Custom Fan Setup

[SactoJim]

Posted this in my build thread, but sometimes they get buried and I just wanted to show off my completed fan shroud....mainly cuz I did it pretty inexpensively. The fans are out of a late model Merc Sable that I picked up at the local Pick N pull for a mere $20!..(I think the cashier made a little error in my favor). I then figured out the shroud in CAD and then had a buddy who has a fab shop bend and weld it up for me for about $100. I have another $100 in the controller, thermostat, and additional relay wiring harness that I got all of EBay.
So I'm into the fan setup about $220 and it turned out pretty nice in my "unbiased" opinion.

I also had a good connection at 1-800-radiator and got a new 4 core for about $140....let's just hope the whole setup will keep this thing cool in our regular +100 deg days here in the summer!

[BACKYARD88]

Hey, that looks relly good! I bet you couldn't buy something similar for twice the price

[killer71]

May I ask why you went with this system?

[DoobieBrother]

That is sweet look'n!

[JHART]

Man i have to admit thats probably the cleanest looking setup i have seen yet.

I am curious though ... would you be interested in having one made for me? ..hehe

[Shane]

Awesome dude!

Tell your buddy he does great fab work! And your part doesn't look too shabby either, I might add!

[LUV2XCLR8]

Agree x3 for the last 3 posts

[shifty]

I have heard from several people that you'll need bypass holes in your shroud to allow air to pass through the radiator while driving at highway speeds. The fans can't spin as fast as they need to, and you'll burn em up. This is just what a hear (most factory shrouds are setup this way also!)

[fosheec]

I wish my electric fan setup was that pretty. I am running a 16" and a 14" without a shroud. I have trouble getting up to operating temp if it isn't above 85*. Of course I run a 160* thermostat too.

[DUD2STUD]

Shifty's right you need bypass hole or you will burn up the fans. First hand knowledge talking here

[pcmcobra]

frikkin clean dude...
nice job

[ortegamotor]

nice work Jim , i know about the heat aswell i am just up the Hill in Auburn.here was my set up.Tony

[SactoJim]

So you guys (shifty & DUD2STUD) got me wondering about this bypass thing. I've seen the after market setups that have the little rubber flapper outlets and thought they were mainly for airflow at highway speeds (less drag). Though I haven't looked closely, I don't recall seeing factory shrouds with those relief outlets.

I could understand the potential for burning up motors if the fans were pusher's and not puller's.....just seems to me that the rush of air coming through the radiator at higher speeds would only aid in the rotation of the fans and I can't imagine there would be enough velocity to make them spin beyond their max operating RPM. Does the air coming through the radiator at highway speeds actually cause some drag on the fans?

...also, I have to think that the CFM capacity of the fans at full RPM could never amount the to type of CFM moving through the radiator at 65 mph and if set up correctly, the fans wouldn't be running at higher MPH speed anyway.

I know applying common sense doesn't alway work for everything, so someone explain this to me cuz I sure don't wanna burn up anything!!

...and ORTEGAMOTOR.....nice setup........you get down here to any of the local car shows and don't they have some weekly thing up there as well?

...and thanks for the compliments all!

[68 short step]

those do look nice..... it'll cause the fans to turn slower at highway speeds, b/c the wind will only have to go through the fans, causeing the motors to strain aginst the velocity of the wind... hope that makes sence..

[SactoJim]

I guess that makes some sense. I should be OK here because the Spal fan controller will be preset at a low temp of around 175 or so and when the engine reaches that temp the fan will kick on a 50% and start to ramp up to 100% as (if) temp continues to rise. At 100%, the preset high temp point (say 195) will cause the second fan to come on at 100%.

Both fans will typically only be running in stop & go situations, so at highway speeds, the other fan will be off and provide a bypass.

Does that make sense?

[68 short step]

yea, in that instant then you should be fine...

[Classic Heartbeat]

Here is the one that we sell and have in the Garden Truck..

Here is the same set up in pollished stainless steel...

WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com

[Shane]

hey SactoJim ... do you have a part number for the Spal fan controller?

I am running a twin fan setup and want to do exactly what you describe as far as 1 fan running and then the second fan coming on at a given temp.

thanks!

[pcmcobra]

Dakota digital dual fan controller:
http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.c...prod/prd43.htm

DCC:
http://www.dccontrol.com/fancontrol.htm

Spal controller:
http://www.customstreetdesigns.com/4062-FAN-PWM.htm

[bill8333]

Sweet

[Mudder]

I had hot running temps until I cut a series of 2.5 inch holes in my shroud. I am running a single 16" fan. Couldn't get it to cool off at all even running down the highway.

[piecesparts]

The shrouds that SPAL sells with their dual electric fans has openings along the top and bottom that have rubber flaps over them. This is to let air bypass at high speeds and the fans do not have to run. The flaps keep the recirculation of air to a minimum when the fans are running.

I have one of the SPAL fan controllers on one of my electric fan setups and would like to get another. Where did you find the one tha tyou have for the price you mentioned?

[SactoJim]

piecesparts

I picked up the controller on Ebay for around $75 delivered and the secondary fan relay kit for $25. You shouldn't have to buy another controller to operate a second fan. The controller I have has the ability to kick on a second fan. You will need a relay for the second fan (the relay in the controller won't handle 2 fans) and the fan speed will only be high (not variable like the first fan).

[Ole Blue 68]

That is a sweet looking setup Jim. Keep us posted on how this thing works out. If it does, I'm with JHart that maybe you oughta build some of these and sell 'em.

[Mudder]

I have seen several shrouds/fan sets sold now that do have holes in the shoruds.