electric radiator fans?

[Tourniqet]

Hey guys,

I was doing some searches and dissapointed not finding any information on an electric fan conversion for cooling. Maybe my searching skills are below par but either way I would like to know who has them, why they got them, how much it costed, and mounting/modification specifics. Oh and also the horsepower free'd up from taking the engine driven fan off? Enough to notice ?

Thanks

[240ZX]

Tourniqet,

I put one of the electric fan kits, from MSA, on my 1970 Z. It is installed on the back side of my stock radiator, as per the Perma-Cool instructions. I used the heat sensor, provided in the kit, and figured the best location for it was right where the water enters the radiator from the engine. This sensor is installed by carefully pushing it in between the cooling fins of the radiator. The sensor triggers a relay to turn the fan on. The relay has an adjustment screw to change the temperature the fan comes on, also. How there are probably better units available on the market but for under $150.00 its was worth a try. I've had it in use since late 2002 and have been more than satisfied.....it's been working perfectly. I live in SoCal so it does get warm here (maybe not like Texas or Arizona). The radiator was recondition at a local radiator shop and I'm running a 50/50 mix of good anti freese and an additive I purchased from a Deisel Truck Supply house that is touted to prevent corosion build up, helps in wetting the coolant fluid (better heat transfer I think), and stops fungus growth!!? Anyway, I said all that so you have a good idea of my cooling system an to say this.......the only time the fan comes on is when I sit an ideal for more than a few minutes. The engine runs cooler than it ever has and I probably drive it harder than I used to. As far as why I installed an electric fan, to free up a little H.P.. How much H.P. gets freed up???? I thought a consevative quess would be a couple %. At the same time I also removed the mechanical fuel pump for an electric unit and removed the heavy stock flywheel for a 13 1/2 lbs. unit. I would have to crunch some numbers to get realistic but as a SWAG I figure the total H.P. that was freed up from all three mods would be maybe 10% Or, at best a 15 H.P. gain (freed up H.P.). Can I feel a difference? I would say most certainly I feel a difference over stock. As far as just the electric fan, I don't know. A wise old guy once told me this, regarding changes......"It's all the little licks that count" One of the nicer effects of the electric fan is that you no longer have to listen to the mechanical fan as you increase RPM.........you know, that FAAAAAAN sound !!! Would I do it all over again....absolutely.

[z_boi]

U wont really notice ne power increase from just the fan but u might notice it reving a little more freely. I have a pusher installed that i bought off a friend. I have both cluthc and the pusher. They cool very well. I had it set up to be a puller w/o the clutch fan. but the fan i have was designed to be a pusher, so it didnt make a difference. It probably woulda cooled better than the clutch fan if i had the correct fan. But my current set up is workin verywell. no overheating in traffic. Im also running a 160 degree thermalstat. and have and adjustable thermastat switch on the pusher fan.

[SER240Z]

Just some input on the MSA fan kit, I've had mine for some time now. No overheating problems, but I never seemed to get the electric thermostat to work well on the fan. It kicks on right when I start up and shuts down shortly after I killed the engine. I just wired in a switch to the ground and keep it off when I don't need it.

Other than that, the fan works fine, I don't have the stock unit on anymore and I don't seem to have any problems with overheating even in LA traffic on the I10 in rush hour.

[Daniel]

Myself, I would prefer the SER240z electric assist fan. The reasons? If my car is running I know I am cooling. Cooler is not always better. I used to swap thermostats between 160 or 190 summer /winter. I soon found my car loves the 190 always. Next point is the "My lights dim at idle" Yeah,add the fan and a elec.pump and wonder why. I know the technology has changed but as I've said before---If you think you have out smarted the Datsun Engineers??? You better think darn hard!!

[240ZX]

Daniel,

Easy big boy! I don't believe anyone is trying to out smart the engineers at Nissan. You have to understand that during the developement of any product there are always many compromises to be made to keep the product within a budget and within the scope of the effort. So, as with most cars you get, a lot of things that are not always the best choice but are the best choice considering the cost. Otherwise the original Z cars would have had a selling price similar to Ferrari or Porsche. Besides, alot of Z folks just like tinkering with their toys. Wouldn't you agree?

[Daniel]

240ZX, It kinda works like this. If all the add on stuff I put on my car that the vendors claim adds 10% more H.P. You know , an air filter, a fan, a plug wire etc. I should have about 350 H.P. huh? My point was to be cautious about such claims as there may be better ways to spend your dollar. If you have the need for extra cooling, fine get it. Should an eskimo pay for the "extra"hp? I doubt it. As for my datsun out think thing, I only meant that the engineers test the product they are given to work with to the max. I have more faith in them than some ad that is suppose to get me 10% more. Disclaimer- My son is an engineer with BWM in Munich. I may not be a neutral party.

[sblake01]

Originally posted by Daniel If you think you have out smarted the Datsun Engineers??? You better think darn hard!!

I understand your meaning when you say that. But, you'll always get argument from someone. I use the stock fan/clutch on both my cars and a 180 deg thermostat. I live in SoCal. No overheating problems. You have to make sure you have the correct clutch. Nissan used Atsugi fan clutches. In some cases they used Ampco fan clutches. Those are the only ones I would ever use. Under no circumstances would I use one from Autozone, Kragen, Pep Boys, etc. I'm sure the Datsun Engineers wouldn't have put a device on their vehicles if it didn't perform properly. Remember these parts, if original, are 20 to 30+ years old. New ones or at least properly working ones do work. As far as the 10% hp increase thing, I'm not driving a race car so what good is that?

[hls30.com]

Hey Sblake01, "I'm sure the Datsun Engineers wouldn't have put a device on their vehicles if it didn't perform properly. " uh '73 carbs-doh!

Ask any engineer if todays technology doesn't beat the technology from 30 years ago, or if they expect future changes in technology to create better solutions for the problems they solved today.

On the same vien, but other side, vendors are there to sell, and can claim 10% improvement without having to prove it because the seat of most pants can't tell the difference in a weight to power ratio reduced by 8 oz per horsepower.

Will

[hls30.com]

Blackmax 150 fan by flexalite-reccommended by JTR for cooling v8 converted Zs-should be more than good enough for the straight 6 variety!

Will

[Tourniqet]

how many cfm's do you guys fans flow if you can remmeber...

and how many do you think the stock datsun radiotor should get with a reletively high performance engine. (cam carbs exhaust ignition, no boring)

???

[speedyblue]

I replaced my viscous fan with a single 10 inch thermo fan and temp switch on what is pretty much a stuffed radiator and it worked great on my L28. Even with about a quarter of the cooling fins gone if would only heat up to about halfway. Not running a thermostat though. No idea what volume it flows.

But I do love the lack of fan noise when it revs. Makes for much quieter under the bonnet. Revs quicker, but didn't notice any different on the road.