Electric cooling fan mounting

[Tonyloz]

Hi all

Has anyone mounted an electric fan to the radiator?

It just seems a bit wrong being an engineer

Is the matrix strong enough

Has anyone got any experiances

Thanks

Tony

[Fireman049]

Hi Tony ~

 

I mounted my electric fan in front of the rad. on my 3A.

I fabricated two mounting brackets (one on each side of the rad.) These were secured to the top bracing rods and to the bottom radiator securing bolts.

 

Tom.

 

[TorontoTim]

Hi Tony,

 

Many folk build some very nice mounting brackets so that the fan is not mounted directly to or through the matrix itself - like Tom's elegant solution.

 

However, I used the "through the rad" plastic mounts that came as standard with the Kenlowe fan and have driven many (many!) miles with this set up over almost 10 years, including hundreds (possibly thousands) of miles on rough gravel roads with no ill-effects whatsoever.

 

I'm sure a separate mounting would be better, but I haven't seen any need for that at all.

 

Cheers,

Tim

[RogerH]

Hi Tony,

I've used both methods. The thro' the core ties lasted 15 years and only removed when I had another problem on the rad.

 

On fitting the rebuilt rad I used a method similar to Tom's. Brackets welded to the rad outer casing. The fan attached by screws to the brackets.

 

Roger

[Fireman049]

Hi again Tony ~

 

Like Tim and Roger I fitted a Kenlowe electric fan to my 'E'-type Jaguar using the 'through the core' method and I've never had any problems.

 

Tom.

[Lebro]

I use a Revotech fan which came with "Laser cut" mounting brackets.

Fitted well. I did not like the idea of hanging off the radiator fins.

 

Bob.

[ed_h]

I just made some simple brackets that tacked to the radiator frame. More pics at

 

http://bullfire.net/TR6/TR6-58/TR6-58.html

 

Ed

[bob-menhennett]

I made my own metal brackets , like a number of others on the Forum, didn't fancy the plastic cable ties , through the rad fins , option. With all the road humps these days , the cars get enough shake , rattle and roll as it is.

Bob

[Ben Freer]

Like Tim I have fixed mine through the matrix. I did add a small piece of rubber exhaust mounting strap between the fan and the matrix to prevent chaffing. It's still there despite a fairly energetic summers activity ????

I have to confess it was rather counter intuitive but I took advice before I did it from a number of sources.

I did fit it with the radiator in situ. Had the apron been off and the radiator more accessible I might have gone down the bracket route..

[Tonyloz]

Thanks everyone

What size fan do most people go for?

[Fireman049]

Hi Tonyloz ~

 

Go for the biggest that will fit your rad. I believe mine is 14"

 

Tom.

[ed_h]

This is a Spal 16 inch:

[kob666e]

On my current project I used 1" alloy angle cut and bent to fit around the sides of the rad and held on with a couple of self tappers.

 

Will probably do the same to the TR when I eventually remove the rad to fit a bush in the steering rack, at present I have fan mounted to the matrix via core ties and I can see where it's been moving up and down (fe$$$$g Irish country roads).

 

[mike3739]

Hi again Tony ~

 

Like Tim and Roger I fitted a Kenlowe electric fan to my 'E'-type Jaguar using the 'through the core' method and I've never had any problems.

 

Tom.

Done over 40,000 miles through the core no issues. No need to over complicate something simple that works.

 

Cheers

 

Mike

[Alec Pringle]

I've twice had an electric fan mounted through the radiator . . . . .

 

Twice replaced the radiator . . . . .

 

Thereafter used brackets !

 

Yes OK, maybe wear rate depends on how hard you drive the blighter ?

 

Cheers

 

Alec

[TorontoTim]

Yes OK, maybe wear rate depends on how hard you drive the blighter ?

 

Cheers

 

Alec

 

'Ere...wot you suggestin'??

Edited September 25, 2017 by TorontoTim

[Tonyloz]

Hi all

Thanks for the experiances

I think ill make up some brackets!

Just doesnt feel right using the rad core to support a fan!

T

[Lebro]

Good Man.

 

Bob.

[Dave Larnder]

Good Man.

 

Bob.

Bob

 

You have a P.M.

 

Dave

[john.r.davies]

Like Roger and others above, I've had no probs mounting through the matrix.

The zip-strip/cable tie-like achors are best left a little bit long, as the foam pads between the ends and the matrix compress after a while and they can be tightened up a bit. Like head nuts!

Cut off close at first there's nothing to grip to tighten later.

 

John

[DaveR]

I made up brackets to hold the fan. Like you having an engineering background I didn't like putting strain on the matrix.

 

Dave

[Charlie D]

Hello,

I’m one of the biggest “Bodgers” you could ever meet, but no way would I attach an electric fan using tie-wraps through the radiator core.

As people say, it just “Feels” wrong.

I have not yet got to the stage of fitting a fan, but when I do I’ll make up some sort of frame and probably attach it to the inner wings, just in front of the wishbones. Plenty of flat metal there.

I spent ages looking at pictures of used electric fans on eBay. I ended up buying a “Rover 25 mg zr diesel cooling fan” (Plenty on eBay, mine was less than £15 inc postage. Made in Italy, not China.)
I chose it because I recon that it can be fitted and still leave space to get the starting handle through (Obviously without the fan spinning…)

Charlie.

[RogerH]

Hi Charlie,

attaching the fan to the core isn't bad engineering nor a bodge.. The rad core is quite a stiff structure and will easily take the weight.

 

Those people that have done it can site many many years of use with no problems.

 

In fact there have been more problems using dodgy brackets badly attached to the cross beam. and the fan falling into the rad core.

 

If you are going to fabricate bracket try and attach them to the outer carcase of the rad.

 

Roger

[mike3739]

Well said Roger

 

 

 

Cheers

 

Mike