Regular belt driven or electric fan?

INMYBLOOD · 04-09-2003, 09:52 AM

What do most of you with mild or I guess radical engines run. Mine is just mild. I don't have a very good fit between my shroud and fan. The fan is pretty far away from the radiator by design also. It seems even with new motor mounts the fan is a little low of center in the shroud. I just wonder if I could put an electric on it and have a cleaner look and maybe a few more HP? I've heard something like used Taurs fans are good? I have a small electric I used to use as a crutch. I have done some sealing and air flow directing in the past few years along with a decent engine build and I don't really have a overheating problem. I just wonder if I can get the above mentioned bennifits and possibably keep it a litttle cooler in stop and go traffic. I really think I might start using my car daily this summer. All help welcomed.

Cris · 04-10-2003, 03:34 AM

Wow, you're opening a can of worms on this one. The stock fan and shroud set-up on C2's (my vette) is supposed to be pretty effective. But, a poorly fitting shroud really hurts cooling effectiveness. This problem is compounded because the radiator is raked at an angle and the face of it is not parallel to the engine driven fan. The shroud on my vette seemed like it took up half the engine compartment. I would not think there is a huge horsepower gain going electric vs the stock clutch fan, both don't pull HP if the engine is cool enough.

I pulled the shroud and went electric. My big motivation was to put a spreader bar up front to tie the A-arm towers together (I autocross). It would have been a mess trying to fit it through the shroud. Man is there room in the engine compartment now! The nice thing about electric fans is they mount directly to the raked radiator so getting a good seal is straightforward.

I would not mess around with fan manufacturers. I picked a Spahl fan, I chose it mainly because of the recommendations I received from mechanics and racers. The electric set-up has worked fine for me. I have not seen engine temps above 190 and I do drive on the street.

bence13_33 · 04-10-2003, 01:41 PM

I went the dual electric fan route. I'm running dual Flex-a-Lite fans and they cool the engine rather nicely. I mainly went this route to free up a few extra ponies. Switching to electric fans should be good for 5-10 horsepower, nothing you're really going to feel. I drag race pretty often so every little bit I can get helps.

I also like the look of not having a fan and shroud cluttering up the front of my engine compartment.

andy60 · 04-22-2003, 09:41 AM

Gordon,

I used the Ford fan, when I put the 383 in, works super. You have seen my car, do you remember the radiator setup?

I used the core support and radiator from a 61 I had around. I also had to use the highest temperature sending unit for the electric fan I could get because it was comming on to cold and running the motor too cool, 160 or so.

Let me know if I can help. You can come by any time to check my setup.

Hay, Spring Carlisle is this weekend, good place to buy the parts.

INMYBLOOD · 04-22-2003, 01:56 PM

Andy which ford fan do you have? I guess you are using relays also? Is it a two speed unit? Thanks.

andy60 · 04-24-2003, 08:42 AM

Ford Tauris fan with Painless wiring relay kit

I modified the fan shroud to pass more air works super and hardly never comes on.

The 61 support and radiator cool much better than the earlier copper 58-60 style, glad I made that upgrade

AlwaysWave · 04-26-2003, 11:07 PM

I recently finished installing a Dewitts aluminum radiator and dual Spal fans in my 72 small block. The cooling is far superior to the stock set up.

I think, underline think, it pulls stronger now. One thing is for sure though, when I release the gas pedal to coast to a light or stop sign, it coasts longer and easier, like there's less drag on it.