you sure you need it?

Photo please.

This was what I was going to do too.
Explorer serp.
Stock shroud.
Was wondering if the fan would even be inside the stock shroud.

mattt · Aug 25, 2016

Broncobowsher said:
Which engine?

beaux312 said:
I used a fan off a 01 F150. it is about a 1.5" longer

I have noticed that factory fan with the longer snout and wondered if it would work on the Explorer serp water pump. Glad to see someone tried it. Is the diameter the same as the Explorer fan?

I think I've seen the long snout fan on trucks, Expeditions, and possible E vans.

DirtDonk · Aug 25, 2016

allenfahey said:
I guess I'll extend the 4.0 stock shroud. I figured if there was a spacer that would be a whole lot easier.

While there is usually some shop somewhere that comes up with a solution to an issue that most don't have, I'm guessing the need for an Explorer fan spacer is in that pretty small category. So while I've never seen a spacer, it doesn't mean there isn't one out there somewhere.

For Broncos too, it's not usually needed. What are you trying to achieve? Why do you want it closer in the first place? Is it actually not in the shroud at all?
With such a small space between the fan and radiator on an EB (even with the Exploder rad and serp) I would think you'd still have a fan that's reasonably well into the shroud and pulling effective amounts of air.
A generally acceptable range is to have the fan blades from 3/4 inside and 1/4 out, to as little as half in and half out. With 2/3 and 1/3 being optimal if I remember.

So is there a really big discrepancy in yours? Are you experiencing a heating issue?
What about anyone else with this setup? Any heating issues?

Thanks

Paul

Viperwolf1 · Aug 27, 2016

mattt said:
I have noticed that factory fan with the longer snout and wondered if it would work on the Explorer serp water pump. Glad to see someone tried it. Is the diameter the same as the Explorer fan?

I think I've seen the long snout fan on trucks, Expeditions, and possible E vans.

I was able to do a little research on this. But first, there are 2 different fans that came on the explorer V8s. One was a plastic 11 blade fan and the other was a 9 blade steel fan. The clutches are not interchangeable between them because the fan bolt circle is different. The plastic fan has a longer clutch than the steel fan and it will put the fan deeper into the shroud, something like 1". I've used both and they work pretty much the same. The plastic fan is much lighter though.

I looked up the specs for the F150 fan clutch. It does have the correct hub thread, M30x1.5, right hand. It does not have the correct bolt pattern for the steel explorer fan. It may be correct for the plastic explorer fan. In fact it may be exactly the same as the explorer plastic fan clutch. I couldn't find specs for that one to compare.

I was able to find two other fan clutches that would work with the steel explorer fan. M30x1.5 right hand hub, reverse rotation, 3.81" fan bolt circle. Both are about 1" longer than the stock steel fan clutch.

One is interesting because it is electro-viscous. The problem is it is PWM controlled. You would need some electronics to make it work automatically but it has some potential for manual override. If anyone wants to play with one the donor is '02-'05 Chev Trailblazer/Envoy/SSR. 4 Seasons part #46024.

The other clutch I found is a severe duty unit. The explorer clutch is only listed as heavy duty. I may try one of these shortly so I won't have the extend my fan shroud. Donor is '06-'09 Trailblazer/Envoy. 4 Seasons part #46049.

By the way, the fans on these donors are plastic and about 20.5" in diameter. Probably too big for a stock type shroud but may work without shroud.

Broncobowsher · Aug 27, 2016

Viperwolf1 said:
I was able to do a little research on this. But first, there are 2 different fans that came on the explorer V8s. One was a plastic 11 blade fan and the other was a 9 blade steel fan. The clutches are not interchangeable between them because the fan bolt circle is different. The plastic fan has a longer clutch than the steel fan and it will put the fan deeper into the shroud, something like 1". I've used both and they work pretty much the same. The plastic fan is much lighter though.

I looked up the specs for the F150 fan clutch. It does have the correct hub thread, M30x1.5, right hand. It does not have the correct bolt pattern for the steel explorer fan. It may be correct for the plastic explorer fan. In fact it may be exactly the same as the explorer plastic fan clutch. I couldn't find specs for that one to compare.

I was able to find two other fan clutches that would work with the steel explorer fan. M30x1.5 right hand hub, reverse rotation, 3.81" fan bolt circle. Both are about 1" longer than the stock steel fan clutch.

One is interesting because it is electro-viscous. The problem is it is PWM controlled. You would need some electronics to make it work automatically but it has some potential for manual override. If anyone wants to play with one the donor is '02-'05 Chev Trailblazer/Envoy/SSR. 4 Seasons part #46024.

The other clutch I found is a severe duty unit. The explorer clutch is only listed as heavy duty. I may try one of these shortly so I won't have the extend my fan shroud. Donor is '06-'09 Trailblazer/Envoy. 4 Seasons part #46049.

By the way, the fans on these donors are plastic and about 20.5" in diameter. Probably too big for a stock type shroud but may work without shroud.

That could be fun. I found years ago that the threads on a cummins 5.9 fan clutch fit perfectly onto the Explorer waterpump. I had dreams of trying to make that work but never got into what fan would be good. The stock diesel truck fan was the wrong size and wrong RPM range.

The fan clutch would need a stand alone controller. Arduino anyone? the fan clutch also has a pulse generator built in as well, so there is feedback on how locked the clutch is. This is nice as you can command a fan speed and use this pulse as a feedback to get the speed you want. It will take a little work to input engine speed, desired fan speed, coolant temperature, A/C demand, actual fan speed, and probably even vehicle speed and get the results you want. For an Arduino project it would be fairly simple to make. A few PulseIn commands for speeds, AnalogRead for coolant temperature, and an Analog Write command for the clutch apply.

Viperwolf1 · Sep 1, 2016

Here are some side by side comparison pics of the explorer and trailblazer clutches. This will move the fan almost 1" forward. There is about 1 1/2" overall length difference. This will give me 3/4" between the radiator and clutch. This is with a 4.0 explorer radiator and a twice modified shroud.

mattt · Sep 1, 2016

^^^^ Great info right up there! Thank you Viperwolf.

Next time I see one of the fans with the extended snout I will post a pic and pay closer attention to what exact Ford vehicle it came out of.

73azbronco · Aug 5, 2017

Digging this up for update.

I'm bolting my radiator in, and fan and clutch and shroud and low and behold: I've done such a good job keeping the front serp tight, only about 1/4 of the fan is in the shroud.

I have a 5.0/ Explorer serp and steel 9 blade fan. Using the stock clutch I have roughly 3 inches of space between the front of the top of the fan and back of my stock copper radiator. The bottom of the fan is about 2.5 inches from the rad due to engine tilt using extreme motor mounts.

Wow.

I have looked at four clutches today and none have the steel fan bolt pattern. The best "longer" clutch was off a 2001 f150 7.1 diesel, but again smaller plastic fan bolt pattern. The previously mentioned non electric Envoys are the smaller bolt pattern as well. I think this may be why this never gets done, I drive around PHX 3 hours a week looking for the wrong part

I've looked through all of 4 Seasons webpage and can only find a previously mentioned clutch number 46049, but that only adds about 3/4 to maybe an inch of longer snout, I'd sure like the 1.5 increase the f150 diesel motor clutch would give. This would prevent the need for a shroud mod.

Two things, I'm calling 4 Seasons Monday to see if they can make or have the longer snout clutch in the right bolt pattern. Barring that, has anyone used the plastic fan which bolts right up? Point to ponder, every fan I find has a warning not to use offroad, in extreme conditions, blah blah. I think its cause they will come apart if you suck in water.

Three options then, hope they make the longer snout clutch, or use a plastic fan knowing it's a risk, or mod the very nice aluminum shroud which will always look odd I think, Anyone add on to shroud? Pics?. Method of attachment, weld, glue, rivit, bolt?

BTW, stock steel explorer fan bolt circle 3.8 inches, fan mount circle is about 3.2 inches. The plastic fan is right at 3 and 2.5 respectively.

MarsChariot · Aug 5, 2017

When in doubt check our tech article about a simple way to extend the shroud. See Figure 9B.
http://classicbroncos.com/tech/explorer-5-0-serpentine-accessory-drive-belt-conversion

Explorer serpentine fan clutch spacer

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