Fan Explosion - Please read

[six-corners]

Oh Jeez...that's all I need to happen....I just turned the 100,000 mile mark on my 1997 Blazer tonight(49,000 of those miles in the past two years). I will check on it tomorrow to see if I notice stress cracks.

[HEMIBEE]

I see the bottom of the shroud is also missing, I work on a fleet with many GM trucks with the same fan, most of these have more than 100.000 miles on them and I have not seen a problem with the fan blades? I am in Michigan so I don't know if the Texas heat would make alot of difference or not, I would think something could have hit the shroud from under the truck and put it in the fan also, when the truck got warm and the clutch engaged if it was in contact with the shroud, boom, up here the fan shroud is a popular spot for cats to take a warm nap I have seen that, but I think you would know if that was the case.

[Hotrodpaul]

After removing the radiator I noticed a crack in the upper drivers side tank which could have caused an overheating problem. The added stress of high RPM with an engaged fan clutch could have overstresses the fan. Got it fixed this weekend and added a strap to control engine lift. Replacing that motor mount looks like a PITA.

Paul

[Mark_C]

The blazer and jimmy radiator tanks all crack on the front side of the drivers side tank directly opposite the upper radiator hose connection. Mine went around 150K. Traded the truck in during the C4C debacle last September with 267K on it. My fan was fine at that point, no signs of cracking or bad motor mounts at that point and they were all original. Suspension bushings were shot at that point, but thats about it, the 4.3L started first crank all thru its life. Probably could have kept it running for another 100K if I did all the suspension bushings, shocks and probably new rear springs, but it was time to go. May it rest in peace.

[Hotrodpaul]

Yes, that is exactly where it cracked. The hot coolant hits that tank at the spot of the crack and might waeken the plastic over time.

Paul