...in the heat of Alabama the plastic blades will shrink a lot faster than in the milder climate of Maryland, so that's a good reason to go with a metal fan. Same for Florida.
What Series 2 style metal fan?
I was referring to a modern metal fan kit developed by John's Cars especially for the XJ-6, not a previous series XJ fan.
John's Cars develops permanent solutions to known problems in these cars, for example the Rack Bushing replacement kit, the Center Vent replacement clips, the "donut" Bushing replacement for the transmission mount, and the metal Fan replacement for the plastic fan which is known to desintegrate when least expected.
It's true some of those plastic fans last 200k miles, and it is also true that some don't last 5k miles, and that is the real problem, you never know what to expect from plastic blades rotating at 3,000 rpm.
I have seen XJ-6 hoods/bonnets permanently "sliced" by those plastic fan blades, not a pretty sight. If price was an issue, it would be one thing, but the irony is that the plastic fan costs more than the metal fan! If only it was a better part.
and the plastic fan is readily available because it is one of those "problem" service parts in the Series 3 XJ-6, there will always be customers for it.
As to noise, I have a friend who installed John's Cars metal fan and I was sold on it, it actually sounds better than the plastic fan, like a Jet engine! (just kiddin' but seriously), I did not perceive any louder noise, they both are very noisy when the hood is open.
a 24-year old cooling system is the reason I'm going with twin electric fans in the future.
Ex