qim Posted November 1, 2017 Report Share Posted November 1, 2017 (edited) Hi My electric fan is about to give up, and before I get a new one, I wonder if there could be a better alternative. The fans on the market are so big that they block air from reaching the radiator. Could it not be replaced by some sort of jet of air forced onto the radiator from, say, a couple of hoses (via a compressor?...). In this day and age, I am sure that a device could be made to force air through those hoses leaving the radiator free to get all the air it should get. Camilo Edited November 1, 2017 by qim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ijonsson Posted November 1, 2017 Report Share Posted November 1, 2017 (edited) You seem to be looking for authenticity, so why not just switch the mechanical fan to a more efficient one (more blades). I think I've read about a "tropical" type. And make sure that all the air from the grill is channelled through the radiator. Thinking about it, has anyone tried to make a duct around the mechanical fan making it suck more efficient? On the other hand, maybe it won't be so efficient due to that you will have to give clearance for the movement of the engine? Edited November 1, 2017 by ijonsson Quote Link to post Share on other sites
qim Posted November 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2017 Hi Yes, and I have one 6-blade, which I may install next year, but is my idea so daft? Camilo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ijonsson Posted November 1, 2017 Report Share Posted November 1, 2017 (edited) FWIW, almost all cooling (or heating) solutions with radiators use fans or natural draught. I can't remember ever seen solutions more efficient and simple as fans. What you are suggesting just means putting the fan/blower elsewhere, and the hoses blowing air would hinder the natural flow over the radiator just as much as an electric fan does. Edited November 1, 2017 by ijonsson Quote Link to post Share on other sites
qim Posted November 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2017 FWIW, almost all cooling (or heating) solutions with radiators use fans or natural draught. I can't remember ever seen solutions more efficient and simple as fans. What you are suggesting just means putting the fan/blower elsewhere, and the hoses blowing air would hinder the natural flow over the radiator just as much as an electric fan does. Depends where the hoses were. Could be in the corners away from the natural flow. They would simply add more flow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mike ellis Posted November 1, 2017 Report Share Posted November 1, 2017 The words sledgehammer and nut spring to mind. Why not put the electric fan behind the radiator where it won't impede flow and will suck the air through, works for many of us. If it is overheating with the ducting and a fan there may be an underlying problem. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
qim Posted November 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2017 The words sledgehammer and nut spring to mind. Why not put the electric fan behind the radiator where it won't impede flow and will suck the air through, works for many of us. If it is overheating with the ducting and a fan there may be an underlying problem. The underlying problem is known and referred to in another thread. The mixture has been leaned to perfection... which has resulted in the car warming up more than it should. Easy siolution, of course: enrich the mixture. But this thread is not about solving a problem but about a replacement for my electric fan. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
foster461 Posted November 1, 2017 Report Share Posted November 1, 2017 Replacing the silly 4 blade propeller with a better mechanical fan would go a long way towards improving the cooling. Here's the Hurricane fan that Mark Macy sells, a TR6 fan can also be adapted for the TR3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
qim Posted November 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2017 (edited) Replacing the silly 4 blade propeller with a better mechanical fan would go a long way towards improving the cooling. Here's the Hurricane fan that Mark Macy sells, a TR6 fan can also be adapted for the TR3 Hi As I mentioned above, this thread was not about my car in particular. I do have a six-blade fan, should I decide to install it. The thread was just to find out if anyone knows/ever thought of replacing the electric fans with something different that increased air flow from the front without being in the way (which reduces air flow when not in operation). Edited November 1, 2017 by qim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don H. Posted November 1, 2017 Report Share Posted November 1, 2017 Replacing the silly 4 blade propeller with a better mechanical fan would go a long way towards improving the cooling. Here's the Hurricane fan that Mark Macy sells, a TR6 fan can also be adapted for the TR3 That image looks pretty familiar, Stan! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alec Pringle Posted November 1, 2017 Report Share Posted November 1, 2017 The old adage of "Keep It Simple Stupid" springs to mind . . . . . Adding more fans, compressors, whatever, to provide supplementary airflow requires power to drive them, and that power is essentially removed from the engine's output. Net gain of negative . . . . Every possible variation on the theme has been tried and tested in motor sport over the years . . . . and found wanting. There should not be an issue with a TR running either a more efficient mechanically driven engine fan, or utilising an electric fan mounted forward or aft of the radiator . . . . . if there is an issue then the fault lies elsewhere in the cooling system, or in the engine tuning. Cheers Alec Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don H. Posted November 1, 2017 Report Share Posted November 1, 2017 I'd say "mostly" true, Alec. Certainly my engine with upgrades to 87 mm pistons and liners and only a few thousand miles since rebuilding is trying to run hotter than a well-bedded, smaller bore engine. But there's also a component of stop-and-go driving in 30+ °C temperatures that Standard-Triumph probably weren't planning for in the 1950s. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
qim Posted November 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2017 Hi Don You're a lucky guy. Nice and cool Augusts. You should come here if want to feel the heat! Camilo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted November 1, 2017 Report Share Posted November 1, 2017 Revotech fans work well. Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ianc Posted November 1, 2017 Report Share Posted November 1, 2017 If one wishes to stick to something near original, surely a mechanical fan with viscous coupling is the answer - supposing that one can find one that will fit in the space available. The speed of such a fan is not directly related to engine speed, as the viscous coupling allows the engine to spin faster than the fan at higher engine speeds, hence consuming less power. Ian Cornish Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted November 1, 2017 Report Share Posted November 1, 2017 Hi Camilo ~ Our friend Alec is bang on the money. My 3A runs on an electric fan mounted in front of the rad. coupled with an alloy rad. ducting which I fabricated myself. As Alec quite rightly says "Keep it Simple Stupid"!! Camilo ~ why don't you just drive and enjoy the TR?? Tom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
qim Posted November 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2017 (edited) Hi Tom This thread has gone totally wild. I am very happy with my car, and have what it takes to tackle eventual overheating problems. The thread is NOT about my car. It was a generic question asking if anyone knew of an alternative that did NOT involve a fan, so that the front of the radiator remained totally open. Any crazy ideas would be interesting. PS - Maybe I implied that this was needed to replace my failing fan. Apologies. The thinking is that the electrical fan is not original equipment, but unfortunately needed. It would be nice to substitute it for something that does not show in front of the radiator; something simpler that could be hidden like the protrusion of a couple of hoses. But this is only a mental exercise. Edited November 1, 2017 by qim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
qim Posted November 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2017 Sorry Tom, Sorry Bob, Sorry Alec, Sorry All I forgot what my OP was about... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted November 1, 2017 Report Share Posted November 1, 2017 Hi Camilo ~ You'd need bloody good spectacles to spot my front mounted cooling fan through the grille !! Again I say drive and enjoy your TR!!! Tom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
littlejim Posted November 2, 2017 Report Share Posted November 2, 2017 (edited) If you put a dash light in the electric fan circuit you find that the fan is not required when you are moving, air flow does the job. That saves a bit of power, compared to the always thrashing mechanical one. Fan comes on when you are stopped or making the donk work hard going up a long, lovely, winding hill. Edited November 2, 2017 by littlejim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted November 2, 2017 Report Share Posted November 2, 2017 TR3A cooling They all need a fan, & they all need ducting in the front apron to channel the air into the radiator. An old partially clogged radiator will cause overheating, ditto a water pump with too large a gap between impellor & rear plate. There is NO practical alternative to a cooling fan. Running a lean mixture is bad for the engine, & will not make a huge difference to temperature or fuel consumption. Tune the carbs so the car runs nicely, needing choke to start from cold, but then not after ½ a mile or so. I have got up to 42 MPG with carbs tuned this way (& I run a Revotech fan on the engine side of the rad.) Coat on, Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted November 2, 2017 Report Share Posted November 2, 2017 My electric fan was initially fitted behind the radiator but it would have been impossible to remove it without having to dismantle the whole front end. When I was rebuilding the car I decided to fit the fan in front of the radiator. I modified the front apron so that the upper half could be removed for easy access to the fan. Tom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ijonsson Posted November 2, 2017 Report Share Posted November 2, 2017 What a nice idea, why didn't I know about this 4 months ago Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted November 2, 2017 Report Share Posted November 2, 2017 (edited) Hi Inge ~ This is how it looks with the top of the apron removed. This modification was featured in TRaction some time ago. Tom. Edited November 2, 2017 by Fireman049 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YOW500 Posted November 2, 2017 Report Share Posted November 2, 2017 Hi Tom. PM sent. Russell Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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