Overheating Issues, Perplexed

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by undy

Thanks El, that relay combo looks like just the ticket. Before I start investing in the controls I need to see if I can make this sucker fit. I took some preliminary measurements before I bought the fan. It may or may not fit behind my radiator. It will, at best, take some creative carving on the shroud to get it in there. My core is only 18" wide and the distance from the radiator to the water pump pulley is only 4" as the crow flies. Was I right on the SHO fan? Where did you get the info that that fan you posted was from a SHO?Dave

Same for me, I am going to get the fan and make sure all systems are go before I worry about wiring.

The more I read, the more confused I am getting. The SHO fan is supposedly a 16" swept blade with two speeds and was produced in early to mid 90's. According to an email I received from the Seller, the fan I bought is actually a 17" blade with two speeds from a later model Lincoln Continental/MKVIII. But the pic I have looks just like the SHO fan. He also says that there is another Lincoln fan out there that has 18" chopper blades and requires 6" mounting depth, but it blows a whopping 5500 cfm.

So I am not sure about all these fan models, I am just regurgitating what I am learing through reading. No wonder American auto makers are in the toilet, too many discreet part requirements when one or two fans could have served the model whole lineup for a decade.

Here is a link with some good pics and part #s for Ford/Mercury and Lincoln:

http://www.monsterautoparts.com/MERC...ing_fans-1.htm

[CobraEd]

Sounds like you are well on the way to successful cooling. Now you gotta be sure that your alternator can keep up with the 2,500 amp fan


.

[undy]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

Same for me, I am going to get the fan and make sure all systems are go before I worry about wiring.

The more I read, the more confused I am getting. The SHO fan is supposedly a 16" swept blade with two speeds and was produced in early to mid 90's. According to an email I received from the Seller, the fan I bought is actually a 17" blade with two speeds from a later model Lincoln Continental/MKVIII. But the pic I have looks just like the SHO fan. He also says that there is another Lincoln fan out there that has 18" chopper blades and requires 6" mounting depth, but it blows a whopping 5500 cfm.

So I am not sure about all these fan models, I am just regurgitating what I am learing through reading. No wonder American auto makers are in the toilet, too many discreet part requirements when one or two fans could have served the model whole lineup for a decade.

Here is a link with some good pics and part #s for Ford/Mercury and Lincoln:

http://www.monsterautoparts.com/MERC...ing_fans-1.htm

El, .... got my fan today via Epay. It looks just like your posted picture. It's a sweet setup and for 80 bucks brand new what a deal. I'm getting ready to do a 12 volt hookup to check operation and flow. It looks like it can be adapted for my application.

What type of control center are you going to use for yours?

Dave

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by undy

El, .... got my fan today via Epay. It looks just like your posted picture. It's a sweet setup and for 80 bucks brand new what a deal. I'm getting ready to do a 12 volt hookup to check operation and flow. It looks like it can be adapted for my application. What type of control center are you going to use for yours?Dave

Hi Dave. Still waiting on mine but that's okay, its hotter than hell here in Houston and my energy level is looowwww. I haven't really thought out the wiring, though I do think I am going to buy that Hollister relay wiring kit I mentioned earlier. I think I'll hook it up so that the low speed comes on with the 180 elec temp sensor in my radiator hose, and the high speed is dash switchable. So down the road it will either be off because the engine is running cool enough or on low speed, but hi speed is reserved for low speed driving and idling.

[undy]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

Hi Dave. Still waiting on mine but that's okay, its hotter than hell here in Houston and my energy level is looowwww. I haven't really thought out the wiring, though I do think I am going to buy that Hollister relay wiring kit I mentioned earlier. I think I'll hook it up so that the low speed comes on with the 180 elec temp sensor in my radiator hose, and the high speed is dash switchable. So down the road it will either be off because the engine is running cool enough or on low speed, but hi speed is reserved for low speed driving and idling.

I agree.. I think I'm probably going to do the same thing, go with the Hollister unit and the same wiring rational. But ... after doing some more research, there's a 740 Volvo 2 speed fan relay set that works well with the Taurus fan too. It has the right ampacity and has been/is available for minimal bucks on Epay too. I'm going to look into that also before making the leap. I might just pick up a couple of the Tyco HD 75 amp relays since I've an operable temperature control system in place... decisions, decisions..

It's odd though, I measured the actual fan blade wheel diameter on the new Taurus fan. It measured 16". I was wondering why they call it a 17" fan? I then measured the fan blade wheel on my current shrouded 16" Flex-a-lite fan and it measures 15".. Go figure?? The size rating must represent the fans' blade housings, not the actual blade diameter. (I guess sorts like bragging about an 8 incher when it's only 7" )

The shroud size and the fan/housing stand-off from the radiator is smaller that previously specified in the thread (a good thing).. shroud measurements are 21" x 16". The width is trimmable to 20". The fore and aft distance (thickness) is 3 1/2", not 5". That pretty much duplicates my existing flex-a-lite setup, very adaptable. I'm pretty sure I can make this puppy fit.

I really don't have an overheating problem now but I still could use more cooling though, for my Pond 482. At this point I'm not planning on tearing it all apart this far into the season. My hopes are waiting for the annual "winter overhaul" for making the conversion. I will get everything together though, just in case I nedd to "fast track" the change-over.

Dave

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by undy

there's a 740 Volvo 2 speed fan relay set that works well with the Taurus fan too.

I saw that setup. I think I'll search around the web and see if i can find any comments about it.

Originally Posted by undy

Go figure?? The size rating must represent the fans' blade housings, not the actual blade diameter. (I guess sorts like bragging about an 8 incher when it's only 7" )

Or like saying an engine makes 600HP when the dyno said something.......less.

[undy]

I bench ran the fan on both speeds a few minutes ago. I made some 8 gauge patch cables for the test. Holy cow, that sucker moves some air on high speed. In fact, to say quite a bit more that the unit I'm currently running would be an understatement. I would think that after installing this unit your heat issues will be a thing of the past. Is your alternator up to the task, idle amps specifically? You'll need a good stout 55 amps or so at idle to keep everything running, including the hi-speed fan.

I've been thinking some more on the fan wiring. Here's my plan... I'm going to install a two position toggle switch on the dash, hi-speed & low-speed. With a flip of the switch I'll be able to choose which speed will cycle via my Painless fan thermostat, hi speed for those scorcher days and lo speed for the rest. In addition I'll run another 3 position toggle switch which will be a manual on for the fan, on-hi, off, 0n-low. I think I'm going to build my own relay pac. I'll use heavier duty relays than the Hollister unit does. I'll mount it all to a piece of 0.090" aluminum, probably with a decorative cover too.

I might have to put this conversion on a faster track..

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by undy

Is your alternator up to the task, idle amps specifically? You'll need a good stout 55 amps or so at idle to keep everything running, including the hi-speed fan.

I am running a 100 AMP alternator, not sure if that's enough. Thoughts?

[tcrist]

Originally Posted by undy

I bench ran the fan on both speeds a few minutes ago. I made some 8 gauge patch cables for the test. Holy cow, that sucker moves some air on high speed. In fact, to say quite a bit more that the unit I'm currently running would be an understatement. I would think that after installing this unit your heat issues will be a thing of the past. Is your alternator up to the task, idle amps specifically? You'll need a good stout 55 amps or so at idle to keep everything running, including the hi-speed fan.

I've been thinking some more on the fan wiring. Here's my plan... I'm going to install a two position toggle switch on the dash, hi-speed & low-speed. With a flip of the switch I'll be able to choose which speed will cycle via my Painless fan thermostat, hi speed for those scorcher days and lo speed for the rest. In addition I'll run another 3 position toggle switch which will be a manual on for the fan, on-hi, off, 0n-low. I think I'm going to build my own relay pac. I'll use heavier duty relays than the Hollister unit does. I'll mount it all to a piece of 0.090" aluminum, probably with a decorative cover too.

I might have to put this conversion on a faster track..

Undy,

What if you hook the low speed to one side of the toggle with the thermo on/off and hook up the fast speed to the other side of the toggle as a bypass. That way you would only have one switch.

Terry