Who uses the thermostatically controlled electric fans behind the rad? I've heard good things about gaining a small amount of HP and cooling better... your experiences? I know it's not traditional, but sitting beside the road with white steam rolling out from under the hood doesn't trip my trigger either!
I have run quite a few over the years and have like them as long as they were not the cheapie ones. Lifting them off of late model cars works well too as they are designed to last quite a while. Just make sure you get one that is plenty big enough for your application.
Three years ago I installed a blower on my flatty. The blower didn't leave enough room in the front to drive the mechanical fan. I bought a Perma-Cool unit over the internet that moves about 2750 cfm and installed it as a puller. (Most manufactures suggest a pusher is only 80% as effective as a puller.) I also purchased their thermostat kit that includes a fender well mount with a probe that sticks in the fins of the radiator. Thermostat is adjustable for starting the fan from 160 to 210 degrees. Also has provisions for a toggle switch under the dash in case the thermostat quits. Fan is about 17-1/2" in diameter and 3-1/2" thick. Haven't had any problems in about 7,500 miles of running. Hope this helps!
Electric fans work. Mine isn't automatic, i have a push/pull switch on my dash that controls it. I leave it on in traffic and city driving and turn it off at highway speeds. I have a Derale S blade that is rated at 3300 cfm, so it's pretty big and has a ton or torque when you turn it on. I hate the way it looks, but it's the only thing that saves my ass on a hot day.
I'm running a large SPAL electric fan on the Merc. I did not hook up the thermostat because on the open road I don't need it. When the car warms up in town, I hit the toggle switch and it works great. I've been running an electric fan for the past 100k miles. (with no problems) Happy Trails, Mick
I running a pair of 11" spal fans on the Pusher. I gave it a serious test in 90 degree weather the other day idleing in the driveway, one is on a 185 stat and the other on a toggle. It finally got up to 210 (as the paint burned off my headers). and I switched the second fan on right back down to 190 (where the engine runs best). The late model Ford Escort uses the same fan. The down side is that they pull a lot of amps, I wouldn't run them on an old genny.
I wired it that way about six years ago, and I had some starting problems. I was driving the Merc everyday. I would be driving around town talking to clients. The fan seem to run all day and would not have time to shut off. Since the fan seemed to be running when the car was off and not circulating coolant. It was taking its toll on my battery. (Hard starts) Maybe I wired it wrong, but when I wired it just to the toggle switch, the problem was history..... Happy Trails, Mick
Extreme traffic conditions and hot weather here in Japan dictate that an electric fan is better. Though I don't like their looks, for the last 6 years I've used a 'thin' Spal 16 inch "puller" on my T (together with a 56 Ford dynomo) - Have it on all the time I drive and not had any problems until a week back when the c-clip holding the fan blades on somehow worked its way off. Switched the fan off before the blades chewed up the rad and when I got home found the c-clip still clinging to the engine mount so all back together and working as usual. Highly recommend them if you are in a hot place with constant traffic jams!
I use one on my 53 since there no room for a mechanical fan with the sbf swap, it's mounted as a pusher and the car has never once over heated. Even when the top tak of my Rad. came apart and I lost a gallon of coolant it didn't overheat. I didnt' know the radiator was history until i stopped and saw the antifreeze splatter on the bumper of the car. Mine runs all the time when the car is cranked. Second car I've done this way with no problems whatsoever.
Ok, here's some spam I've got a bunch of electric fans I've removed over the years from wrecked cars, singles, doubles, pullers mostly but a few pushers, big, little, I think i've got about a dozen or more. Need to clean em out. If anybody is interested let me know what size etc and I will measure and click a pic.
Just as a heads-up (and in case you haven't already done so), I'd recommend using a 12V relay along with the toggle switch to power and control the fan. The relay can be mounted to minimize the length of wire between the fan and the power source. Mine was originally installed with power running THROUGH the toggle switch under the dash... I actually burned my finger tip because it got so damn hot. With the relay, you're just running the control circuit through the toggle switch and not all the current that the fan motor draws. -murph
But anyone over 50 will tell you, sitting on the side of the road of the slightest grade, pouring yet some more water out of the canvas bag that hangs on every front bumper, cooling off the radator of the Ford flatty IS TRADITIONAL! I think it had a lot to do with the nature of vacuum-advance-only spark advance and the lack of vacuum when pulling hills.
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