Electric fan over a belted fan
 

Any opinions about running an electric fan and omitting the belted fan? Horsepower savings? Electric fans are crap?

Re: Electric fan over a belted fan
 

OK, I'll bite! As "someone" once famously said: "Electric fans are crap!"

Resorting to using an ELECTRIC fan because you can't figure-out how to employ a mechanical (Belt-driven) fan, is just as bad as taking your little sister to the prom......'cuz you couldn't get a real date!

So, I really speak from experience...(the FAN part, NOT the sister part). Click this link (BELOW) for a thread I posted some time back on the 'Barn describing how fellow 'Barner "Heard" and myself designed and built a mechanical fan to fit his 1936 Ford coupe with an 8BA engine, which leaves precious LITTLE room for a mechanical fan because of the radiator leaning-back on '35 & '36 Fords. DD


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278828


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...2&d=1476383810




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Re: Electric fan over a belted fan
 

How noisy is that compared to a stock 36 fan? I'd like to reduce the highway speed fan noise.

Re: Electric fan over a belted fan
 

I'm using an electric fan because I don't really have a choice. I'm running a supercharger so there's no real way to get a fan set-up in there. My 2 cents

Re: Electric fan over a belted fan
 

I have an electric fan in the roadster.

Re: Electric fan over a belted fan
 

Had an electric 6 volt on my 52 Vic when i got it. Scrapped it, put new Standt 180 stats in it & ran stock fan. Runs 180 most of the time, 190 0n hot days in Ohio.

Re: Electric fan over a belted fan
 

I like electric fans as long as they are:
1, not overly "on show".
2, not too noisy.

I have 4 early fords and they all have electric fans. My observations are:
1, you hardly ever need to use them (in the Uk climate)
2, you don't even need one when the carb is moving along.
3, it saves the mech fan noise when moving along at higher speeds.
4, it saves engine power.

So with apologies to my learned fellow board contributors, I prefer them.

Mart.

Re: Electric fan over a belted fan
 

There was an interesting test on horsepower draw using various fan types on you tube (believe it was motor wars). Dyno tests showed the "flex" type fan, as used by Coopman showed the worst fan for horsepower loss. The least loss was from the viscous type fan which is basically a temperature driven clutch type fan. Back in the day I ran a flex fan on my SS/H Cobra Jet after removing the clutch fan. My best time was 11.56 at 112 mph. Wish I still had that car, I sold it in 1975 when you couldn't give those cars away for $1000.00. Probably could have shaved 1/10 second if I left the stock one on.

Re: Electric fan over a belted fan
 

Re: Electric fan over a belted fan
 

hotrodcbx>>>Dyno tests showed the "flex" type fan, as used by Coopman showed the worst fan for horsepower loss.>>>


Wasn't it Ralph Nader who also once famously claimed these fans were unsafe at any speed? Or was that some other part? :) Jack E/NJ

Re: Electric fan over a belted fan
 

That's interesting! "PeterC" has that big ol' S.Co.T. / Italmeccanica Supercharger mounted in his gorgeous '35 3-window, and has managed to squeeze-in this big ol' six bladed "Commercial" fan. DD


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/pictu...ictureid=12441


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/pictu...ictureid=12444


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/pictu...ictureid=35644


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Re: Electric fan over a belted fan
 

Electric fans will do the job if you don't have a way to install a mechanical one. All depends if you want a nostalgia look or not. I was able to squeeze a mechanical fan in on my 32 with an blown 8ba.


Lets see pictures of what you have.

Re: Electric fan over a belted fan
 

Bobby Green of Old Crow Speed Shop took 1/2 of the metal blade guard from an old fashion house fan to make a "cover" for an electric fan. That simple addition made it look old timey. I thought it was a neat solution in helping to hide the modern looks.

Re: Electric fan over a belted fan
 

Now that is a somewhat interesting approach. MY problem with the electrics is that they stick-out like a sore thumb, and drastically take-away from any nostalgic look of a traditional hot rod. They just look like a "crutch', or an afterthought.....to me. Now, the SOUND produced by electrics.....that's a whole 'nuther issue! DD

Re: Electric fan over a belted fan
 

I use both, electric on a thermo switch set & 200. Only comes on at stop lites & stop & go traffic. I went with a push type Spal behind the grill in front of radiator, you can’t even see it. I have manual shutoff so it doesn’t run with ignition off. I like it😁!

Re: Electric fan over a belted fan
 

Electric and mechanical. Good thing about electric , blades hardly ever come off , at least thats what I hear . I guess anything is possible but if a electric fan blade comes off , I doubt itll leave a dent in your hood .

Re: Electric fan over a belted fan
 

serpentine belt drive for ad and PS

Re: Electric fan over a belted fan
 

My belt tensioner for the blower sits right where the fan would go. No can do!

Re: Electric fan over a belted fan
 

I find it funny that folks still, to this day, pick on Nader. Corviar's were built with a KNOWN safety issue that killed many folks. Why? Because the fix back then was about $6 per car.
Ralph had the testicular fortitude to bring that information to the public.

Re: Electric fan over a belted fan
 

Yeah. Ralph is my hero. Wish we had more like him. No. Wait. We do! I drove a Corvair and a Pinto for years and somehow managed to survive.