03E350 clutch fan install help needed.
That posted this on a couple forums praying for some advice....
Okay... As we all find out getting the water pump or clutch fan off a 7.3 E350 is a horrible nightmare... I have never done anything that caused me so much grief on a vehicle....ever and I've got some real good stories too... lol 😄
The sheer horrible engineering pissed me off SOoooo bad I've let this "Bastard son of Ford " sit 7 months before starting putting it back together today.
When I removed it all I had to remove the pump and the clutch fan together, then put a 8' steel pipe with the pump in a vice ...just to get the clutch fan off....Destroying the old pump in the process... which was unfortunate as it was brand new
The previous owners before I bought at auction, failed to put 4 bolts back into the fan blade... Guess they figured just 2 bolts would be okay , so on the third day I owned it...the fan came apart on the freeway, disintegrated and took everything in the cooling system with it...lol "Good Times that was!"🙄
Here's my question, when I took it all apart, I rented two different clutch fan removal tools none of them ever worked...No almosts, No if I get the right angle.... they just will not work on the E350. AutoZone or O'Reilly's are the two I used..each are thin steel straight wrenches.
They need to have a (dog leg) in them. They will work on an f350 etc.. But not on the Vans as the assembly is shorter, thus the giant nut is over 1 and 1/2 inches inset into the fan center housing. (Does anybody offer a dog leg tool or has anybody fabricated one? Can one be bought?)
I have everything on now, except mounting the clutch fan and fan assembly.
To do this.. there's not a lot of work room as apparently it looks like I have to have the radiator and the shroud mounted 1st otherwise there's no room for the fan & fan clutch to pass through, so instead of having ample room now you have to work completely on an angle approximately 10 in and holding a 10 lb fan assembly...
Contrary to what some say I intend on using loctite on the clutch fan but....It calls for over 80 pounds of torque I don't see any way I'll be able to tourqe it down properly ? Can it be just spun on clockwise until it's snug with loctite? (These are NOT reverse threads they are clockwise to tighten.)
I purchased all brand new Motorcraft parts... Dealer wanted over $2,700 to do this that's insane..... And the local diesel repair mechanic says he will not work on vans...lol. That right there should have been a sign...lol
Anyways anybody have any tips or advice they can throw my way it will be greatly appreciated I enjoy working on cars...but when you come across something like this it is just so utterly aggravating it really discourages you.
Any replies are welcome here or my email @daveevansinc@yahoo.com
Thanks all!
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