Author Topic: Electric Fan (Read 6047 times)

thebigbadyeti · « **on:** July 25, 2007, 06:50:22 PM »

Ok, I've looked at all the previous posts on this subject but have not found this answer, soforgive me for bringing it up again. But, if i switch to an electric fan how much air does it need to move (cfm)? The 16" ones from autozone and pep boys only seem to move 1200cfm. Is that enough to stay cool? thanks

asubimmer · « **Reply #1 on:** July 25, 2007, 09:49:35 PM »

I have a 2750cfm on my car but I still haven't wired it in yet lol.

D. Clay · « **Reply #2 on:** July 25, 2007, 10:47:26 PM »

http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?N=700+4294924500+4294839058+115+1004
Spal is more $ but is generally rwegarded as a high quality item.
http://www.the-fan-man.com/index.html

Vladi · « **Reply #3 on:** July 26, 2007, 12:00:52 AM »

I've seen that the OEM A/C ones do the job quite well, especially working together with the tropical version radiator (440x440x32).

Shocker · « **Reply #4 on:** July 26, 2007, 12:09:15 AM »

Quote from: thebigbadyeti;30411

Ok, I've looked at all the previous posts on this subject but have not found this answer, soforgive me for bringing it up again. But, if i switch to an electric fan how much air does it need to move (cfm)? The 16" ones from autozone and pep boys only seem to move 1200cfm. Is that enough to stay cool? thanks

If you have that fan + you Aux (A/C) fan your fine.

tjts1 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 26, 2007, 01:13:00 AM »

You are better off with a used junkyard fan than most of the new aftermaket fans you can find today. The vast majority of the aftermarket fans are subcontracted in China to the lowest bidder. They have no liability if the fan fails. An OEM manufacturer on the other hand is liable for the whole engine if the fan fails. Who do you think is going to build a better colling fan? JY fans are also substantially cheaper (I spent $12 on mine).
If you want to do an electric fan conversion, get one that can replace both the clutch fan and the AUX fan. I removed both of the stock fans on my car and replaced then with a used 16" volvo fan behind the radiator. Its more powerful than both of the stock fans and much quieter. Whatever fan you use, make sure it has curved blades. Thats the sign of a high quality unit vs most of the garbage out there. Curved blades are quieter and more efficient at moving air than straight blades. Straight blades are very noisy. A 2 speed fan like the volvo fan (there are many others) will run directly off the existing aux fan circuit so you don't even have to do any wiring. The number of CFM advertised by manufacturers is BS. Its an irrelevant number because the way they came up with that number was without any radiator, grill or bumper in front of the fan. Find a used fan from a car that has an equal or more powerful engine to the M42.
Having both an AUX fan and an electric cooling fan behind the radiator is a bad idea. This effectively doubles the electric load on your alternator while at the same time reducing the efficiency of both fans because they both block each other.
The only other modification I had to make for this fan was to replace the temp switch with a colder E36 unit.
Good luck

thebigbadyeti · « **Reply #6 on:** July 26, 2007, 06:02:34 AM »

Ok.... All very helpful... Going to junk yard today... turns out i can get spals at a nice discount...probably will go that route... Love working at an autoshop... commercial accounts everywhere. lol. Will the spal temp switch Thread into our fitting? i think the spal is 3/8"npt. If not i will just wire it to the switch and try not to forget..... lol

Vladi · « **Reply #7 on:** July 26, 2007, 09:32:04 AM »

Quote from: tjts1;30431

The only other modification I had to make for this fan was to replace the temp switch with a colder E36 unit.
Good luck

I found to be only one type of temp switch both on e30 and e36, the 91/99 one. So what colder switch are you talking about?

oldtimer · « **Reply #8 on:** July 26, 2007, 01:11:17 PM »

My 2 cents, and I o not have any direct link to any auto parts store out there. I do rely on Auto Zone to ge my after market products. On my car I have removed the clutch fan and replaced it with a after market electric fan acquired from auto zone even without a shroud it fulls enough air to keep the car cool during stop and go traffic on hot days and we have had some hot days in Southern maryland. The nice thing about this fan like any other far you can get a veriable setting/adjust table thermostant for the fan you can set the to kick in as late as when the thermostant opens or running all the time, which I would not recommend. since the idea is to release engine drag by removing the clutch and having the elec fan going all the time has the same drag both from the alt. trying to feed it electrically. Now as far as the double the drag from the engine with the aux fan to the a/c and the electric for the radiator. yes it is a lot but only if you use your a/c all the time. the aux fan kicks in when the w/c is engage. my radiator electric fan does not kick in unless I am on a stop and go traffic. so both of them being engage at the same time might is a rare event. By the way I have a 16" fan for auto zone and i got the switch there also.

thebigbadyeti · « **Reply #9 on:** July 26, 2007, 02:33:20 PM »

Thanks old timer... yea i ripped out all related ac components and just wired the aux fan to a switch so i flip it on when i'm not moving, but i think my fan clutch is on the way out.... so in my never ending quest for a clean engine bay i figured why not slap the electric one on. Maybe the autozone one might work... We have a commercial account there so, maybe i'll get a sweet deal...

tjts1 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 27, 2007, 01:03:54 AM »

Quote from: Vladi;30453

I found to be only one type of temp switch both on e30 and e36, the 91/99 one. So what colder switch are you talking about?

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/ksearch/pel_search.cgi?please_wait=N&forumid=&threadid=&command=DWsearch&description=+61+31+8+361+787&I1.x=0&I1.y=0&FILTER_TECH=ON&FILTER_SUPP=ON&FILTER_ACCE=ON&FILTER_CARE=ON&FILTER_STUF=ON&FILTER_PERF=ON&FILTER_MISC=ON&FILTER_GADG=ON&FILTER_TOOL=ON&FILTER_ABMW=ON&FILTER_BE21=ON&FILTER_BE30=ON&FILTER_BE36=ON&FILTER_BE46=ON&FILTER_BE12=ON&FILTER_BE28=ON&FILTER_BE34=ON&FILTER_BE39=ON&FILTER_BE7S=ON&FILTER_BEZ3=ON&FILTER_BE68=ON&FILTER_BE02=ON&FILTER_BEMI=ON&FILTER_BEX5=ON&FILTER_BMWM=ON

http://www.bavauto.com/fland.asp?part=61%2031%208%20361%20787&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=googlebase&utm_source=61%2031%208%20361%20787

Vladi · « **Reply #11 on:** July 27, 2007, 12:18:27 PM »

I see. Euro/USA differences i think.

91318isfoundation · « **Reply #12 on:** August 07, 2007, 01:38:54 AM »

is rthere a DIY. For this electric fan mod? done to an e30? im dying to see one

ScreamerBeemer · « **Reply #13 on:** August 09, 2007, 10:48:26 PM »

I work at Autozone and I've been looking at those 16" fans myself. I was wondering if they would work...20% discount WOO-HOO

D. Clay · « **Reply #14 on:** August 10, 2007, 02:55:34 PM »

Any opinions on this? I was thinking of getting one these relay kits..
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-2-12V-30-40A-RELAYS-W-DUAL-SOCKET-5-WIRE-HARNESS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33721QQihZ012QQitemZ220136981376
Wire low side of one into the hot wire for the A/c Fan and the other into the temperature switch on the side of the radiator. Run 25 amp fused
hot wires from the fuse block to the additional fan using the high side of the relays.
This ties the extra fan into the existing wiring for the A/c and radiator controls and also puts it on a separate circuit for power.
Is this overly complicated or is there a better way to do it.