I've noticed several people are getting rid of the old flex fan or clutch fans and replacing them with electric fans. I thinking about installing an electric fan but not sure which way to go. Any suggestions on brand, size and install? Thanks. (Santa might bring me a fan for Christmas)

 

I have a 16" Spal. It has been good to me so far.

hotrod48

 

I got mine from the Summit Racing catalog. Get a 16 inch "S" blade model at 2400+ cfm. They are supposed to be quieter than the straight blade style.

 

Measure radiator, get the biggest(cfm) fan that will fit, and get a thermostat that screws into a water passage in the block. The adjustable probe thermostats are trash. If the air temperature changes more than 15 degrees you have to re-adjust them.

 

I had an electric and it didn't cool enough. I put on a mechanical and it cools better. I ended up turning the electric into a pusher fan and mounting it in front of the radiator so I can turn it on when I'm in stagnant traffic.

 

If going to an electric fan try to locate the fan toward the lower part of the radiator where the fluid is hottest.

 

Leckert, with a down flow radiator, the hottest water comes into the top and it is cooled as it flows to the bottom of the radiator and back out the lower hose to the water pump intake. An electric fan usually cools fine unless you do any extreme things, like running a/c in stop and go traffic, trailer towing on a long grade or god forbid, burn outs/repeated converter stalls, etc.

 

Ed - Rodparts Warehouse is advertising a 3300 cfm S-blade 16" fan (with temp control) for $129.95. Heck of a deal! 1-800-373-5773.

 

Ranger Pat -
My dumb, you are correct. However, the electric fans do seem to work better in the lower portion of the radiator.

 

I put mine immediately above the coolant return to the block. All coolant must return to the block so, in theory, everything gets cooled. Plus it exhausts the heat under the engine instead of right into the intake.

 

Did you have to remove those rods in front of the rad? I think there some kind of brackets

John F.

 

After losing a radiator to the jaws of a mechanical fan on my 23 Ford roadster i mounted an electrical fan to the new radiator and it's been cooling my big block Mopar fine for 28 years. Butthen again it's an open engine compartment.
Bruce

 

Just as important as the fan, is the fan shroud. It helps to direct the air flow over 100% of the radiator core. I was looking for a shroud for my F-7 when I found a shroud and 16" electric fan on a popular auction site. The company will custom make the shroud to match my core and mount the fan. I am guessing that I will gain 10-12 hp by getting rid of the stock fan.
John - NNY

 

I changed my 302 (from a 73) to an electric system this summer. I love it! Most imediate changes include; quicker warm-ups, now I get heat and defroster before I get to work in the morning, a small increase in power (could be my imagination?), quiet running (except when the fan comes on, then its a bit noisy, but its not on for too long), no risk of fingers getting chopped off W/O a shroud..

I did the Summet route, largest one I could afford, I made steel brackets that bolt to the rad frame, and a water jacket temp probe is the only way to go, I tried the thru the fins probe...bad idea.

 

I got one of these adjustable fan thermostats last year for Chrsitmas (It goes in the drain plug on the radiator). I'm not sure how accuarate it will be, but I will give it a shot anyway. I have yet to install it to see how well it works, but I will install it this winter and test it next summer.



hotrod48