Electric cooling fan question

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User]
edited August 2012 in HUDSON
I want to install an electric radiator cooling fan in front of the radiator. My car is a 54 with the 6 volt system. I have located two 6 volt fans on the internet, one from Mac's Radiator and one from Scott's Cooling Fans. My question concerns clearance. Can anyone recommend a fan that has minimum depth so as to prevent from having to cut the back of the grill to make it fit or at least make minimal cuts?

Thanks for any feedback you can provide.

Doug

Comments

  • ratlee2
    ratlee2 Expert Adviser
    Doug,
    I would also check into the amp draw for the fan. I believe these generators only put out about 35 amps at best ( not at idle). Many of the electric fans can draw 15-20 amps which won't leave much left over for lighting.

    Rich
  • J Spencer
    J Spencer Expert Adviser
    Also be advised that fan(s) placed in front of the radiator can impede the normal flow of air through the radiator possibly causing higher than normal temperature. Best if the fan is behind the radiator and up high where the coolant is the hottest. Yes, I know it's not possible in a stepdown. Just my two cents worth or maybe now it's a dimes worth.

    Another possibility is a small separate radiator like a heater core placed where it can get air flow to it and plumbed in with tee connections off the regular heater core. If wanted it could be controlled by a simple cable operated heater valve. Years gone by JC Whitney carried these. Not sure where now but I bet they are available some where. Remember the old days when the heater would get tuned on if the engine started to overheat? Hot in the car, but effective.

    Jim Spencer
    WNY/ONTARIO CHAPTER
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Jim and Rich, thanks for the comments. I have talked to several people who use front mounted cooling fans as a backup to their regular fans and all agree that they are very effective. In terms of amps I plan to install a 6 volt alternator. The water pump and the radiator have been rebuilt. As long as the car is moving it does fine but on a warm day in stop and go traffic it does heat up.

    Doug
  • RonS
    RonS Senior Contributor
    Doug, Alot of guys in AZ use 'em. Frankly I installed on on my Samco Cord years ago The temp stayed at 205 ...always under stop and go as well as highway. I tend to agree with Jim, re, blocking air flow at speed. I had great results with a shroud .
  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    Doug,
    I had a nagging heating problem with a 54 308. The final solution after doing what you propose.. was quite simple and non intrusive.
    first, as Walt suggests, I blocked the thermostat bypass. Don't run without a thermostat! I then installed a six blade curved fan from "Speedway Motors". NOT A FLEX FAN.. I found that they are less efficient than a stock four blade fan. I made a simple fan shroud from some galvinized sheet metal Two piece.. upper and lower. Much easier to build and install! Problem solved. Then I sold the electric fan and replaced the grille pieces i mutillated. Good Luck, Dave
  • lostmind
    lostmind Expert Adviser
    an AMC air conditioned car fan fits the Hudson engine. 6 blade.
    Might be as hard to find as Hudson parts though.
  • kamzack
    kamzack Senior Contributor
    I posted in another thread about my fan experience. I don't run a fan on the water pump. above 30 to 40 mph there's enough ram air to cool the system. I have it mounted front side. I only use it in traffic. Dr. Doug told me the Hudson temp gauges are not accurate. Mine is a 254 and has only 3k on rebuild. I also had a high effiency core made for the tanks. I did street rods for a number of years, and the saying was, if it isn't pushing coolant out on the ground, don't worry. Water pump fan takes a few horsepower to turn. I also alwasys installed a recovery systen as well, which I don't think is neccessary on my 254.
    I bought mine from Scotts fan and is 6 volts.
    Hope this helps,
    Kim
  • jjbubaboy
    jjbubaboy Senior Contributor
    edited August 2012
    Hey Doug,
    I dont know about the 54, but I put one of the Scotts 6v fans on the front of my 36T radiator and it works great! I ran the power from the switch thru a relay to the fan and havent had any problems.
    Jeff
    PS-Yes as Kamzack says below, I made my own brackets as well to secure it to the frame and used rubber grommets as well!
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I also installed a Scott's 6V front mounted cooling fan on the '54 for idling and it too works great and installs easily.
  • kamzack
    kamzack Senior Contributor

    I'd like to add that it's better to make brackets than to use the supplied through the core mounts that come with it. I'd told my rad guy I was buying an electric fan and that's what he advised as the monts will rub into tubes in short order.
    Kim
  • duncan
    duncan Expert Adviser
    What is wrong with using a 6 blade flex fan. Ray
  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    The flex fan is not very efficient. I know from experience. I think they were designed to flatten out at high RPM to save horsepower. The aftermarket curved blade works much better. note that the original fan has curved blades.
  • brumac
    brumac Expert Adviser
    Dave, you are so right. Years ago I had one come apart on me at high RPM and it did a lot of damage. Yes, expensive to fix too. Bruce
  • Hudson Grandpa
    Hudson Grandpa Expert Adviser
    Doug: I have a scotts fan installed on my 54. If you have a 4 core rad it won't fit. 3 core will just make it. snug, but it fits. Iwould suggest an alternator though.
  • Lee ODell
    Lee ODell Senior Contributor
    I had an expensive flex fan come apart at about 6500 RPM in my El Camino. I was lucky the truck had a new paint job and the blade flew out the bottom and no damage.
    Lee O'Dell
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