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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 67 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 67 | Hey guys,
I'm building a Speeder car (small train car that the train/rail workers used to use) and I installed a SBC/400 trans.The train car runs at 180 when going forward, but when I'm running it backwards it runs around 220. So my question is, how can I wire my fans on a 3 way switch to run them backwards? The only idea I came up with was to use 2 switches one for power and one for ground. Anybody done this?
1937 Chevy (converted to 4x4)
1942 Chevy G506 1.5 ton 4x4
1958 Mack B model (on Chevy 1 ton 4x4 frame)
1969 Dodge Charger
1987 K30 Crewcab
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | first thing you need to check is if just reversing the electrical connections makes the fan move air the opposite direction, with at least some of them you need to turn the fan blade over
Bill | | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | I changed mine by reversing the wire | | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 576 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 576 | i had to flip my blade as well......dave
1949 Chevrolet 3100 "When this thing hits 88 miles an hour, you're going to see some serious sh%t." -Doc Brown
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,596 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,596 | Since you probably have to flip your blades, you may want to run separate fans on separate switches, one for backward and one for forward. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats | | Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 | I have never found a fan blade that is reversible enough for cooling in both directions. some you can reverse to blow light debris and chaff from the radiators.
also, SPAL and Tri-Pac are the only electric fans that I found actually match their flow curves.
however electric fans are not that efficient and have air flows less than 25mph. why not make use of the speeds your going and use and use "ram air"
The problems we face today can not be addressed at the same level of intelligence we were at when we created them - Albert Einstein Or with the same level of $ - Me
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | what Scott says about 'ramming' - also could run an electric fan for forward and the engine mounted fan for reverse if you can source one with reverse twist on the blades - I have one that came on a 350 in my bus project, but no idea what it's from Bill | | | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 4,886 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 4,886 | You need the old two stroke it came with! I have a 1929 Fairmont 6hp off a speeder. Make that SBC into a two stroke, then you would have something!
Can you adapt a radiator on the other end for reverse running, then add a fan to each radiator? If you go to adding to many fans, you are going to end up blocking all your air flow you have now.
Joe | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,877 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,877 | | | | | | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 303 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2010 Posts: 303 | they have tons of electric fans on Ebay for pretty good prices and some of them even come with the relay/wiring kit. I use a 16" on my radiator and it cools my 400sb very well. The fan is installed to pull the air through the radiator. I was kind of leary about using a electric fan at first. But now I wouldn't go back to astock fan.
Last edited by tracern1; 07/31/2012 9:17 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 35 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 35 | Avoid the chinese fans on ebay. I replace them for guys all the time with bad, noisy motor bearings some only last a year or two max. Use a quality fan like a Spal. They are made in Italy and are a tier 1 oem supplier.
You could run a pusher fan on one side and a puller on the other and just switch on the one that is needed depending on direction.
How do you make sure that you get enough air when running backwards? Could you make an air duct with a flapper valve that could pick up cool air somehow?
I have one that I have run in a car for 10 years with no problems. | | |
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