|
Author
|
Topic: Is an Electric Fan the Answer?
|
Stevens
Journeyman Posts: 3
From: Albuquerque, NM, USA
Registered: Oct 2001
|
posted 10-03-2001 01:45 PM
   
Hi,I'm having a minor cooling problem and thought that any of you guys that live in hot locations have probably figured out all the tricks when it comes to keeping cool when the weather's hot. My car is a '66 Mustang coupe with a recently (about 12,000 miles ago)rebuilt 2 barrel 302. Nothing special was done during the rebuild, except a bit more radical Lunati cam was used. All the cooling equipment was replaced, including a rebuilt water pump, new 4-row radiator (from Mustangs Plus) and new mechanical fan and shroud (that came with my Classic Auto Air air conditioning system). The rebuild was done by a well-respected shop here that specializes in Fords. So, what's the problem? Well, nothing EXCEPT when I'm on the way home from work in stop and go traffic at 5pm with the air conditioning on and the outside temperature is in the mid 90's or higher. Then the engine temperature climbs to around 225 degrees, so I turn off the A.C. to stop the climb. As soon as I get past the real crowds, so I can clip along at about 30 mph or more, then the temperature drops back into the 200 degrees or so range and stays there, so I can turn the A.C. back on. During any open freeway driving the temperature stays at a non-threatening 190 to 200 degrees. The stop and go stuff on a hot day with the A.C. on is the only place where I have a problem. By the way, I added two bottles of Water Wetter and did notice a difference, but not enough to consider it a cure. It seems that the perfect solution is an electric fan so that the air will keep moving across the radiator at a decent speed even when the engine is at idle and I'm either sitting still or just crawling. But, I've never talked to anyone who was happy with an electric fan installation in their Mustang (although the magazines sure have lots of articles showing how to do it - but never any results on the effectiveness.) So, I'm wondering if any of you guys that live in hot climates have a good solution for this problem. Any help is appreciated. John Stevens
IP: Logged |
JAAZZY
Gearhead Posts: 772
From: Bay Area, CA
Registered: Apr 2001
|
posted 10-03-2001 02:13 PM
I am pretty happy with my electric fans. My climte is not as hot as yours but my motor makes up for that difference with a large cam and high compression. I wasn't able to keep my motor cool with the stock style radiator so I installed a 3 core late model radiator and two 10" electric fans. In stop and go my car still gets a little hot but I'm sure it wouldn't with a milder set-up. I would probably go with an aluminum radiator if I drove it in traffic more often. The only problem you might have is that the stock alternator will not produce enough power at idle and it will start to run your battery down. I just installed a 100 amp unit in my 65.
IP: Logged |
Tom351
Journeyman Posts: 93
From: Marietta,GA
Registered: Mar 2001
|
posted 10-03-2001 02:25 PM
It should help at idle, I love my electric fans. I just put a 4-row in mine and it hits about 200 in 90 degree traffic. Another benefit of electric fans is that if it does get too hot you can pull over and run the fans while the engine is off to really cool the water in the radiator. After doing this, the temp will drop to 170 or lower right after startup.------------------
67 Fastback - Arctic White Pearl paint
351W ,Trick Flow Aluminum Heads, Edelbrock TorkerII, Carter 750 CFM, Comp. Cam 477/510 219/[email protected], Performance Automatic C-4 Trans, 3.55 gears, Front Disc Brakes, 1-1/8" Fr. 3/4" rear sway bars.
IP: Logged |
franklin
Gearhead Posts: 131
From: VA
Registered: Nov 2000
|
posted 10-03-2001 03:08 PM
I would like someone to explain to me, at what temp they think the engine is too hot and why. Some newer cars WITH electric fans don't turn the fans on till 230 degrees. On a hot day with the ac on, 225 is probably normal. Now if it started idling rough or boiling over, that would be a different story. The only suggestion I have is, do you have an idle solenoid to boost the idle speed when the ac is on? Most factory ac cars had these, as well as overdrive ratios on the water pump pulleys.
IP: Logged |
JAAZZY
Gearhead Posts: 772
From: Bay Area, CA
Registered: Apr 2001
|
posted 10-03-2001 03:26 PM
Franklin,I agree with you. I don't think 225 is all that hot either but I think the newer cars also do it for emissions. I worry with mine because of the aluminum heads. 225 is about the most I will let it get to before I shut it down. I don't know what the max safe temp is though.
IP: Logged |
Ken
Gearhead Posts: 4766
From: Prospect, Ct. M&M Member No. 31 MCA Member 49299
Registered: Jun 99
|
posted 10-03-2001 07:42 PM
Consider trying this John  ....I have the exact setup you do but I replaced the factory 4 blade fan with a more efficent 5 blade fan....worked GREAT  !!! They have them in most of the Mustang catalogs. Just my $0.02 .------------------
Conciousness - that annoying time between naps. Ken
1965 Springtime Yellow Coupe
302GT40-4spd
Edlebrock RPM Air Gap
670cfm Holley Street Avenger
and much, much MORE !!!
www.mustangsandmore.com/ubb/Kens.html
IP: Logged |
68 S-code GT
Gearhead Posts: 2194
From: Sayreville, NJ, US
Registered: Mar 2000
|
posted 10-06-2001 10:45 AM
What temperature rate is your thermostat? You might want to use a lower one. I use a 160 degree one with a factory 7 blade fan but it still gets real hot in stop and go traffic with the 390. It works better than the 190 and 210 ones that the parts store sold me.------------------
68 S-code FB GT 4spd/3.25 PS PDB
68 J-code Cp Sprint"B" C4/3.00 PDB PS AC
99 F150 XLT Ext/cab, 4X4, 5.4L, 3.55LS
IP: Logged |
Stevens
Journeyman Posts: 3
From: Albuquerque, NM, USA
Registered: Oct 2001
|
posted 10-14-2001 11:17 PM
I appreciate all the input. A couple of folks asked about an allowable upper temperature. I agree that modern engines are designed to operate at much higher temperatures than the older engines for emmissions reasons. My engine, which is carbureted, starts running rough around 225 degrees. Plus, I've had a couple of local guys (who aren't necessarily the founts of all good info - Mustang-wise) say that a carbureted engine with a mechanical fuel pump will get into vapor-lock trouble with an engine in the 225+ degree range. Finally, I've seen a couple of magazine articles that say the older, carbureted engines like to run at around 180 degrees.I do use a 160 degree thermostat. I also have a new 6-blade fan that came with the Classic Auto Air A.C. system. Now that the daytime highs aren't getting into the 90's anymore, the engine usually runs around 160 or so, and warms up to around 190 in stop-and-go after work rush-hour traffic.
Questions to Tom351 and JAAZZY, what brand fans are you using? Any other identifying features? (Like XX cfm airflow?) Again - thanks for the help.
IP: Logged |
John Holloway
Gearhead Posts: 836
From: Romeoville Illinois
Registered: Jul 2000
|
posted 10-14-2001 11:31 PM
Are you using straight water or antifreese,you could also have a air pocket in your system?
IP: Logged |
Stevens
Journeyman Posts: 3
From: Albuquerque, NM, USA
Registered: Oct 2001
|
posted 10-14-2001 11:37 PM
I'm using 1/3 anti-freeze, 2/3 water, with two bottles of Redline Water Wetter. I added the Water Wetter after I first realized the engine was running hot and noticed an immediate impact of maybe 10 or 15 degrees. I've also got a clear (that is, see-thru) Gano filter in the upper radiator hose, so I can actually see the coolant moving (and that's kind of cool). So I don't think an air pocket is the problem.
IP: Logged |
JAAZZY
Gearhead Posts: 772
From: Bay Area, CA
Registered: Apr 2001
|
posted 10-14-2001 11:58 PM
I use two 12" High Performance Summit fans. They are rated at 1200-1250cfm each. I wrote above that they are the 10" ones but are actually 12" fans. Good luck. - Jas
IP: Logged |
Fastymz
Moderator Posts: 18143
From: Reno Nv USA MEM#1240
Registered: Apr 2001
|
posted 10-15-2001 12:30 AM
I use the Black magic electric fan.It just fits the hole rad,.I have a three core radiator and a stock water pump.I use water wetter with a 40/60 blend of antifreeze to water.Once I added the fan the car now runs at 180to190.This summer in traffic stop and go and temps in the high 90's.It got as hot as 205.But would cool right off.Black magic people told me to go a good 4 row radiator,and a trans cooler.And it should never go over 200.I dont have A/C.
Ron------------------
65 Coupe with a stock 1969 351w, Edelbrock RPM intake,carter625cfm,shorty Hedmen hedders,Black Magic electric fan,stock C4,peg leg 8" 2:80,Boss 429 hood scoop,Cragers SS,Black primer or Black Satin finish.
IP: Logged |
JT
Gearhead Posts: 200
From: Pearland, Texas, USA
Registered: Oct 2000
|
posted 10-15-2001 06:38 PM
I finally got mine to stay cooler by switching to a hi-flow water pump. I went with an aluminum one from Milodon. I have a 24" 3-row radiator, 180 t-stat, 5-blade fan and shroud. I'm running about 1/3 cooloant, 2/3 distilled water and a bottle of Water Wetter. This seems to be sufficient fir now, but I haven't gotten the A/C working yet.------------------
JT
'68 Coupe w/351W (orig.289), Wimbleton White (orig.paint) w/Ivy Gold Int. (also orig.), factory A/C and P/S
IP: Logged |
Mustangsandmore Forums
UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone! 
