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Which Fan clutch/fan is best?

GM Guy

GM Guy

Manual Trans. 2WD Enthusiast
Messages
4,838
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Location
NW Kansas and SC Idaho
Which fan system is the best? Heath, Kennedy, or SS Diesel? And what, if any, parts are actually factory GM? What are the rest?
 
also, what does everyone reccomend for fan usage? the stock or the duramax? Kennedys site has the gears a turning.... just not sure what fan is best.

I want to pull, but i would like fuel economy to not be terrible.
 
If you are just doing the fan, go Kennedy. It will fit your 95 without changing the waterpump(4 bolt). Heaths will require a new waterpump(Big Nut,Which you should upgrade anyway 95 one low GPM.)
 
I use the 4 bolt Duramax fan kit from SS Diesel. I have been very pleased with it. This was to replace a 6 blade setup... Probably the only SS part I would recommend these days.

If you want a GM setup there are 9 blades in the later 97+ (?) 6.5s. Our 99 has it 9 blade and 4 bolt, works great.
 
I replaced my tired fan clutch with an OEM replacement (old one was kickin on around 230. OEM kicks on right at 210. PErfect for me. No shipping, no wait, and was $130 from dealer. Not too bad.

Works great (need it for when I have plow on, as it blocks air)
 
not to hijack the thread but everybody here says they have a 9 blad fan mod but i've already got a 9 blade in my truck. is that stock or did the po change it??
 
Deere Freek said:
not to hijack the thread but everybody here says they have a 9 blad fan mod but i've already got a 9 blade in my truck. is that stock or did the po change it??
Click to expand...

Stock with yours and probably all dual thermostat systems. Leo
 
Deere Freek said:
not to hijack the thread but everybody here says they have a 9 blad fan mod but i've already got a 9 blade in my truck. is that stock or did the po change it??
Click to expand...

The Dmax one that Heath sells is slightly bigge and I want to say possibly more pitch. If you have weak mounts it may rub.
 
On my '93 i have a 180 thermostat (ACDelco-single thermo crossover), the HO water pump and the SSD DMAX plastic fan/clutch combo with the 4 bolts. Works pretty well, only time i've been over 200F with that combo is pulling about 6000lbs up a 3 mile steep grade with the temps in the 90's and the A/C on. It popped up to 200 maybe 205, the fan kicked in and within a minute it was back to 180 like usual. I've heard/read about the single thermo crossovers pushing out the freeze plugs with the HO pump, but i've had mine that way for about 2 years with no issues and i've still got the original 599 block/heads with 210,000 miles on it. She's starting to get a little tired, but still pulls well.
Don
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Kennedy's "special" clutch is the only one that is actually physically different from the rest. Most list theirs as "HD", but it's the same as OEM. Depending on the weight you're towing, OEM might be just fine.
For what it's worth, I replaced my OEM with Kennedy's when I put in my new engine - even though my OEM was perfectly fine (I ran the OEM a few times before doing the swap so I could see the difference). I did notice an honest difference in the engine temperatures - the special Kennedy one kept the temp's lower.

on edit: I'm still using the stock 9-blade, steel fan.

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1998 K2500 Suburban 6.5L TD 3.73 rear, Ron Schoolcraft 18:1, Timing gears, Splayed main caps, Kennedy ECM, 4" Exhuast/No Cat, K&N Filter, Boost/Tranny Temp/EGT(Pre Turbo), Ceramic-coated Manifolds, 195 Stat's, 265/75's (VSSB Adjusted) 7,000lbs (on a scale) Remote Mount Oil Filter, Remote Oil Pressure Sensor, High Idle Switch
 
I don't know about SSD's, the Heath one kicks in sooner than OEM, and later than Kennedy, and Kennedy I ran never seemed to kick out once engaged so always in power consumption mode. I have the Heath h/o on the burb have yet to see over 195-198F with it, but that one doesn't tow, same thing with the truck no more than 195-198 it tows heavy, but I also have balance flow on it. made no temp difference what I saw steel over plastic 9 blade, but slightly less power required to run plastic fan
 
I am still thinking about swapping my Kennedy fan clutch and steel 9 blade for a plastic fan. I'm sure the reduced weight will help with harmonics as well.
 
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