Re: electric fan problem, '87 Spider

[John Gallagher <gallagher41@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Exploding fans often = broken motor mount(s).  The voice of experience.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dean W. Cains" <dwc@domain.elided>
To: <alfa@domain.elided>
Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2003 12:44 AM
Subject: electric fan problem, '87 Spider


> Hi Group:
>
> I've got two Spider's, '74 & '87, and in an effort to treat them both
> fairly, I've just installed a 12" Perma-Cool electric fan on the '87.  The
> fan is installed as a pusher, with a thermostatic switch in the bottom
> radiator tank (on at 185F, off at 170F).  The '74 has an identical setup,
> which has worked fine for 2+ years, but the two cars have different
> radiators.  The '74 has a 2-row recore, while the '87 has an almost-new
OEM
> radiator.  The problem is that the '87 runs hot, just over 200F, while the
> '74 is always at 185.  Before the electric fan conversion, i.e. 2 weeks
> ago, the '87 always ran at 180F.
>
> It seems that the core of the '87 OEM radiator is so much more dense, with
> fins and tubes, that the airflow of the fan can't blow through it easily
> enough.  I can feel the airflow on the engine side of the radiator, but
> it's much stronger on the grille side, as if the air is just reflecting
> back off the core.  This is not happening on the '74, I guess because the
> core material is so much less dense.  Yes, the fan blade is properly
> oriented, the fan is spinning in the correct direction, etc., and the fan
> comes on at the proper temperature.  In fact, with the fan in place, but
> with the radiator removed, the airflow was so strong it blew off the
towels
> I had protecting the tops of the front fenders.
>
> Any ideas about a solution?  There is barely 2.5" between the radiator and
> the water pump pulley, so I can't imagine how one would install a fan in
> puller configuration on a Spider.  Not that it would kill me, but is my
> only option re-installing the belt-driven fan and shroud?  I was going to
> install an electric fan, anyway, but 10 days ago the original fan
exploded,
> prompting me to put the rush on installing the electric fan.  Anyone have
> an electric pusher fan working with an OEM radiator?
>
> Regards,
>
> Dean
> Lutz, FL
> '74 & '87 Spider Veloce's
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