1965 Fury engine temp creeping up- fan clutch or radiator?

[Henrius]

I drive my grandma's of 1965 Plymouth Fury fairly regularly. It was equipped with A/C but it hasn't been charged for years. To my knowledge, the radiator is original, and I don't see any scales in the core.

A couple of years ago the OEM 7-blade fan broke, and I had to replace it with a aftermarket 6 blade.

When the engine came to temperature, the gauge needle only went up to about 1/4 of the range, where there is a mark. Now it is going up half way. The radiator does not boil over-yet. The radiator cap is the same one that has been on the car for years.

When the fan clutch failed in the past on my 1972 Newport, it always froze up and would not freewheel. A friend said they can also fail by merely rotating freely on the clutch, even when the engine is hot. This would not provide enough air through the radiator.

Is there any way to test the clutch without disassembling the fan assembly and putting the clutch in hot water, which is what the manual suggests? In hot conditions, should the fan be solid with rotation of the fan pulley, instead of free to rotate?

By the way, the cooling system has been flushed.

This cannot be that difficult a problem to fix!

 

[CanCritter]

first thing id do is replace rad cap with oem..they do wear out and are a integral part of the cooling system

 

[Henrius]

first thing id do is replace rad cap with oem..they do wear out and are a integral part of the cooling system

If the problem is running hot (the temp needle went 2/3 of the way up today) without the cap venting, what good will putting a new radiator cap do?

When I stop the engine, the fan freewheels on the pulley, so I am fairly sure it is not working anymore. Whether the radiator core is also corroded, I do not know.

 

[CanCritter]

clutch fans don't freewheel..would replace their cheap..cap is pocket change as well

 

[Henrius]

Thanks. First I will replace the clutch fan and cap. If that doesn't do it, I will have a radiator shop take a look at the core.

 

[65sporty]

You may have a bad fan clutch, But it will freewheel when it is not required. When the rad comes up to temp the viscous clutch will re-engage and draw air through the rad

 

[CanCritter]

lve had a few go on me..usually it gets warm in stop and go traffic or to many lights and is fine when on hyway due to wind cooling

 

[1978 NYB]

I'm all about safety.....

When I was young and dumb (40 years ago). I would check the fan clutch by cautiously trying to stop the fan while the engine is running with a big wadded up rag. If the I could stop the fan with no resistance the fan clutch was bad. But if easing in to the fan and believe me if the fan clutch is working you won't be able to slow down the fan what so ever. If your fan clutch is working I would suggest it's your 50 year old radiator.

 

[70NPORT]

I'm all about safety.....

When I was young and dumb (40 years ago). I would check the fan clutch by cautiously trying to stop the fan while the engine is running with a big wadded up rag. If the I could stop the fan with no resistance the fan clutch was bad. But if easing in to the fan and believe me if the fan clutch is working you won't be able to slow down the fan what so ever. If your fan clutch is working I would suggest it's your 50 year old radiator.

Jeeez, I've done some REALLY stupid stuff in the past but never anything like that,lol.

 

[1978 NYB]

Jeeez, I've done some REALLY stupid stuff in the past but never anything like that,lol.

Everybody checked them like that back then...

 

[CanCritter]

Everybody checked them like that back then...

natures natural selection at work :eusa_naughty:...rassin don't mind me....kids please don't try this at home

 

[rexus31]

To check the fan clutch: Next time you drive it and it gets to 2/3 on the temp gauge, pull over, turn the car off and open the hood. If you can freely spin the fan by hand, the clutch is bad. There should be a fair amount of resistance.

 

[Henrius]

To check the fan clutch: Next time you drive it and it gets to 2/3 on the temp gauge, pull over, turn the car off and open the hood. If you can freely spin the fan by hand, the clutch is bad. There should be a fair amount of resistance.

Thanks. In fact I did this, and I could spin the fan. Conclusion: clutch bad. Whether old radiator is also to blame, we will see after I replace the fan clutch.

 

[bluefury361]

Thanks. In fact I did this, and I could spin the fan. Conclusion: clutch bad. Whether old radiator is also to blame, we will see after I replace the fan clutch.

You should be able to turn the fan ....... just with a little resistance.

I've chased the same problem in the past and it always turned out to be a restricted radiator. Either restricted coolant flow or air flow, (clogged fins).

 

[commando1]

Jeeez, I've done some REALLY stupid stuff in the past but never anything like that,lol.

Everybody checked them like that back then...

Who's "everybody", brother?????
Never saw anybody that stu.... Uhm... Brave.

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[commando1]

To check the fan clutch: Next time you drive it and it gets to 2/3 on the temp gauge, pull over, turn the car off....

Yes. Do not skip that part...

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[rexus31]

You should be able to turn the fan ....... just with a little resistance.

There should be a fair amount of resistance.