Need your thoughts - Fan decided to dig into radiator and caused a nice leak!

[Fish Tale]

Hey guys, I wanted to run this by you guys and see what your thoughts are on what could be the culprit(s).

A few months ago, I was driving my '71 Cuda around the neighborhood and decided to get on it at a stop sign.  Immediately, I heard a thump (hard to describe) type of sound (some where in the drivetrain) and so I let off the throttle.  I tried it again at the next stop sign and it did it again.  So something was up, so I headed home and took it slowly.  It ran fine.  But when I got home and was about to turn into the drive way, I noticed smoke/steam coming from the front of the hood.  I popped the hood and saw that the radiator was squirting coolant all over the engine compartment.  Apparently, the fan had dug into the radiator and punctured a hole.  The fan blades were bent from hitting the shroud and radiator.  I was able to straighten out the blades and get the car into the garage before it got hot again.  It sat in the garage with the hood up for a while.  I was frustrated. 

Since that mishap, I have removed the radiator and got it repaired.  So its ready to go back in.  Right now I am trying to figure out how the fan moved that far to be able to damage the radiator like it did.  My first thought was motor mounts broke and the engine moved forward when I got on it.  But checking the mounts, they look fine.  I don't see any torn rubber or cracks.  I pull on the fan/clutch and it doesn't move forward any.  It does move a little (very little) if I only pull the left side or the right side (if that makes sense).  Is that normal?  Could it be the water pump?  The radiator didn't move, the bolts holding it were tight. 

So this is where I am at right now.  Any thoughts or things I could check would be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks.

[71vert340]

 If it's an automatic, have someone in the car and with it idling in Neutral, have someone put it in gear and you see how much the engine moves. That may give you some indication of what's happening. Also with the parking brake on and foot on the brake, have your helping give it just a little gas in gear and see if it moves more. Don't let them give it so much gas it hits the radiator again.
Terry

[71vert340]

 I just checked my two cars with the stock clutch fans and both have the fan blades between 2-3/8" and 2-1/2" from the radiator core. When the fan blades bent after hitting the fan shroud, they must have then been bent enough, more than 2", to make contact with the radiator core. That is definitely a lot of movement unless you had the fan closer than stock.
Terry

[JonH]

Your driver side motor mount is broken...put a jack under the oil pan, jack it up and I am sure you will then see the mount is broken...

[Chryco Psycho]

I agree the motor mount has separated

[1 Wild R/T]

Yup..

[Fish Tale]

Thanks guys, this is why I ask.  I will first check the driver side mount as suggested and if its okay, then maybe try what 71vert340 suggested.

By the way, if the mount is broken, am I going to need an engine hoist to get the old/new one removed/installed?  Or will using the jack be enough room to do the job?   

If its the mount, do you also recommend the passenger side be replaced as well?  Does this happen often or is it that after 50 years (don't think the engine has ever been out), things start to deteriorate?

Okay, last question since I am on a roll here with questions.  Best engine mounts (stock I guess) to get and from where?  Thx.

[Scooter]

Thanks guys, this is why I ask.  I will first check the driver side mount as suggested and if its okay, then maybe try what 71vert340 suggested.

By the way, if the mount is broken, am I going to need an engine hoist to get the old/new one removed/installed?  Or will using the jack be enough room to do the job?   

If its the mount, do you also recommend the passenger side be replaced as well?  Does this happen often or is it that after 50 years (don't think the engine has ever been out), things start to deteriorate?

Okay, last question since I am on a roll here with questions.  Best engine mounts (stock I guess) to get and from where?  Thx.

Cherry picker is always your best & safest bet. That said, I've lifted from other hard points under the car before in a pinch to swap a mount. Use best judgement.

Driver side is nearly always the culprit as it gets all the pulling force and the passenger side gets squished.

The stock rubber mounts are available nearly anywhere for cheap. You might need to wait till next day like I did with Orielys. 

If you can.. do both while at it.

[Solarguy]

checkout the mag mounts from mancini or mity mounts.  They have a bolt going through to secure both half's.  You could also add a through bolt yourself.  Parts store mounts for these old cars are junk and will fail in short order. 

[Fish Tale]

For the Mancini Racing Mag Mounts, are these the ones I need for my 383?  The description just says for B or E bodies.

https://www.manciniracing.com/benmaset.html

[Chryco Psycho]

Looks correct to me , you may get a discount ordering the same mounts from Roseville Moparts

[nsmall]

Wait a minute.  You own a 71 now?  Tell us more.  I remember looking  and sharing links and always cheering you on bro.  Congratulations!!!!

[Fish Tale]

Looks correct to me , you may get a discount ordering the same mounts from Roseville Moparts

Thanks Chryco Psycho! I will look into that.

[Fish Tale]

Wait a minute.  You own a 71 now?  Tell us more.  I remember looking  and sharing links and always cheering you on bro.  Congratulations!!!!

nsmall - I've owned this 71 for a while now.  Its the one in my avatar picture.  Its a 71 383 auto gold/white.  I think the wanted ad you maybe referring to is the one when I was looking for a 4 speed version.