electric fan on a/c car?

[tedlit]

Was pondering this today.. after I've resolved my engine "issues", at some mythical point in the future I'll need to put the damn thing back together.

I've got a spare 16" electric fan - it was in a 2500 I had a while back - I was contemplating fitting it to the Stag instead of the original fan. Problem is, the Stag's got a chubby radiator (I think it's still 4-core though), and because of the extra a/c pulley, the clearance from pulley to radiator is only 2.5". It'd be a huge shame to remove the a/c, as it's still intact and (sortof) works, but I'm damned if I can find a fan slimline enough to fit in the 2.5" gap I've got to work with.

The fan I've got is a "flexalite" and is about 3.5" deep at the shroud - are the Kenlowe or Devale ones any thinner?

...or should I just got buy a new viscous coupling and "normal" fan?

[Kevin Garrod]

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I may be wrong on this, but I don't think the a/c makes any difference, mine has a spare groove where I presume the a/c belt would go. Also I believe it usual to fit an electric fan in front of the rad, although there is some debate that it can impede airflow at higher road speeds. Some owners are running with just an electric fan, some with just the mechanical one and others with both.

[tedlit]

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I'd put the fan in front of the rad - but the a/c rad and its associated fan gubbins is already there. I think I'm going to have to remove it (sob)

[John]

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I feel I'm in the minority, but I still fail to see any need for an electric fan.

[tedlit]

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I'm actually unconvinced as to the need for an electric fan - but I've got the opportunity to try one out, so I'm giving it a go. With a properly setup fan controller, it should keep everything at a more even temperature - as well as (theoretically) reducing drag at higher speeds. Or so I'm told.

I think the key is in the setup, hence my ponderings about whether I need to remove all my a/c junk to fit the fan in front, or if I can find a slimmer fan to fit where the "normal" fan goes.

[mad cyclist]

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good coupling, good radand standard fan is all you need flush your engine out and remove the drain plugs and get out all the crudd.happy days

[tedlit]

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Tried a slightly different idea this morning.. I've got the a/c fans wired up to a switch, which gets me two 10" fans for about 50p's worth of wire and a spare switch.

No idea how much air it's actually pushing through the radiator.. but it holds the temp gauge vertical at idle when it's 85F outside.

More testing due, I think.

[Marco Polo]

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tedlit wrote:

hence my ponderings about whether I need to remove all my a/c junk to fit the fan in front

If you ever decide to remove the A/C can I buy the parts from you please?

regards,

Raoul

[Stagdad]

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John wrote:

I feel I'm in the minority, but I still fail to see any need for an electric fan.

John


Its like the fire extinguisher i have in the kitchen ,hope i never need it but will be glad to have itif i do.

Steve

[KOY 23]

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Good analagy, Steve.