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hello everyone, I haven't even been around to lurk lately. Usually this time of year I'm tinkering or driving the Healey. But in doing that i realize that my engine runs on the hot side. It's been in the mid 90's with high humidity here in Pa. the last few weeks. When outside air temp is not this hot, my BJ7 temp gauge holds around 90 degrees celsius. When outside air temp is in the 90's as it has been, then my BJ7 temp gauge runs up to around 100 degrees celsius, and yesterday it hit 104 celsius. I'd like to cool the engine down alittle. I have been thinking of one of those 5-bladed fans I've heard about. Is there any down side to using one of them? Is there a particular model or brand that has been proven well?
Thanks,
Dave.
 
For some reason, this is a controversial subject. everyone seems to have a favorite. I personally prefer the 6 blade stainless steel flex fan from "British Car Specialists" in Stockton, Ca. It moves a LOT of air at idle, & the pitch feathers out as rpm increases to keep the noise & power consumption down. The blades do NOT bend forward under load to possibly gouge the radiator. It is very sturdily constructed so no danger of a blade flying off. The blades are staggered but balanced which keeps fan noise to a minimum. Needless to say, it really helps cooling. I don't know of a serious down side unless it is the price, about $75. A pic is attached. I'm sure you will get some disagreement & several other favorites.
D
 

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Vette- thanks for asking the question. I've been thinking about changing to a different fan also.
Dave- the SS fan does look sturdy. Were you able to mount it with the radiator in place?
Mike
 
Dave, that fan does look good. Very sturdily built as well. It appears that you have a four cylinder car, how long have you run this fan? Do you believe all the attributes you discribed also will apply to the six cylinder car? I'm thinking about clearance issues mostly.
Thanks, Dave C.
 
MH & Vette,
As far as I know, the same fan will fit on fours & sixes. It extends about 3/4" in front of the front face of the water pump pulley & 1/4" behind it with the furnished 1/2" spacer between fan & water pump. It would be a lot easier to install with the radiator out. I have had it for about three years.
D
 
I saw something in Practical classic recently about using Water Wetter in the radiator - claimed to give much better conductivity, and lowre the temperature by 10?? degrees.

Has anyone tried it? Is it as good as the ad's claim?
Certainly sounds easier than changing the fan.
 
I use the 5 blade red plastic fan from Dennis Welch, looks almost like the original one, and produces less noise.
It is bolt on. I am happy with it.
 
Hi Vette,
You can install the Stainless fan on a 6 cylinder (see attached). Maybe I did something wrong, but once the fan was in I didn’t have clearance to put the radiator in. What I wound up doing was setting the radiator in place but not attaching it. Then moved it as far as I could to the front of the car and carefully bolted in the fan. Then finished installing the radiator. The ongoing fan debate really saved me when the tie rod that bolts the tranny to the frame was mentioned. Turns out I didn’t have one on my car. Disaster averted!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Cheers,
Greg
 
I am having similar issues, but rather than installing a six blade fan, I am considering an add on option.

Would it be more or less original to keep the old traditional four blade Healey fan to satisfy a purist and add a 10 inch accesory pusher electric fan in front of the rad and operate in hot weather by means of a hidden toggle switch?

Any thoughts on this accesory solve versus keeping the originality of car?

-a-
 
Yep Andrew ,Just like an old proff of mine use to say to me when ever our point of view differed ;"Mr Keoke you can fail this course any way you want to"---Keoke same guy /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Greg, that's a super looking engine. Tell us more about what all you have under that bonnet. I have an alternator conversion kit that I haven't installed yet. It appears to have links like your. where did you get it and has it caused any difficulties.
 
Andrew, it is my opinion that unless you are going for 110 percent concours judging, (that's just a different way to enjoy the hobby) put in the car what works best for you. Without changing it from a healey. Take a look at Greg's engine bay. that's still a Healey engine but it sure has some modern updates.
Dave, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
I guess I haven't decided yet on which fan to use. Also i have heard of the water wetter. but don't know anything about it or where to get it. i'm interested now to find out more about it.
Thanks All,
Dave
 
Andrew1,if originality is a priotity with you it will be necessary to live with the short comings of the car. Originality aside for the moment, if you add a pusher type fan wich is less efficient than a puller type you are further compromising an already limited electrical system. For example the Dynamo does not charge at idle,when will you need the fan?,when idling in traffic or at intersections. This additional current must be supplied directly from the battery in addition to that drawn by the cars normal electrical loads.This add on accessory approach has been shown to littery force one to also replace the Dynamo with an alternator. So if you really want to preserve the Healey look then it will also perform like a Healey and there is nothing too much wrong with that---Keoke
 
HI Vettte, You originally asked if there was a fan with some history of performance ,Yes the fan known as the Texas cooler was dicovered by the Texas based Healey crowd some 10 years or so ago and has been widely used there with good success.---Keoke
 
Keoke, what is the Texas Cooler made like? What does it look like? And where can you get one?
Thanks,
Dave
 
Vette, It is a white six bladed plastic flex fan can be painted Is manufactured by Hayden and is available from NTAHC View on www.ntahc.org I am running them on all my cars in use now for at least 15 years no problems.---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I am having similar issues, but rather than installing a six blade fan, I am considering an add on option.

Would it be more or less original to keep the old traditional four blade Healey fan to satisfy a purist and add a 10 inch accesory pusher electric fan in front of the rad and operate in hot weather by means of a hidden toggle switch?

Any thoughts on this accesory solve versus keeping the originality of car?

-a-

[/ QUOTE ]
Hi Andrew,
Adding a fan to the front of the radiator will certainly not look original. The down side is that a pusher fan is not as efficient as a puller fan, & the fan motor blocks a good deal of the radiator surface.

As far as originality, some export model Healeys had six & more blade fans as they were shipped from the factory.
D
 
I have had a Texas Cooler fan on my BT7 for the past 23 years and it has given me great service. I live in the Central Valley of California where the summer temperatures are 90 to 105 F. I use a 160 deg. thermostat (during the summer)and original radiator. Normal engine temp at highway speed is 165-170 even when the air temp is 100. In stop and go traffic, the engine will get to 185. Prior to changing to the Texas fan, the engine would vapor lock in stop and go traffic.
Now if I could just find a way to cool the air stream coming in though the driver side fresh air duct!!!
 
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