Exploder 5.0 fans. Plastic and Steel, years manufactured

[nvrstuk]

What years did the 5.0 Exploder have plastic fans and what years did they have steel fans?

I know back in '13 this thread came up but no dates were posted for the different fans.

Anything else you know about them, post up if you would. thanks

 

[Jedeka]

According to Rock Auto, 1998 had plastic and steel fan blades. 96-97 were steel and 99-2000 were plastic.

 

[spap]

They metal ones will never crack, it s really what you prefer, out pull a lot of air

 

[nvrstuk]

I was thinking of checking Rock Auto... then didn't! lol

Thanks.

 

[garberz]

I don’t think the metal ones are available anymore, from Motorcraft. Unless you can find some NOS. I’m on my second plastic fan, in 7 years. I’ve bought both from Rock Auto.

Mark

 

[nvrstuk]

I've got both. Been running the plastic for a long time. On my build thread I am doing a quick comparison of them since I am tubing the front and stuffing in a different radiator I thought I would include Exploder fan comparison in case someone wanted to see the differences between them. Posted up some measurements.

 

[Jedeka]

Rock Auto listed the plastic fan from Ford Motorcraft, but steel fans were aftermarket.

 

[nvrstuk]

Jedeka... are you saying that Motorcraft never made a steel fan for an Exploder 5.0 or only that RockAuto now only carries the plastic as an OE replacement and not carry any OE metal fans, meaning all metal fans sold thru RockAuto for a 5.0 Exploder are aftermarket?

Hmmm. I don't know 100%, but I have had guys tell me for over 10 +yrs that OE had some metal fans for the 5.0 Exploder.

 

[lars]

I harvested the steel fan that's still on my Bronco (OK Brian, it's technically not on there at this moment but it soon will be again) in 2005 from a 1996 Exploder 5.0. Clutch is still ok. Hard to believe that it was anything but OEM.

 

[sanndmann3]

The early years were definitely steel. Post #2 seems about right...

 

[Jedeka]

I was just mentioning what I saw on Rock Auto, after garberz mentioned that he thought new steel fans weren’t available from Ford anymore. I just googled the Ford part number for the steel fan. No longer available from Ford.

 

[nvrstuk]

Thats all Ive heard Lars

 

[bigmuddy]

They were oem, I have seen to many metal explorer fans on stock vehicles to think someone was taking the time to change that one part.

my .02

 

[Seventee]

FWIW my '98 is plastic, as stated in post #2. Assuming it's OEM as the rest of the vehicle seems to be.

 

[BroncoChicken]

One other tidbit, you can find a severe duty clutch for the OEM metal fans. It doesn’t fit the plastic fans due to the different BCD, but it’s a good upgrade. Move the fan a little closer to the radiator and moves more air vs the standard explorer clutch. The clutch is from a 2008 trailblazer 5.3L. Rock Auto sells them, I used the Four Seasons clutch #46049.

 

[agboy91]

Anyone have the part number to the clutch that works with the plastic fan and and moves the fan closer to the radiator?

 

[badandy73]

Anyone have the part number to the clutch that works with the plastic fan and and moves the fan closer to the radiator?

Don't have the part number, however I'm running one from a '00 with the V6, seems to work well. Looks more like the one on the left in BroncoChicken's post, mounting nut is more accessible for easier removal (no special tool needed). Plenty of clearance running the TBP's reverse outlet radiator.

 

[1buckeyefan1]

Anyone have the part number to the clutch that works with the plastic fan and and moves the fan closer to the radiator?

I had this in my notes from an old thread

4 Seasons part #46049.

https://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=269694