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Old 04-14-2021, 12:12 AM   #1
coxswain98
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Default Electric fan over a belted fan

Any opinions about running an electric fan and omitting the belted fan? Horsepower savings? Electric fans are crap?
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Old 04-14-2021, 03:52 AM   #2
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

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Any opinions about running an electric fan and omitting the belted fan? Horsepower savings? Electric fans are crap?

OK, I'll bite! As "someone" once famously said: "Electric fans are crap!"

Resorting to using an ELECTRIC fan because you can't figure-out how to employ a mechanical (Belt-driven) fan, is just as bad as taking your little sister to the prom......'cuz you couldn't get a real date!

So, I really speak from experience...(the FAN part, NOT the sister part). Click this link (BELOW) for a thread I posted some time back on the 'Barn describing how fellow 'Barner "Heard" and myself designed and built a mechanical fan to fit his 1936 Ford coupe with an 8BA engine, which leaves precious LITTLE room for a mechanical fan because of the radiator leaning-back on '35 & '36 Fords. DD


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278828







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Old 04-14-2021, 04:01 AM   #3
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

How noisy is that compared to a stock 36 fan? I'd like to reduce the highway speed fan noise.
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Old 04-14-2021, 04:07 AM   #4
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

I'm using an electric fan because I don't really have a choice. I'm running a supercharger so there's no real way to get a fan set-up in there. My 2 cents
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Old 04-14-2021, 06:39 AM   #5
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

I have an electric fan in the roadster.
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Old 04-14-2021, 07:02 AM   #6
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

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Had an electric 6 volt on my 52 Vic when i got it. Scrapped it, put new Standt 180 stats in it & ran stock fan. Runs 180 most of the time, 190 0n hot days in Ohio.
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Old 04-14-2021, 07:05 AM   #7
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

I like electric fans as long as they are:
1, not overly "on show".
2, not too noisy.

I have 4 early fords and they all have electric fans. My observations are:
1, you hardly ever need to use them (in the Uk climate)
2, you don't even need one when the carb is moving along.
3, it saves the mech fan noise when moving along at higher speeds.
4, it saves engine power.

So with apologies to my learned fellow board contributors, I prefer them.

Mart.
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Old 04-14-2021, 07:26 AM   #8
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

There was an interesting test on horsepower draw using various fan types on you tube (believe it was motor wars). Dyno tests showed the "flex" type fan, as used by Coopman showed the worst fan for horsepower loss. The least loss was from the viscous type fan which is basically a temperature driven clutch type fan. Back in the day I ran a flex fan on my SS/H Cobra Jet after removing the clutch fan. My best time was 11.56 at 112 mph. Wish I still had that car, I sold it in 1975 when you couldn't give those cars away for $1000.00. Probably could have shaved 1/10 second if I left the stock one on.
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Old 04-14-2021, 07:28 AM   #9
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mart View Post
I like electric fans as long as they are:
1, not overly "on show".
2, not too noisy.

I have 4 early fords and they all have electric fans. My observations are:
1, you hardly ever need to use them (in the Uk climate)
2, you don't even need one when the carb is moving along.
3, it saves the mech fan noise when moving along at higher speeds.
4, it saves engine power.

So with apologies to my learned fellow board contributors, I prefer them.

Mart.
5, maximum cooling (airflow) stoplight to stoplight
6, very difficult to find a modern car (since mid '90s) without one. Hmm, I wonder what "they" know??
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Old 04-14-2021, 07:53 AM   #10
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

hotrodcbx>>>Dyno tests showed the "flex" type fan, as used by Coopman showed the worst fan for horsepower loss.>>>


Wasn't it Ralph Nader who also once famously claimed these fans were unsafe at any speed? Or was that some other part? Jack E/NJ
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Old 04-14-2021, 11:16 AM   #11
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

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I'm using an electric fan because I don't really have a choice. I'm running a supercharger so there's no real way to get a fan set-up in there. My 2 cents

That's interesting! "PeterC" has that big ol' S.Co.T. / Italmeccanica Supercharger mounted in his gorgeous '35 3-window, and has managed to squeeze-in this big ol' six bladed "Commercial" fan. DD











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Old 04-14-2021, 11:47 AM   #12
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

Electric fans will do the job if you don't have a way to install a mechanical one. All depends if you want a nostalgia look or not. I was able to squeeze a mechanical fan in on my 32 with an blown 8ba.


Lets see pictures of what you have.
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Old 04-14-2021, 11:58 AM   #13
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

Bobby Green of Old Crow Speed Shop took 1/2 of the metal blade guard from an old fashion house fan to make a "cover" for an electric fan. That simple addition made it look old timey. I thought it was a neat solution in helping to hide the modern looks.
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Old 04-14-2021, 12:09 PM   #14
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

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Bobby Green of Old Crow Speed Shop took 1/2 of the metal blade guard from an old fashion house fan to make a "cover" for an electric fan. That simple addition made it look old timey. I thought it was a neat solution in helping to hide the modern looks.

Now that is a somewhat interesting approach. MY problem with the electrics is that they stick-out like a sore thumb, and drastically take-away from any nostalgic look of a traditional hot rod. They just look like a "crutch', or an afterthought.....to me. Now, the SOUND produced by electrics.....that's a whole 'nuther issue! DD
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Old 04-14-2021, 12:20 PM   #15
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

I use both, electric on a thermo switch set & 200. Only comes on at stop lites & stop & go traffic. I went with a push type Spal behind the grill in front of radiator, you can’t even see it. I have manual shutoff so it doesn’t run with ignition off. I like it😁!
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Old 04-14-2021, 01:34 PM   #16
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

Electric and mechanical. Good thing about electric , blades hardly ever come off , at least thats what I hear . I guess anything is possible but if a electric fan blade comes off , I doubt itll leave a dent in your hood .
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Old 04-14-2021, 01:35 PM   #17
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

serpentine belt drive for ad and PS
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Old 04-14-2021, 03:58 PM   #18
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

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Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN View Post
That's interesting! "PeterC" has that big ol' S.Co.T. / Italmeccanica Supercharger mounted in his gorgeous '35 3-window, and has managed to squeeze-in this big ol' six bladed "Commercial" fan. DD











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My belt tensioner for the blower sits right where the fan would go. No can do!

Last edited by jrvariel48; 04-15-2021 at 03:04 PM. Reason: spelling
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Old 04-15-2021, 08:28 AM   #19
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

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Originally Posted by Jack E/NJ View Post
hotrodcbx>>>Dyno tests showed the "flex" type fan, as used by Coopman showed the worst fan for horsepower loss.>>>


Wasn't it Ralph Nader who also once famously claimed these fans were unsafe at any speed? Or was that some other part? Jack E/NJ
I find it funny that folks still, to this day, pick on Nader. Corviar's were built with a KNOWN safety issue that killed many folks. Why? Because the fix back then was about $6 per car.
Ralph had the testicular fortitude to bring that information to the public.
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Old 04-15-2021, 09:37 AM   #20
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

Yeah. Ralph is my hero. Wish we had more like him. No. Wait. We do! I drove a Corvair and a Pinto for years and somehow managed to survive.
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Old 04-15-2021, 09:44 AM   #21
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

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Yeah. Ralph is my hero. Wish we had more like him. No. Wait. We do! I drove a Corvair and a Pinto for years and somehow managed to survive.
So did most people that drove those two (examples) of cars. That doesn't negate the fact that they were sold to the public KNOWING they had extremely serious issues with safety.
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Old 04-15-2021, 10:15 AM   #22
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

I had a '61 Monza coupe from new. I experienced the dreaded "swing axle tuck under and spin out" personally. I wiped out the right side of the car on a tree on the left side of the road. Luckily, I wasn't hurt and the car still drove, so I was able to get home. It did quite a bit of damage, however. I drove that car another couple of years. Except for a non-functioning door on the passenger side (a decided disadvantage in a coupe), it worked fine.
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Old 04-15-2021, 06:40 PM   #23
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

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So did most people that drove those two (examples) of cars. That doesn't negate the fact that they were sold to the public KNOWING they had extremely serious issues with safety.

I can explain it for you. However, I can't understand it for you.

"Come on man. Gimmie a break!" [/QUOTE] I fully understand. I said Ralphie is my hero!
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Old 04-15-2021, 07:33 PM   #24
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"Come on man. Gimmie a break!"
I fully understand. I said Ralphie is my hero![/QUOTE]

Thanks for the smiles. I needed that after a day in the shop.
Enjoy your evening!
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Old 04-15-2021, 08:36 PM   #25
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

Ef ftw
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Old 04-16-2021, 08:14 AM   #26
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

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On my 2N tractor with 8BA, I have an electric fan. To fit using the common conversion kit you have to machine the front groove off the lower pulley. Even if you extended the tractor another inch or so, you would still not have a lot of room for a mechanical fan (and the hood would require mods).

As far as electric fans, the aftermarket has some good stuff and some junk. On every electric fan conversion I have done, I have used OEM fans. They are tested to last hundreds of thousands of miles and replacement motors are available at any auto parts store in the country if needed. Now, you do have to have a good alternator to run them. This one is an early Taurus 2-speed fan. I have also used Lincoln LS, dual Corvette, dual Contour and a few others on different projects over the years. I tried a cheap aftermarket once but it didn't cool much at all.
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Old 04-16-2021, 10:57 PM   #27
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

I have an Electric Fan in my ARDUN equipped 53, 33 coupe and 34 tub. All work great. Coupe has a 5.0 HO with a Holley Terminator System that controls the fan nicely. The others have a thermostat control with an override switch.
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Old 04-17-2021, 08:19 AM   #28
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

The 35 Coupe with the SCOT setup and fan is really nicely done - but he has the room to do it. It would be really hard to fit all of that into a 32 - 34 car - there just isn't all that much room to fit all of that in . . . but hey, worth a try!
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Old 04-18-2021, 07:27 PM   #29
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

Ive been running an electric fan for years of daily driving , works fine does what its supposed to do. I think the main reason I put it on was the original hung off a 12 volt alternator and I dont think the bearings in it where designed for all that extra whizzin' around..
I also run electronic ignition and central locking .. I must be a bad person ..
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Old 04-19-2021, 03:18 AM   #30
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Default Re: Electric fan over a belted fan

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The 35 Coupe with the SCOT setup and fan is really nicely done - but he has the room to do it. It would be really hard to fit all of that into a 32 - 34 car - there just isn't all that much room to fit all of that in.
Well.........that ain't quite how it is! '35 and '36 are famous for not being able to run anything but that wimpy, stock fan on the generator, because just like the '33s and '34s, that pesky radiator leans-back at such an extreme angle. And when you start talking 8BA-type engines, things get really tight. That's why Heard and I went to such lengths to design and build our fan contraption.

On PeterC's gorgeous '35, you THINK there's plenty of room. One thing that everyone should know about THAT '35 coupe....it is a well-thought-out and precisely-engineered piece of 'art'! The number of subtle, nearly undetectable modifications and tweaks is off the chart on that car. I happen to know that Peter moved the engine rearward nearly 1/2" during the build. He also modified an aluminum, H&H-supplied S.Co.T. blower idler arm for the fan mount, which essentially lowers the fan and moves it rearward just like our home-brewed rig does on Heard's coupe. You can see the extreme angle of the radiator, plus the lack of space with the stock '35 in top picture. Second pic shows the angle again, as well as the limited amount of space between top of fan and radiator in Heard's '36 utilizing the rig we built. DD

'36 with 24-Stud "59"-Type Engine BELOW




Heard's Coupe with 8BA/Modified Fan Mount BELOW







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