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i purchased an electric fan to install on my 54/3100 and is on the front clip ready to go but my mechanic suggested i reinstall my mechanical fan because of the possibility of the electric fan goes out and burs up the engine. the reason i got the electric was to eliminate the mechanical to increase the horse power a little. opinions??????????

nearly every car built today has an electric fan

Did you get a good electric fan, like a Spal?

I plan to only run an electric fan or two on my truck. I will also have a temp gauge so I can see if it gets hot and cut it off before I screw something up.

Spal also makes a very nice adjustable fan controller.

Grigg

Ron, Something to consider.....I'm running a six blade flex-o-lite #FLX-1615P (Simmit Racing $24.95) style fan on my 235 with the adaptor plate and the old style pump. It required some careful tweaking to open up the center hole to 7/8" but it pulls air great.....temp runs a notch below the centerline on the stock 54 gauge with a 180 thermostat. This is with the "Old Aire" A/C cranking!!! I did add a pusher in front just in case, on a manual switch and dual relays but haven't even needed it so far.

I have about 1/2 to 3/4" clearance between the center mount blades and the stock mount radiator and have no other clearance issues with the H/B or the alternator/belts/hoses. The only down side is that you will have to pull the radiator to remove the fan, but I don't see any need in the near future. For a complete waterpump change, the adaptor plate, pump and fan come out as a unit without pulling the radiator. The trade-off in HP is worth the peace of mind knowing it is working properly and not subject to any little glitches or Gremlins!!!

Dave

Been running fans I got from the local auto recycler (junk yard) for 3 yrs now, No problem.
Threw the standard fan away.

I wouldnt be afraid of the Electric fans ,Remember you still have a Temp Gauge ..to let ya know that somethin amiss ?

How about using a " pusher " type electric fan mounted on front of rad ?

I have more than one classic , I use the fan from a Ford Taurus . it pulls air like you wont belive . It pulls 3300 cfm and is a 2 speed . I wired mine with a manual switch for high, low and off . The low side needs a 30 amp relay and the high side needs a 70 amp . Most guys run it with a heat sensitive switch so it come on by itself and switches high and low on its own . If you run one of these you need a alt with a high output and the electric fan has a high amp draw .

That comment brings up a question. What brand after market pusher fan in a 16" size will give you the most CFM? It's a good question since it seems there are several thousand brands of electric fans out there. On a 37 truck, a pusher is all you can use. No room for a puller.

Joe

USE two relays

http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/cgi-bin//ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=002504#000002

spal

You already have a number of comments with options but no one has ask you a couple of questions. Is you engine/engine deck orginial? If so, do you want it to remain as orginial as possible? If not, what are you running? Will your 'aftermarket' mechanical fan 'cut' your radiator where it should?

another vote fr the Taurus/Marquis/Crown Vic fan here, $27 at the U-Pull-it yard & moves more air than any aftermarket electric fan(even doubles) I have ever seen.

Ron, I doubt that you would get much more power with the electric fan, leave it as is or get a bigger motor, my 235 never ran hot...............

I have gone both ways & I think you are better off with a mech. fan especially with a thermal fan clutch. I put a high dollar high CFM fan kit on my 70 & didn,t notice any increase in power or mileage. I had to get a high output alt. to carry the load with A/C & the fan. The electric fan is good if you have space problems.

mine never run hot in all the years even with the old radiator half full, it leaked. i have a fairly new one now and it never ran hot and it was a daily driver and ran in 95 degree weather and i never had a problem. the issue is should i reinstall the mech. fan the electric is installed and have both???????? ron

I think it is up to you.

As you can see from the replies above some people like mechanical fans and some like electric.

I think both have their place, I have used mechanical fans, and I plan to use an electric fan on my project as a mechanical one won't fit.

For those of you with the idea that mechanical fans don't fail check this out:
Blade
I was in the middle of Yosemite National Park when my 52 3800 threw a blade, not my idea of fun while almost 3,000 miles from home. I was able to get by until I found a replacement fan later in the day.
Fan Balancing


You have already spent money on the electric one, and sounds like you want to use it, or you would not have installed it, so use it. if you are still not sure it was a good idea then put the mechanical fan under the seat with a wrench and a set of bolts.

Ron, you stated.........the reason i got the electric was to eliminate the mechanical to increase the horse power a little. opinions??????????

I doubt that it would but if that is what you want to do then go for it........

Gigg's advice about carrying the mechanical as a backup is a good idea. ron