Wes Flippen Posted January 2, 2022 Report Posted January 2, 2022 Recently finished an in car engine overhaul (pistons, rings, valves, guides, and rod bearings). Good news is that compression went from 80 to 130 average for each cylinder, but car has been running hot. I suspect I have the timing advanced too far, but I noticed that the radiation had developed some small leaks. Rather than deal with repairing a 71 year old radiator, I installed an aluminum radiator with an electric fan. Not enough clearance to install fan on the engine side, so installed it in front, behind the grill. Anyone had any experience with this setup? Also, fan is LOUD! Anyone have a suggestion on a reasonably quiet electric fan setup? It's on a 1950 Coronet, 12 volt, negative ground. Thanks, Wes Quote
Doug&Deb Posted January 2, 2022 Report Posted January 2, 2022 How hot are you running? I have an aluminum radiator with no electric fan on my 52 Coronet. I have a Stewart Warner temperature gauge to monitor the engine. On a hot day I run around 190 degrees occasionally getting to 200 or so when stopped. Engine was rebuilt 8000 miles ago. Running hot is different from overheating. Timing plays a role also. Plus the low idle speed doesn’t allow much airflow to cool down. Quote
Sniper Posted January 2, 2022 Report Posted January 2, 2022 Oddly enough, I am in the process of doing this swap as well. What I found is that curved blade fans are quieter than straight bladed ones. But straight bladed ones pull more air. So I looked around, found the largest two speed electric fan I could find with curved blades and is supposed to be quiet. I don't have it yet so I cannot comment on the sound. 2400 cfm on high speed, 1800 on low speed. https://derale.com/product-footer/electric-fans/universal-electric-fans/high-output-single-rad/16217-detail It might fit between the radiator and engine if I was willing to modify the core support, which I am not so I am going in front too. Being that they say fans pull better than they push I went over kill on CFM. Quote
Sniper Posted January 2, 2022 Report Posted January 2, 2022 Reviews on the fan I used https://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-18217/reviews Quote
Wes Flippen Posted January 2, 2022 Author Report Posted January 2, 2022 Thanks Sniper, I'll try the Darale fan. The one that came with the radiator moves a ton of air, but sounds like a jet engine. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 2, 2022 Report Posted January 2, 2022 One of my favorites has always been SPAL.....use these often in engine retrofits.....you can usually depend on the ratings they state with the specs....pretty much a quiet assembly. you can check them out online..... Quote
Frank Gooz Posted January 3, 2022 Report Posted January 3, 2022 I would like to know more, i think this is what i will us on my Desoto. When you mount in front of the radiator, will the fan flip over also? It was a puller and now we moved it to the front it should be a pushed correct? Help me please. Quote
Sam Buchanan Posted January 3, 2022 Report Posted January 3, 2022 (edited) 10 hours ago, Frank Gooz said: Edited January 3, 2022 by Sam Buchanan Quote
DJ194950 Posted January 3, 2022 Report Posted January 3, 2022 Most electric fans are reversible just by the way the 2 wires are connected to power/ground. Easy! No changes to the blade etc. Check to be sure before ordering. DJ Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 3, 2022 Report Posted January 3, 2022 many fans when changed from the back of the rad to the front have now flipped the motor and housing...and normally these are reversed by flipping the fan blade. You will recognize these reversible unit as they are advertized....REVERSIBLE Quote
Sniper Posted January 4, 2022 Report Posted January 4, 2022 The fan I planned to use is setup to be either a pusher or a puller, depending on how you mount the fan. There is no need to reverse the wiring or the blade. Basically both sides of the fan are identical, you just make sure the air flow arrow points to the engine when you mount is. Some fans need the blade flipped, some cannot do that (OEM ones are like that). Some people have flipped the polarity making the motor run backwards but fan blades are very inefficient running opposite it's designed direction. Quote
Wes Flippen Posted January 15, 2022 Author Report Posted January 15, 2022 Installed the 19" Derale fan. Huge difference! Much quieter and moves more air than the fan that came with the radiator. As a side note, I found the Derale fan on ebay for $52.00. Seller said it rattled when turning, so he had never installed it. Since these fans are usually North of $150.00, I took a chance. Turned out that the spring washer on the shift had been installed backwards, once I turned it around and installed it correctly, it ran quiet and smooth as silk. Score one up for Wes! Wes 1 Quote
laynrubber Posted January 15, 2022 Report Posted January 15, 2022 I have a similar set up as described by you as well, aluminum Champion rad with a pusher fan. Pusher has curved blades, yes I can hear it at idle but I don’t mind the noise. Makes it sound like it is moving lots of air : ) I only need my fan on in stop and go traffic or low speed on a hot day. I did a 1200 mile highway run in the low 30s (90 F) without a problem, hit the fan when I would come into small towns and off again once rolling. Not sure the actual temp as the gage just say TEMP but I did probe once to see where normal was and so far it stays there. My picture is too large to post and I don’t know how to resize it. Quote
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