My new 12" 2000CFM fans arrived today! They will be replacing the 12" 1200CFM fans that were not up to the task of cooling my 460.

 

The only bummer so far, is this smashed plug-in for one of the relays, that I discovered upon opening the boxes. Hopefully the folks at Derale will send me a new one.

 

Here is my current set-up. You can get an idea of how close my water pump pulley is to the rad, and why I had to switch to electric fans.

 

So, I'm not off to a great start....go get some popcorn.
After unpacking everything, I figured I'd better "test fire" these fans to make sure they work. I gently stood the fan on my fender next to my battery so that the fans wires would reach my battery terminals, so I could just touch the wires to my battery to test the fan...what could go wrong? I needed both hands to be able to hold the two wires onto the battery, the fan was just standing freely on the fender. I figured that I'd touch the wires to the battery, the fan would slowly/ gently start and quickly get up to speed without any drama, right?! No.....
As soon as I touched the wires to the battery, the fan went to lightening speed so quickly, with soooooo much torque, that it also spun the fan shroud in the opposite direction, bouncing across my fender and off into the air! Not wanting my new plastic fan to shatter into a million pieces on the floor, I made a diving lunge for it.....everyone has seen those warning labels on fans to not stick your fingers in them right?! Well, those labels are there for a reason, thank God those blades are plastic, and only mangled my fingers a little bit, instead of chopping them off. I saved the fan, my fingers are a little worse for wear, and I've learned a valuable lesson! It also took a little while to polish the black plastic skid/ scuff marks off the top of my fender where the fan shroud tried to act like a wheel! I think I'll quit for the night....

 

Oh no that sucks. I have to admit I get excited when shiny and or new parts arrive and tend to go too fast causing similar lessons.

Step back and breathe.

D

 

Close call for sure. Do those fans have a slow speed too, or just wide open?

 

I'm pretty sure they're one speed, WFO!!!

 

Well it sure sounds like they will cool that 460 now!

 

The working area of the fans is really small compared to the rad area... Fab up a shroud so more air is pulled through when the fans are on.

'could also fab the shroud with openings and rubber flaps to release the rammed air at speed. The flaps will suck close with the fans engaged.

.02

 

The working area of the fans is really small compared to the rad area... Fab up a shroud so more air is pulled through when the fans are on.

'could also fab the shroud with openings and rubber flaps to release the rammed air at speed. The flaps will suck close with the fans engaged.

.02

 

I'm considering making a shroud. If I do, what is the best material to make it out of? Sheet metal? Aluminum? What thickness of metal?

 

I just got off the phone with Derale. I had to wait for the work day to start in California, you guys are 3 hours behind me. Super nice guy on the phone, my new wiring plug should be on its way by the end of the day.

 

I think aluminum is what gets used the most for making shrouds. You will ether need to tig weld it or if you have a spool gun for a mig welder that will work also.

 

I emailed Derale Performance yesterday. They informed me that they use AL @ 0.08-in thick. I was thinking of making my own shroud and was wondering what these guys used. I was planning to bent and weld (tig or mig) as needed.

Tony

 

So, my fingers are mostly better now, and my replacement wiring plug arrived from Derale, so I better get back to work. I mounted the fans to two 1"x1/8" aluminum straps, and mounted that to the rad. I temporarily hooked the wiring up to make sure it would all work. Hoooooly crap, are they ever loud!