Bug Screens - Use Them?

[davids2toys]

Originally Posted by eschaider

Phil,

Didn't mean to ignore your post — got distracted and old brain cells dedicated to memory failed me.

There is a relatively low cost fan alternative that is pretty nice. It involves using a fan out of a Lincoln Mk VIII. Early ones were supposed to be 4500 cfm and the last two years of production produced 5000 cfm versions. They can be sourced from salvage yards for ~$35.

After the fan you definitely want to use a fan controller. They are not only high flow fans they are high starting amperage draw. Cold starting the fan can surge over 70/80 amps and damage your electrical system and/or alternator. There is a company called the Hollister Road Company (<= clickable) that makes fan controllers specifically for this fan. The offer two controllers one rated at 85 A and the other rated at 125 A. The 85 will typically work fine the 125 offers a little more head room for $20 more.

Both controllers will give the fan a soft start and then seamlessly vary the fan speed up and down as engine temperature goes up and down. At highway speeds, when there is adequate air flow across the radiator to cool the engine they will shut down the fan. As engine temp goes down so does fan speed. When you shut off the car they will run the fan for approximately a minute after the engine stops.

Way cool controller and the only one like it I could find when I was hunting for mine. BTW when the MK VIII fan goes up to top speed you need to keep women, children and small dogs away from the front of the car.


Ed

Ed,
This sounds like a very cool unit. I went on the Hollister site but could not find this controller. Do you have a model #?
Dave

[eschaider]

Originally Posted by davids2toys

Ed,
This sounds like a very cool unit. I went on the Hollister site but could not find this controller. Do you have a model #?
Dave

Apologies for the late response Dave. Here is a link to their stuff, => Fan Controller. This particular unit was a special unit they built for me and then productized it for general resale.

The feature set and design is very attractive. It uses a Meziere 50 or 55 gal (forgot which) per minute electric water pump and a 5000 cfm MK VIII fan. When you start the car both the water pump and the fan get a soft start so you don't overload your electrical system. There is no thermostat! In the top radiator hose there is a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the coolant leaving the engine. You set your target temperature and the system provides a closed loop control of engine temperature by seamlessly raising and lowering both the pump and fan speeds to maintain the target temperature you have selected. At highway speed the fan shuts down.

When you park the car the unit will continue to run both the fan and the water pump for a minute to a minute and a half slowly but uniformly cooling the engine down. It is a very nice package both in terms of cooling capacity and also in terms of nice touches like the short run on period after you shut off the engine.

Ask for Dave at Hollister Road Co. He is super easy to communicate with and helpful beyond your expectations. The phone number is 713-937-0387.

Almost forgot, when you remove the thermostat and the obstruction it represented in terms of coolant flow it is stunning how much more heat energy your cooling system can sink away.


Ed

p.s. The 85A fan only controller is listed as out of stock but I believe the 125A is still available. Dave should be able to give you an availability on the fan only controller if that is the route you choose to go.

[davids2toys]

Originally Posted by eschaider

Apologies for the late response Dave. Here is a link to their stuff, => Fan Controller. This particular unit was a special unit they built for me and then productized it for general resale.

The feature set and design is very attractive. It uses a Meziere 50 or 55 gal (forgot which) per minute electric water pump and a 5000 cfm MK VIII fan. When you start the car both the water pump and the fan get a soft start so you don't overload your electrical system. There is no thermostat! In the top radiator hose there is a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the coolant leaving the engine. You set your target temperature and the system provides a closed loop control of engine temperature by seamlessly raising and lowering both the pump and fan speeds to maintain the target temperature you have selected. At highway speed the fan shuts down.

When you park the car the unit will continue to run both the fan and the water pump for a minute to a minute and a half slowly but uniformly cooling the engine down. It is a very nice package both in terms of cooling capacity and also in terms of nice touches like the short run on period after you shut off the engine.

Ask for Dave at Hollister Road Co. He is super easy to communicate with and helpful beyond your expectations. The phone number is 713-937-0387.

Almost forgot, when you remove the thermostat and the obstruction it represented in terms of coolant flow it is stunning how much more heat energy your cooling system can sink away.


Ed

p.s. The 85A fan only controller is listed as out of stock but I believe the 125A is still available. Dave should be able to give you an availability on the fan only controller if that is the route you choose to go.

Great post, good info Ed, thanks
Where in the world did you mount that thing?

I have had no problem with my fan and I am staying with a traditional water pump. My fan also stays on for a good 3-5 minutes after I shut the car off. My the fan is on a relay and I thought that solved the problem of starting up big load?
Is the fan only much cheaper
I will probably keep it simple and not do this mod ....for the moment anyway!
I think I will call him per your suggestion and get his input

Dave

[eschaider]

Originally Posted by davids2toys

Great post, good info Ed, thanks
Where in the world did you mount that thing?

I have had no problem with my fan and I am staying with a traditional water pump. My fan also stays on for a good 3-5 minutes after I shut the car off. My the fan is on a relay and I thought that solved the problem of starting up big load?
Is the fan only much cheaper
I will probably keep it simple and not do this mod ....for the moment anyway!
I think I will call him per your suggestion and get his input

Dave

I haven't mounted it yet Dave. It just arrived last week and the new engine build will be this coming month. I am currently thinking about somewhere on the driverside inner fender although I would prefer getting it out of the engine compartment, ideally somewhere under the dash.

The fan run on at shut off is nice the fan and pump run on is nicer. The fan only units are about $100 or so less expensive IIRC.


Ed

[davids2toys]

I agree, the water run on sounds great, I am just not a fan of electric water pumps for street use.
Not knowing the size of the unit, how about mounting it with Velcro or to sided tape to the MSD box underneath the dash