I've got a 71 D100 Pick up that's my daily driver. It has been supersixed w/ a Carter BBD, 2 and a quarter inch exhaust, Mopar electronic ignition, all on a rebuilt head and .030 over engine. I've got A/C courtest of a big old York compressor.

I don't have any overheating problems, in fact, my engine rarely reaches 200 degrees. I'm thinking of a puller electric fan.

Will it help with performance--taking a load off the engine?

How reliable are electric fans?

What's a good brand and how much should I spend?

I've got the 70 amp alternator, but at idle with the lights and the A/C on the volt meter shows less than twelve volts, so it's discharging. What kind of effect will the electric fan have?

Thanks for your help,

Joe

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Joe Hoppe

71 D100 225 Super Six 727 AT on 2008 Crown Vic CopCar frame

64 Valiant Wagon 225 904 AT 3:23 8.75"

You will notice the difference mostly at high RPM. It will rev a little more freely without the fixed fan. Your alternator will have dificulty keeping up with the demand at night on a hot day at idle with the fan running, the lights on, and the AC or defrost blower going (not a likely combination). Otherwise it should be OK. You need 2000 CFM for this engine. That usually translates to 16". They are pretty reliable, but the thermostat went out on mine once. You do have to keep your eyes on the temp gauge. You can;t take the fan for granted. On the other hand, it is probably easier on the water pump.
Sam

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Thanks, Sam.

I looked on Ebay and there are a wide variety of prices. What's a good reliable brand?

What have people had success with?

Thanks,

Joe

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Joe Hoppe

71 D100 225 Super Six 727 AT on 2008 Crown Vic CopCar frame

64 Valiant Wagon 225 904 AT 3:23 8.75"

I have a Spal fan...so far I have been happy with it maybe its a little noisy but(most are noiser even factory fans) its also about the only fan that will fit my 66 car. The fan is a puller and draws about 7 watts. The thermostat in my car is a 180 degree Stant super stat and I used a 195 degree temp switch for the fan. its nice that the fan turns off anytime I am not in traffic. I might swap to a pusher fan I intend to buy another Spal fan.

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1966 Signet
Turbo Slant Six

I have had good luck going to the wrecking yard and buying a used 'brand-x' factory fan and 'retrofitting' it to the Slant.
A lot of the newer cars have electric fans and they are pretty reliable.
DD

I am using two 12" electric fans off ebay on my '87 D150. They were advertised at somewhere around 1200 cfm each, IIRC.





One is thermostatically controlled, the other is on a manual switch. My engine will heat up to 195-200* idling at a stoplight with only the thermostatically controlled fan on (185° T-stat), but will not go any higher unless it is over 95-100° F outside. During the hotter weather I kick on the second fan and the temp stays around 195°.

Once I am moving, temp drops and stays right at 185°.

-S/6

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The "Silver Bullet"
87 Ram D150

I haven't had any problems with a Summit branded one in my toyota truck............

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

I plan to order an integral fan/controller (the dual fan if the measurements match up close enough to my fan shroud's mounting points) from http://www.dccontrol.com/ for my Toyota truck. Their controllers work on the principle that it only sends enough power to the fan to keep the engine at a constant temperature, as opposed to full on/off, which causes the engine's temperature to fluctuate and puts a big draw on your system when the fan spools up. The integrated unit is expensive, so I'm still trying to decide between that or ordering just the controller and pulling a fan from a Ford Taurus. It'll just come down to whichever unit has the best fit. Just thought I'd throw that out there for consideration, since I'll be putting an electric in the woman's Dart when it comes time for performance work.

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'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me

Thats so pretty cool stuff there Jopapa. I could see this being adapted to other uses as well.



Daddiojoe, you can remove the factory fan & test how much power it will give you. Just be careful & not let your engine overheat. We picked up alot of power on my Big Block car doing this, but the fan was big. It give alot of power down low of idle that was real notisable. I would think with the Slant Six it could only do better because of the low power to start with.

There was a artical in one of the mags where they built a Aluminum /6 & when they took the Drive belt off it picked up over a 1/2 second threw the 1/4. So the drag on the Small /6 really pulls the motor down. Its free horsepower & fuel milage.


Jess

That's an old drag-racing trick, good for a run at a time (unless your ignition is voltage-sensitive, in which case it may hurt your times). It disables the water pump and alternator, as well as the fan. All are loads on the engine, but the water pump and charging system are good things to have running on a street car.
I put that in the same category as flipping the aircleaner lid. It might help on some cars, but don't bet on it.
If you want to get an idea how the engine runs without the fan, take the fan itself off. Avoid any long stops - like you might get at traffic lights, et cetera, so that you keep the air flowing through the radiator.

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"When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it." - Pointy-haired Boss

1964 Valiant V200, 225/Pushbutton 904
BBD, CAI, HEI, LBP, AC, AM/FM/USB, EIEIO

If you will read the post that is what I said.

And the pull the belt off was just to example to show how much power these things pull from the motor.


Jess

I read your post, LUCKY13. You had some good information, and some that was incomplete and could be misunderstood. I then added a little to the discussion. That's how a forum is supposed to work.

The second part of what you quoted from me is just an expansion on your suggestion to "Just be careful & not let your engine overheat." specifically mentioning the airflow from forward motion. OK?

The part in between, which you omitted, explained why losing the belt is not such a good idea on a street car.

By the way, if you're going to quote someone, please don't edit within the quote. It's bad manners. Use separate quotations instead.
Overhead is a pain in the backside, isn't it?

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"When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it." - Pointy-haired Boss

1964 Valiant V200, 225/Pushbutton 904
BBD, CAI, HEI, LBP, AC, AM/FM/USB, EIEIO