Electric Fan Choices

KURT GROSS · 01-13-2013, 02:58 PM

Need to puchase an electric fan and would like everyone's opinion on what brands/models are good or bad. Is for a 1970 Nova with stock radiator. Also does running a relay make a big difference? I control it manually through a switch in a Painless wiring panel.

Thanks
Kurt

Bob Gullett · 01-13-2013, 03:36 PM

I just bought one of these. 3000 CFM
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hfm-zfb16s
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hfm-zfpl2

Ed Wright · 01-13-2013, 04:09 PM

Kurt, for sure use a relay.

Wade Mahaffey · 01-13-2013, 05:04 PM

Here is what I use, the shroud is the most important component. If you place a fan of the typical style (black plastic screen housing with wire ties thru the radiator type) the fan pulls/cools only the footprint of the fan circle. That is about half of the radiator, you can do the math on it A) find sq. in. of the rad L X H. B) Now find the sq.in. of the round fan: Dia sq X .7854 Example for 16" fan: 16 X 16 X .7854 = 201.06. That normally will show that only about half of the radiator has fan advantage. With a custom built shroud, you will draw air thru 100% of the core and cool in half the time. Normally with an electric water pump, a car running at 200+ can turn the engine off...run the fan and pump...and cool to 160 in 2-3 minutes....now understand that's using the Flex-a-lite 15 inch black majic fan rated @3300 CFMs and a custom shroud.

Wade Mahaffey

chris ok · 01-13-2013, 06:13 PM

Chevy HHR. costs under 100 bucks and comes w a shroud. Easy install on a 68 Chevelle. should be easy on Nova then if its a cross flow. We used painless kit.

Alan Roehrich · 01-13-2013, 06:40 PM

Northern Radiator makes a lot of electric fan and shroud kits, with relays and wiring, as well as various accessories.

njk53 · 01-14-2013, 02:38 PM

We use a fan and shroud assembly from a Cadillac XLR in our 71 Chevelle Wagon BB. It took very little fabrication to get it to fit nicely, and once brackets were fabricated, it fit like it belonged there. Also, the fan puts out big CFM numbers for excellent cooling performance. We have no cooling issues with this set up.

Remember no matter who's fan assembly you use, intigrate a relay into the electrical harness.

Jeff Lee · 01-14-2013, 05:01 PM

I just bought a used Volvo can with shroud which wi easily integrate with my factory AMX radiator. I've got around $35 into it. As others have written, I like the OEM stuff over aftermarket. There designed for city traffic on hot days and will last over 100,000 miles.
Yes to relay. My Volvo fan will pull 78 amps when it is turned on and around 40 amps once underway. So make sure you understand amp draws along with your electrical system.

01-13-2013, 02:58 PM	#1
KURT GROSS Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Oregon City, Or Posts: 16 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Electric Fan Choices Need to puchase an electric fan and would like everyone's opinion on what brands/models are good or bad. Is for a 1970 Nova with stock radiator. Also does running a relay make a big difference? I control it manually through a switch in a Painless wiring panel. Thanks Kurt __________________ 2001 Division 6 S/ST Champion 2002 Jegs Allstar 2010 Woodburn Dragstrip S/P Track Champion

01-13-2013, 03:36 PM	#2
Bob Gullett VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,106 Likes: 57 Liked 507 Times in 116 Posts	Re: Electric Fan Choices I just bought one of these. 3000 CFM http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hfm-zfb16s http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hfm-zfpl2 __________________ 68 Chevy11 327 F/S

01-13-2013, 04:09 PM	#3
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Electric Fan Choices Kurt, for sure use a relay. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

01-13-2013, 05:04 PM	#4
Wade Mahaffey Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 581 Likes: 0 Liked 17 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Electric Fan Choices Here is what I use, the shroud is the most important component. If you place a fan of the typical style (black plastic screen housing with wire ties thru the radiator type) the fan pulls/cools only the footprint of the fan circle. That is about half of the radiator, you can do the math on it A) find sq. in. of the rad L X H. B) Now find the sq.in. of the round fan: Dia sq X .7854 Example for 16" fan: 16 X 16 X .7854 = 201.06. That normally will show that only about half of the radiator has fan advantage. With a custom built shroud, you will draw air thru 100% of the core and cool in half the time. Normally with an electric water pump, a car running at 200+ can turn the engine off...run the fan and pump...and cool to 160 in 2-3 minutes....now understand that's using the Flex-a-lite 15 inch black majic fan rated @3300 CFMs and a custom shroud. Wade Mahaffey

01-13-2013, 06:13 PM	#5
chris ok Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Long Island, New york Posts: 592 Likes: 131 Liked 46 Times in 29 Posts	Re: Electric Fan Choices Chevy HHR. costs under 100 bucks and comes w a shroud. Easy install on a 68 Chevelle. should be easy on Nova then if its a cross flow. We used painless kit.

01-13-2013, 06:40 PM	#6
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,116 Likes: 1,573 Liked 1,830 Times in 415 Posts	Re: Electric Fan Choices Northern Radiator makes a lot of electric fan and shroud kits, with relays and wiring, as well as various accessories. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

01-14-2013, 02:38 PM	#7
njk53 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: East China, MI Posts: 504 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Electric Fan Choices We use a fan and shroud assembly from a Cadillac XLR in our 71 Chevelle Wagon BB. It took very little fabrication to get it to fit nicely, and once brackets were fabricated, it fit like it belonged there. Also, the fan puts out big CFM numbers for excellent cooling performance. We have no cooling issues with this set up. Remember no matter who's fan assembly you use, intigrate a relay into the electrical harness. __________________ Nelson Kowal Stock 345 Last edited by njk53; 01-14-2013 at 02:41 PM.

01-14-2013, 05:01 PM	#8
Jeff Lee VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anthem, Arizona Posts: 2,766 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Electric Fan Choices I just bought a used Volvo can with shroud which wi easily integrate with my factory AMX radiator. I've got around $35 into it. As others have written, I like the OEM stuff over aftermarket. There designed for city traffic on hot days and will last over 100,000 miles. Yes to relay. My Volvo fan will pull 78 amps when it is turned on and around 40 amps once underway. So make sure you understand amp draws along with your electrical system. __________________ Jeff Lee 7494 D/S '70 AMX