E-fan on my short list

[superdart]

Well, I still don't have the Dart going. It seemed too easy to be true. I got the C-class fan installed on my car, and it cooled fine sitting still, but I had to get a bigger alternator to feed the damn thing (40 amps).

Now I hear tale from the Benz tech the fan is intended to get a pulsed 12V signal (sorta like a tach) from the ECM to determine fan speed. I have been feeding it a straight 12V, which might explain why it spins like a turbine. Apparently if this is done for too long the control module will smoke and I'll need to rewire it to get the fan working.

I'm about tired of it. My car cooled better before I started messing with it. All I lacked was a shroud to help cool it while sitting still. At this point I just want it reliable to drive, and in that respect it was better off before I started messing with it.

ORIGINALLY I had:

26" 2 core radiator (new)
50/50 coolant
180 stat
AC Fan
AC water pump
NO fan shroud
19 degrees timing

I had almost no issues with this setup except for HOT days in traffic.

Now I have gone UP to a 3 core radiator
25/75 coolant with water wetter
15 degrees of timing
..and with various e-fans it never cooled right if not moving.

I think I'm gonna strip off the e-fan, put the AC fan back on and get a shroud. With the radiator, new coolant mix and wetter it should cool great. I see no reason I can't run my timing back out either.

 

[yellowdartdave]

Use the factory fan clutch and the proper shroud and all should be well.

 

[bremereric]

Well, I still don't have the Dart going. It seemed too easy to be true. I got the C-class fan installed on my car, and it cooled fine sitting still, but I had to get a bigger alternator to feed the damn thing (40 amps).

Now I hear tale from the Benz tech the fan is intended to get a pulsed 12V signal (sorta like a tach) from the ECM to determine fan speed. I have been feeding it a straight 12V, which might explain why it spins like a turbine. Apparently if this is done for too long the control module will smoke and I'll need to rewire it to get the fan working.

I'm about tired of it. My car cooled better before I started messing with it. All I lacked was a shroud to help cool it while sitting still. At this point I just want it reliable to drive, and in that respect it was better off before I started messing with it.

ORIGINALLY I had:

26" 2 core radiator (new)
50/50 coolant
180 stat
AC Fan
AC water pump
NO fan shroud
19 degrees timing

I had almost no issues with this setup except for HOT days in traffic.

Now I have gone UP to a 3 core radiator
25/75 coolant with water wetter
15 degrees of timing
..and with various e-fans it never cooled right if not moving.

I think I'm gonna strip off the e-fan, put the AC fan back on and get a shroud. With the radiator, new coolant mix and wetter it should cool great. I see no reason I can't run my timing back out either.

Timing might be an issue....19 and 15 might be a little high for you initial timing...what is your total timing and where does it all come in all...I have mine set at 10 BTDC and have 25 built into the distributor...35 total at 2900 rpms...also because I live in hot *** Texas I stripped the center out of my thermostat and used it like a racing washer...I also did the HHR fan thing and am going to trash the restricted 440 Source housing..

 

[yellowdartdave]

ORIGINALLY I had:

26" 2 core radiator (new)
50/50 coolant
180 stat
AC Fan
AC water pump
NO fan shroud
19 degrees timing

I had almost no issues with this setup except for HOT days in traffic.

Now I have gone UP to a 3 core radiator
25/75 coolant with water wetter
15 degrees of timing
..and with various e-fans it never cooled right if not moving.

I think I'm gonna strip off the e-fan, put the AC fan back on and get a shroud. With the radiator, new coolant mix and wetter it should cool great. I see no reason I can't run my timing back out either.


Like I said, A/C Fan And Shroud is what you need.
Electric fans on an old car require a lot more juice to run than the car was originally equipped to handle.
In traffic the fan moves the air and the shroud makes sure it comes thru the radiator.

 

[superdart]

Timing might be an issue....19 and 15 might be a little high for you initial timing.

Actually, at 19 degrees the only heating issue was in traffic in hot 100 degree weather. My distributor is an FBO stage II, and Don set it up for 18 at idle. Motor is a 9:1 360 with a 455/475 Doug Herbert Cam.

Any other time of the year traffic was not an issue. I have the clutch fan going back on, just need to acquire the fan shroud.

 

[bremereric]

Actually, at 19 degrees the only heating issue was in traffic in hot 100 degree weather. My distributor is an FBO stage II, and Don set it up for 18 at idle. Motor is a 9:1 360 with a 455/475 Doug Herbert Cam.

Any other time of the year traffic was not an issue. I have the clutch fan going back on, just need to acquire the fan shroud.

Point being said what is your total timing....10 is my initial and 35 is my total in at 2900 rpm....too much initial timing will cause you issues also..remember that I see those hot temps also...

last night's pic with HHR fan and snow shovel air spoiler...

 

[bremereric]

This is my test snow shovel spoiler.....then I will switch to one from Randy's Spoilers...

it will look like this....installed...

 

[superdart]

My total is 32 at 3400 rpms (as per Don).

But, today in lovely DFW the official temp at Arlington airport (1/4 mile from my house) is 98 degrees. I parked the car in the driveway and let it idle.

With the viscous 7 blade fan and no shroud I was amazed at how well it cooled. It took 5 or so minutes for it to warm up, and after the stat opened at 180 degrees the needle nearly stopped moving. I let it idle for another 5 minutes and barely moved. I ran the motor up to 2000 rpms and held it there for about a minute and it only got to the 190-195 range.

All this without a shroud, of which I will be getting one very soon.

...I am done with electric fans. Even though the Benz fans seems to work great, it still puts a taxing on my electrical system. The 40 amp draw is noticeable and I can watch my volt gauge drop 1.5v whenever it kicks on. Why run the electric fan and watch temps cycle up and down when it looks like the viscous fan will hold the temp at a good steady temp?

:wack:

I do like the chin spoiler, and hopefully will be putting one on my car also. :cheers:

 

[bremereric]

My total is 32 at 3400 rpms (as per Don).

But, today in lovely DFW the official temp at Arlington airport (1/4 mile from my house) is 98 degrees. I parked the car in the driveway and let it idle.

With the viscous 7 blade fan and no shroud I was amazed at how well it cooled. It took 5 or so minutes for it to warm up, and after the stat opened at 180 degrees the needle nearly stopped moving. I let it idle for another 5 minutes and barely moved. I ran the motor up to 2000 rpms and held it there for about a minute and it only got to the 190-195 range.

All this without a shroud, of which I will be getting one very soon.

...I am done with electric fans. Even though the Benz fans seems to work great, it still puts a taxing on my electrical system. The 40 amp draw is noticeable and I can watch my volt gauge drop 1.5v whenever it kicks on. Why run the electric fan and watch temps cycle up and down when it looks like the viscous fan will hold the temp at a good steady temp?

:wack:

I do like the chin spoiler, and hopefully will be putting one on my car also. :cheers:

good deal dude...if you ever go big block you will see fewer choices that what you have now....my HHR fan draws 14 amps and is rated at 2700 rpm....it's working for me now...it was 102 here today and I drove to the car show....I can't tell you how many degrees it was running but it did fine...it was 96 when I drove back and this is what I saw again...

 

[superdart]

Well, since I like to have options, I doubt there will be any big blocks in my future. As it stands right now, if anything catastrophic were to happen to my 360, I've got 318 block and MP 3.55 forged crank so I can build a 346.:cheers: