Would you use this fan?
 

Note the chipped blade. I took the fan off to clean it and found this chunk missing. I have no idea how long it's been that way. My concern is the imbalance leading to vibration. Considering that a replacement is around $300, can this thing safely be used, and what is the risk?
Thanks
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http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1331488488.jpg

Rough up the spot and fill and shape the divot with some JB weld. You've been using it this long...

Looks like it might have been stress relieved already.

I used Alumiweld stick with a propane torch to fill my divots. Then sanded flat.

An interesting notion. I have a near identical "notch" in one blade, so since these were identically manufactured perhaps a number of them had similar stresses - or weaknesses. My notch is smoother than that, so possibly a PO addressed it somehow.

I have a similar notch in my fan and I have not had an issue with it yet. Filling it in sounds like a good plan. I asked this question a while back and some one said that because these are balanced impellers a chip is an issue. I could see it being an issues if you were missing say a full blade but a chip that small should not be that much of an issue.

Regards
Dave

mine is alot worse, keep using it!

i believe that is from someone using a screwdriver to move or hold the fan during belt tightening.

You can take it to just about any auto machine shop that can balance cranks, and they can tell you if they can balance it, or if it really needs it. If really in doubt, send it to Patrick MotorSports in Phoenix- he can balance anything. If you flip the fan over, you can see on the inside of the steel portion of the mount where they balanced it the first time at the factory by the drill points...... Of course, since it's an 11 blade fan, you just can't remove an equal amount on the opposite side like on a jet engine. BTW, that's exactly what was done during the certification tests on the Garrett TFE-731 engine on the Learjet 35. On approach into Hawaii, they took a seagull into one engine- tore up 3 of the fan blades. The sawed off those 3 blades, then sawed off the opposite 3, feathered them all out, and then continued on their trip around the Pacific Rim to put the needed hours on the jet and engines.....:D

Tim

I too has a similar chip in one of my blades. Production date of the car as a whole was Oct. '82. The exhaust is stamped Jan. '82. Don't know if there is a way to figure out the build date of the engine, or more specifically the fan. Possibly there was an issue with fans built at a given time......

well, one thing to think about, if there is a vibration issue, it could damage the bearings in the Alt (just a thought, don't really know) and I too had a fan issue on my 88,
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Rather than take a chance, I found one on the PP FS listing, and it is at PowderTech-Plus right now to get coated & make sure this doesn't happen again.
$300 is cheap compared to replacing a fan & alt and possible tow.

I have two chips like that in my 72 from me using a screw driver like a dumb-ass. Been like that for 15 years with zero issues, so far.

+1 . . .but from trying to break loose the nut. (righty-tighty, and all...) ;)

ya need one of these

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/...rench_P209.JPG