Hey guys! Been a while since I posted. Go figure; new post is a question. So, I talked to some of the guys at Ron Davis (performance radiator manufacturer) a while back and they told me that, with what our cars are exposed to here in Phoenix in the summer (110+ degrees), it's best to run a mechanical fan. How much you guys suppose that would cost me in performance? Is it worth it? Opinions? Already tried a high-CFM electric fan with no shroud. Car overheated after 10 minutes of idling in 114 degrees. 302 bored .040 over 407 HP (+/-) :16suspect 9.7:1 compression Victor Jr. water pump 2-row aluminum radiator no A/C or accessories, steering /brakes are manual C4 trans, 2800 stall
There would be your problem, just go to the junkyard find a tuaras setup and a 130 amp alternator it will be plenty for cooling. And in my opinion don't use one of them so called high cfm fans from the auto parts store, pure junk in my book and never do nearly as well as they state. I think if you look into the fine print on them ther ratings are at such high voltage its just not normal for a car electrical setup, esp with a 30 some year old alternator. From all I have seen a clutch fan cost you about 5-10 hp, not enough enough for the butt dyno meter to register. 407 hp? Whats all done to the motor?
I agree the best fan i have found so far is out of a late model thunderbird 4.6 it is amazing how much air those thing push or pull actually. A big amp alternator is also somthing i consider a must no matter what climate you live in. But then i again i like toys. Mechanical is going to help you any at idle your electric fan should out perform the mechanical at idle especially thats why all manufactures replaced them with electric to start with. I dont know who you talked to but doesnt sound like the smartest advice i have ever heard. And yes you have to have a shroud so that the fan pulls or pushes the air from and to exactly were it needs to go.
I'm using a 95 Grand Marquis condenser fan and it cools just fine with ac in the heat of the Georgia summer. A lot of people on this forum are using the Taurus fan with good luck. There probably is an advantage to the Taurus fan having 2 spds and a shroud. I agree with the above post about the mechanical fan though; at idle, the mechanical fan is at an extreme disadvantage due to lower engine speeds, even worse if you run underdrive pulleys. I definitely would upgrade the alternator as the fan draws a constant 15-20 amp minimum. Make sure your cooling system is up to snuff and the Taurus shrouded electric fan will serve you well.(and its cheaper) btw: that 4.6l T-bird fan is a monster CFM wise but it is bigger than the stock radiator.
I havent used one on a maverick yet but a bunch of other projects so thats good info i would have got one from the bone yard not even thinking about that fact.
With every thing said i got rid of the mech fan went to electric, did get a bigger alt and bat, Don't remember now. But the off the line performance can be felt more! than on paper
our shop ran a Dynojet for a while and an electric fan replacement for the viscous clutch style engine driven fan was worth anywhere between 9-25hp (obviously depending on lockup) I imagine a fixed straight bolted mechanical is at least in the middle of that number (flex fans tend to flatten at high speed). On a side note: the Meziere electric water pump is worth 9-11hp on a 4.6l DOHC Marauder engine.
Thanks guys. The electric fan I used was a PermaCool. Don't remember the CFM, though, but it was the highest they offered at the time. I figured a shroud has something to do with it, too. I knew I should run one, but, just never got around to fabricating it. I work in a sheet metal shop, too. So I have even less of an excuse. To answer 74 Grabber's question (hope you like to read ): forged rotating assembly, including pistons, H-beam rods Total Seal rings Melling high-volume oil pump double roller timing chain custom ground Comp cam aluminum roller rockers AFR 165's, port-matched on intake and exhaust side, 58cc, 1.90/1.60 Weiand Stealth intake custom-milled carb spacer Barry Grant Speed Demon 575, vacuum (sp?) secondaries Victor Jr. Water pump Tri-Y headers MSD ingnition setup w/ 6AL There are a couple of other little things done, here and there, but those are the main components I'm using. 407 HP was the number pulled off the engine dyno at my buddy's place about a year-and-a-half ago with no power adders. It'd be nice if he stayed in business. Been tinkering with some things and I'm curious to see what good (or bad ) it did. Thanks again all.
i have an electric fan from an escort. its offset from the center more than the Taurus fan is. its a two speed also. i don't trust the edelbrock water pump. mashori and i just replaced the one on his car because it just wouldn't keep it cool enough in the heat. it behaved just like you described yours is behaving.
I went from a small electric fan back to a factory Ford flex fan when my electric bit the dust. I haven't noticed any difference in power or cooling, and I don't have a shroud, either. Mine runs 190 degrees years round. I will probably have to get a shroud when I put the AC stuff on, but will wait and see.
I have an electric escort fan also it is thinner then the taurus fan so it fits better in the engine bay.
i have the taurus fan and alternator and the 3 core aluminum rad and my car has not overheated on me and it's cool because when i go to the wed night drags i can mess with the fan and have it at 185 on one run than have it at 210 on the next run just to see what temp it likes to run at ?
Sounds like a great setup! Hope your going to be able to make it to the mav meet coming up on the 19th would love to see the car Any track times?
That sounds like a real nice, practical build. Nice package without losing your street-ability. Good job.
Thanks for the compliments, guys. I wanted something that I could drive everyday (and did for a year) and keep up with the new stuff coming out that's pushing over 400 horse. No track times, yet. The motor makes 378 ft./lbs. of torque, though, and the car weighs about 2400 lbs. with me not in it. It also has a 3.80 geared trac-lok 8 inch out back. I'm sure there's a calculator, but, I never ran the numbers for estimated 1/4 mile time/speed. As for the meet; the car is in pieces at the moment and will be for a few more months. New interior, paint, engine/trans goodies, and such. I hope to get it back on the road for the spring. I may be able to show up and meet some people, though. Haven't really ran into that many Maverick/Comet owners here. It's always cool to come back here and talk to the community every now and again, too. Happy wrenching! Eric
