Electric fan effectiveness

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Nov 26, 2002 | 06:49 PM

jaye

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From: S.C.

Electric fan effectiveness

I just replaced the radiator in my 55 with a 302/C4, I'm putting an electric fan in front of the ac condenser/radiator, its 2400 CFM the lady at Mid-fifty said it would cool a V8 302 for a primary fan. Has anyone used an electric fan as a primary and if so what is the CFM, how good did it operate. Since its cold here I don't think I can really tell how good it is driving around here.
Thanks in advance
Jaye

Nov 26, 2002 | 07:03 PM

41Clay

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From: McAlester, OK

Electric fan effectiveness

I use an electric as a primary, so far, with my truck. It keeps the 390 at 190 degrees in the summer, don't like the way it drains the batterie down at night with all the lights and stff on. I beleive it's a 12" with 1200cmf, but I'm not sure about that. I did some minor stop and go traffic, but most of it was on the go so I don't know how well it would do in a city.

Clayton

Nov 26, 2002 | 08:08 PM

286merc

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From: Southern New Hampshire

Electric fan effectiveness

Electric engine fans are usually designed to pull air thru the radiator and not push it. When it has to work up in front of a radiator the air develops a backpressure that is hard to overcome without a big (25 Amps or more) motor.

The cfm rating is in free air, adding any restriction reduces that number. Small amperage motors with big advertising numbers loose a lot of efficiency in an actual application.

If you are considering a junkyard fan get one that matches the cross section of your radiator. A Taurus fan will pull good air thru a thin radiator but wont do squat in a 4 row luxury car or Crown Vic with a towing package radiator for instance.