fan and radiator issues

[Charger1970]

 I was driving down the interstate in no particular rush. I was exiting at about 55 mph and suddenly I hear, "Budddddd..." I pull over and pop the hood, there's coolant everywhere. Clearly the fan has made it's way into my 9 month old radiator. 


I checked the fan clutch, the water pump, the radiator mounts and the engine mounts. Although I didn't check it, the transmission mount has been replaced so I am not suspecting that. I can't find a problem that would have allowed the fan or the radiator to move.

Two other blades have damage at the tips. (The blades at 2 and 7 o'clock in the pic.) I'm assuming that the ONE blade is bent because it touched the radiator and folded forward but I don't see what would have caused the contact in the first place.

After receiving my radiator back from the shop today I discovered it is a 26" radiator for a 69 B body.  (pn 2949055) Besides the shroud mount, is there a difference between a 69 and 70 radiator?

[charger Downunder]

Engine mounts or rear tranny mount i would say rear trany mount.

[tan top]

sorry to hear that happening     dont know any other differences in radiators  , at first thought !! water pump failure   odd its only one blade & dont look like the clutch has contacted the radiator from the picture !!    is all four  rivites intact on the bent blade    rear gearbox mount

[charger Downunder]

When you check the rear trany mount dont just look at the rubber mount.look under and see if the bolt is in there.

[Charger1970]

Thanks for the responses. I will crawl under next week and check the transmission mount. Except for the obvious, everything looks normal on the fan. There's no missing rivets and I am 100% certain I did not run over anything.  Today the radiator shop suggested that the fan may have become unbalanced () and a harmonic vibration set up and caused it to crunch. I just really don't want to pay for a 3rd radiator.

[tan top]

Thanks for the responses. I will crawl under next week and check the transmission mount. Except for the obvious, everything looks normal on the fan. There's no missing rivets and I am 100% certain I did not run over anything.  Today the radiator shop suggested that the fan may have become unbalanced () and a harmonic vibration set up and caused it to crunch. I just really don't want to pay for a 3rd radiator.

yeah that was my next thought !! run over something  

keep us updated to what you find or whats been happening 

[elacruze]

A single blade bent way back like that had to get hit hard. I'd bet on road debris. Sux.

[Sublime/Sixpack]

Those fan's are pretty sturdy! And the way that one blade is bent seems very odd. Any chance that you had been working in the engine compartment and left a wrench, rachet, rubber mallet or something like that, that may have jarred loose from it's perch when you were driving and jammed against the fan, bent the fan, then the damaged fan ripped the radiator?

[squeakfinder]

  I was thinking something in the engine compartment also. Evan a small animal.