Radiator Fan Ideas

So I'm at the stage of purchasing a radiator fan (electric) I was originally planning on running a single 16" fan however upon further measurement the new radiator core size is only 15 5/8" tall (24" + wide) therefore not giving enough room for the 16" fan. So do I get the 16" fan and have it sit proud of the core (i.e. sitting slightly on the top and bottom tanks) or do I go for a 14" fan or a twin 12" setup.

I want opinions on the options proposed.

Also on mounting methods, most of the fans come with the (through the radiator) clips, now I have run these in the past on my race cars but upon further research have found that they will over time wreck the radiator. Is this true? Again opinions welcomed.

I was also thinking of fabricating up a aluminium radiator shroud to suit the fan I purchase, I would allow the same spacing off the rad as the fan (approx 2.5") again is this necessary or a little over the top.

With living in Ireland we don't see the nice warm summer temperatures of say the US so it may be a overkill with such a big radiator.

 

Twin 12’s would be cool but whatever you decide a good shroud helps.
Don’t know how shipping is to Ireland but Summit, Jegs, Northern, Speedway, among many other parts stores, all sell fan and shroud combinations for various radiator sizes at their internet stores.

 

Yeah I did have a look at the stores but the cost of the unit plus shipping makes it a very expensive setup, I could buy and make one for a fraction of the cost. I was looking at a twin 12" setup today, each fan gives 1600CFM, so I thought of running one permanently hooked up to the thermo switch and the second on the independent switch in the cab that I can activate should it be required. Not 100% sure though thats why I wanted feedback.

 

I thought shipping over-seas might be a killer, sorry about that.
As for wiring I’d wire them so that they both turned on and off at the same time. I’d turn them on by using the thermal sensor to activate a relay that switches power to the fans. I might also connect power to the thermal sensor through a switch in the dash so I could kill the fans for deep water crossing, if not the fans will pull themselves into the radiator damaging it when crossing water. But if water crossing isn’t an issue I wouldn’t even worry about a switch at the dash.

 

So what size you sugesting? The twin 12"??

 

I’ve had troubles keeping mine cool with a single 16” fan but we get the extremes in weather here in Kansas and have to be able to keep the engine cool while crawling trails in +110*F, 43.3*C, heat. So personally I’d run the two 12’s just to get as much air moving through the radiator as I could.

 

Have you considered the Ford Contour fan upgrade? Not sure how readily you can find the fan over there, but I think it's worth considering. I have it on mine, but the engine isn't running yet so I can't comment.

Just search and you'll get lots of hits here and on the web.

 

I trimmed a bit off of a flex-a-light 16 inch and it works like a top. I still need to wire it up correctly with a temp switch, but one thing at a time...

 

Yeah I was thinking of cutting 1/2" off the fan blades on a 16" fan and recessing the fan surround so it fitted into the 15 5/8" gap. Not sure though

 

Don't recommend the "through the radiator" mounting they usually give you with the kits. Over time they can wear through the radiator tubes and cause leaks. I made up some aluminum tabs to mount the fan to the shroud assembly.

 

Andrew, I did the Ford Contour fan upgrade a couple of years ago a love it. Once I tracked down the fan it was an easy install...at least I thought so. As someone stated above, I also recommend fabricating/creating some mounting tabs, the through radiator fan connectors are not as reliable. It cools my 304 plenty...literally sucks my t-shirt into the radiator when I stand-up close. My fan draws about 30-35 amps, so make sure your alternator is up for the task, or you'll run through some batteries as I did . I can post picks of my set-up if you'd like, just to give you a visual before deciding.

 

I'd try the conventional 16" fan first. Lots of factory fans are larger in diameter than the radiator core is tall. It then covers more of the core width-wise.
Keep the spacer from holding the fan too close to the radiator fins(<1"). There are times when the motor or core support/grille can flex enough to put a close fan into contact.

A factory fresh thermo fan clutch and the stock V8 fan should cover all your cooling needs. Add a factory shroud and you've got the "HD Cooling" package.

Lots easier than going the electric route. Jeeps are about simplicty.

 

If I had the original fan and shroud I would stick with that system, however I don't and the cost of buying the necessary parts out weighs the electric fan option, also with the electric faan option you have the ability to turn the fan off when you are going through deep water/mud, this limits the mess under the bonnet and the ingression of excess water in the engine bay. I'm still wrking on possibilities of fans so will let you know what I decide.

 

Also I do know the amperage draw on that flex a lite is about half that of the contour fan. I did the through the radiator mount because I did not have room to mount it with brackets. The fan motor is only about 1/4"-1/2" from the grill housing (I wired it backwards and turned the blade around to its a pusher, not as effective as a puller, but still sufficient.

 

Here is how I did mine. It's mounted on 18 gauge steel. The fans are screwed to the sheet metal, then bolted to the frame work like a GM fan shroud.

[/IMG]

 

So here is what i did,



Twin 12" 1750 CFM each

It covers more surface area than the of a 16" fan and has more combined airflow than a single 16" fan, also means if one fan craps itself atleast there is another to back it up

 

drednot,love all that old literature do you have it scanned or just on paper...

 

I just installed a Flex A Lite 575 in my 75 CJ5.