Ok guys, I am almost ready to pick a fan setup for the 56 customline. I have no problem sticking with engine fan, and have no problem with electric either. I just bought a new 19x26 aluminum dual row radiator. With the radiator sitting in place (this weekend) I am down to 2 1/2" (safely) between them. I could put a mechanical fan on and clear the radiator, depending on what size spacer I used. However, when you start talking shrouds it gets more difficult, to me anyway. I could get a shroud like this http://www.hrperformanceproducts.com/fanshrouds.html Using that shroud setup, its 2 5/8" deep, then add a 3" deep trim collar to it, making the shroud almost 6" deep from the radiator. So with the shroud (5 5/8" deep from radiator), and my water pulley sitting only 3" from the radiator, my fan would be completely inside the shroud, especially if I have a spacer with the fan. I have read everywhere the fan needs to be half in and half out of the shroud to be effective. Now I could easily thrown on a slimline electric and call it a day too, I just dont really have room for a electric fan and shroud both. I have heard good things about derale fans, and this one is only 2.6" thick and rated at 2400 cfm. Stanger community loves these. (P.S. I have a 130 amp alternator already) Changing to a shorter pump or things like that are out also. I have everything in place to run serpentine and dont want to start over. Thoughts???
Check out the pictures in this article,notice serpentine system,notice location of water pump hub to fans,notice the price and CFM's "Ford has a better idea" click on: www.fordmuscle.com/forums/cooling-articles/482048-junkyard-upgrade-dual-electric-fans.html
I'm sure you know your water pump rotates backwards from stock, right? So whatever mechanical fan you use will have to as well.
Personally I have a thing against electric fans. You have plenty of room for a mechanical one and those little 5.0 fords don't normally run hot. I would mount the mechanical and not be afraid not to install a shroud if it's to much work. With a shroud is better but not always necessary. The Wizzard
I have a similiar setup. I despise electric fans. I bought a reverse direction fan on the bay for twenty bucks, and used a 1 1/2 inch space to clear the other accessories.
Electric fans are a last resort. IMHO They are a cop out. Easy and ugly. There are many thousands of 55-56 Fords with much bigger engines running mechanical fans. I would not ***ume that you will need a shroud if you set it up with 3/4" to 1" clearance. I'm going to run a 352 FE behind an original 292 radiator with a mechanical fan. I have buddies that used them with 390s and no shrouds. It sounds like you have an ample radiator to cool the engine. I'm an optimist. I ***ume that since it's been done this way for decades it will work for me too.
from what I have read mechanical should be your first choice if you have the room. the biggest one you can get. I like stainless flex fans. I say build or modify a shroud to work with what you have. I think a shroud would be good even if the fan is close to the radiator. might not make a difference until that hot day in traffic, but if nothing else it will keep people from sticking thier fingers in the fan. my step- Granpa lost his thumb that way.
My two cents is go with an electric fan.....Put it on front side of the radiator and use it as a pusher. Cleans up the engine bay, saves a couple of horsepower. Pat
Lot of good thoughts here! thanks To address some of them.... I do realize I will need a reverse (engine) fan, but thanks for mentioning anyway squirrel, never thought of this...****, why wouldnt that work?? leave off the trim ring, sounds like a good possibility and would be about the right depth... It is a cute little ford engine, but deep inside its a little bigger, 347 stroker with plenty of HP. I have read others on ford sites having issues cooling them, especially in stop/go traffic on a hot day. Its mid 90's here in the summer. Not apposed to a pusher either. I plan to install a/c next spring so i have to save some condenser room though. Jeffb, i like that...i looked at the taurus one already, but its too deep. This one may have a chance with it being 3.5" at its deepest point, which is at the fan motors...less than that where the water pulley would hit..
if it needs to cool well, I strongly suggest using a mechanical fan and shroud. get a good fan, one with a steel center and curved stainless blades, you'll need to spend money for it. pusher is not the way to go.
yeah, I didnt think so from what I have read...Some say its OK, but I will see a lot of traffic and hot days.
I just spent about a week repositioning my motor in my Riviera to run a mechanical fan. I swapped in a 327 and when I first did the swap, I did not have room for a mech fan, so I ran two pulling 10 inch electric fans with a shroud all built correctly. Rediculous amounts of air, only thing was that it taxed 35 amps from my electrical system, and if its a hot day, which is everyday in Southern California, they had to be on non stop. It still overheated pulling good grades on a hot day, so I bit the bullet and moved the motor a good 4-5 inchs back and am installing a mechanical with a shroud. I know so many people who swear by them, and I can't really disagree. In a week I should have some results for you!
Look forward to hearing the results... I am pretty sure I have room for a mech. fan as is. What size alt. you running? I have a 3G 130 amp in mine now, ford taurus $20 prize. Picked up 2 matter of fact, both tested with flyin colors.
I'd def. spend the time to run a proper mech. fan with a shroud , if it runs warm you can always add an electric later . I had a car with electric only one time , I'll never do it again !
I vote mechanical. I ran name-brand electric dual pullers in my '60 Olds for a while and it would always get hot in stop & go traffic. I switched it over to a factory mechanical fan, a fresh clutch and a shroud and it ran much cooler. Like 10-15 degrees cooler in stop & go traffic.
My vote goes with a mechanical fan always. A heavy duty clutch fan with lots of blades is preferred if you can find the room. I've gone through allot to cool my car with a/c in Phoenix summers, including buying every "latest greatest" electric fan that has come down the road. None ever seemed to move as much air as my 7bladed cadillac clutch fan with a shroud. My car is a bit to cool too with an aluminum headed 400 or so horse 360 dodge in everyday traffic. On a 118 degree day a couple of weeks ago, I sat at a five minute light and the temp just touched 195 with a/c blowing icicles. I've had some dependability issues with electrics in the past, as well. One more thought - if you do go with a flex fan, stainless is best, but more important, find one that the center is more "open". Several are made as a one piece stamping and have a real "closed" center hub area. These do not flow as much air as the more "open" multi piece style. Look at three or four and you'll see what I'm talking about.
I've run both mechanical and electric fans successfully. Simpler is better. The simplest way is a mechanical fan and shroud. By the way, the shroud is important in most cases. Run an electric fan when a mechanical won't fit the particular application well.
i had a 65 gmc pickup that i put in a 350 small block, and ran a puller electric fan. i wired a light on the dash and a switch also the thermostat. when you would drive down the highway the light for the fan would come on very dim. the fan worked good for some time.after some time i think it would not work as good. my truck would heat up . and it started to **** up a lot of current. so i orderd a shroud, went to pic&pull and got a fan and clutch from a caddy i think it has 7 blades on it. my truck then would idle all day long at 170, it ran warmer when driving. when i came to a stop it would cool down about 5 to 10 deg good luck
Well my radiator should be here saturday and I will slap her in there and see what I have left for room (for sure). I have a mech. fan here and spacer to play around with and see what kind of room I have. I will definitely not have room for a clutch fan though. Icebreaker, you mean for mechanical? If you do, the link to shrouds is in the original post I made. If you mean electrical, check the bay.. Here is one for dual 10's and here is one for dual 12's
1. the original fans work very well. The CFM capacity of an electric is meaningless - compared to what, another electric fan? Where's the comparison in air-flow to a conventional fan? 2. mechanical fans last 50 years. Electric fans..... don't. 3. an electric fan with a temp switch = another part to fail, short out, need adjustment, leak. An electric fan without a temp switch is just wearing itself out when cruising since it's not needed. It will also run down your battery by running when you shut the engine off - the water is still hot (been there, done that), so it has to be wired through the key. 4. you don't need a fan AT ALL above 35 mph unless there's something wrong, so cars that overheat at 50 and keep buying different fans are banging their heads against the wall. 5. pusher fans obstruct air to the radiator - last resort only 6. every fan needs a shroud - name 1 car that doesn't have one. 7. really trick: electric clutch on the mechanical fan hub so it free-wheels above 40 mph (speed control magnet on the driveshaft) and at WOT
We put a 347 in a 68 Shelby, ran the mechanical fan and a 165 stat. It never gets hot even in traffic. I hate electrics. Looks like import **** to me. I ran a mechanical fan on my racer too. 14:1 compression and bored .100 over. I did take it off the motor and used a secondary electric drive when I started hittin 7800 in the traps. Still ran nice n cool.
care to mention as brand as im in the market for a fan as we sspeak...perma-cool sounds like the one you are not recomending...and flex-a-lite (10000 rpm flex fan) is....
Walker Radiator has some nice fan shrouds if you don't have the time and inclination to spend a half day in the boneyard with a tape measure. Dave
I got the radiator and set in place this weekend. I have 2 1/2" to spare at the closest point between the rad. and water pulley. So is mechanical even still possible at this point to clear pulleys and still allow for 3/4 to 1 inch of rad. clearance? I dont know how little of a spacer is acceptable
So I've seen a few mentionings of cadillac clutch fans, are these thinner than other clutch fans? (I'm in the market for one too!) Not really sure how much of a factor the shroud is, I understand it makes cooling more efficient but...? I have pulled shrouds before and not seen a huge difference in engine temps...??? Good luck! >Justin
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