Need Electric Fan

Hi, I took my jeep on the rubicon last sunday....it did good with the air lockers ...had a couple other issues , but it was running way too hot...got to 240..I need a 15" pusher fan to mount in front of the radiator...any recommendations on what to get....i googled them ,there are several brands ...not sure what cfm to get also...i was wondering if its better to have it on a switch or just have it on a temp sender....simpler to just have a switch....any help is appreciated

 

do you have room to put a puller? those will work better than a pusher. I run only a puller fan (no mechanical fan) on my 46, I have it set on a temperature switch, and also on a manual override switch. It's been fine for the past 10 years. I don't remember the CFM on mine, but I got one that was as big as it could be and still fit the radiator.

I also have a dash indicator light hooked up so that when the fan turns on (either automatically or manually), I know that it's on.

 

Spal or Flex-O-Lite. I've had both and never had an issue. Buy a good controller as well. The hot ticket now days is variable speed. I just installed a Flex o lite in my Willys PU with the Dauntless swap.

 

This is one of those questions that comes up frequently. Is this for a dauntless V6? The obvious response question is whether or not you have a fan shroud for your mechanical fan?

Anyway... I had a slow, running-hot creep issue for a while...I never let it overheat. But 190, 200, 205, 210, 220....Ok its getting hot again... I tried lots of things incrementally with some improvement but did not completely solve the problem. My whole cooling system ended up being new and healthy: A new champion radiator, new Flow Kooler water pump, mechanical fan, fan shroud, thermostat, hoses, etc. All of that for some, but not total improvement. Still had the running hot creep. So....

I ended up with a Perma Cool fan as a pusher that a I use for an auxiliary only when I need it... mostly wheeling hard. It makes a big difference. Keeps the engine at 180. Mine is on a toggle. That works for me because I obsessively monitor my gauges. An advantage is I can leave it on when the engine is off. A thermostatic switch obviously would be automatic, but you could override it with a toggle.

The Perma Cool fans (finger slicers) move some serious air. They are not cheap but they are good fans. I tried the 16” and it didn’t fit. I ended up with a 14” and had to make a custom bracket for it inside the grill. Don't put it on the outside, you'll lose effectiveness and it's really ugly.

Perma Cool 14” Fan

Last thought on the fan: Make sure your electrical system (alternator) is up to the task. A good fan can draw 15-25 amps. I run dual batteries and a 140 amp alternator.

Also FWIW: I also had an under hood, high temperature issue probably because of my headers. Hood louvers, which I reluctantly installed and don’t really like, did help with that issue as well. When the fan is on I can feel the air getting pushed out.

 

By the way, how were the conditions on the Rubicon? How far did ya go?

 

Many moons ago, I upgraded to a 7 bladed fan off an F350. Coupled with a homemade shroud, it will pull at my coveralls at an idle through the grill. While perhaps overkill, I've never experienced a hot engine in the worst conditions.

 

I used a Spal 14" pusher. It looked to be the largest fan that would fit the odd shaped opening. Fabbed 4 offset brackets from 16ga metal and used the same
holes as the radiator. Switched for off, standby {with t-stat}, or manual on and high amp relay. DandD Speed Shop used one of these. Mo money, mo money.
https://deltapag.com/

 

didnt get to soup bowl...we were wanting to go to spider,it was just a day trip..first time ever for this jeep....i have yukon zip lockers front and rear, has dana 44's out of a 77 wagoneer....the trail was muddy in places, lots of water in low spots....we turned around early because my power steering pump died.....had a hell of a time getting out without power steering....jeep did good except for a few issues...im running 33 12.50 15 tires and 2 1/2" spring lift

 

not sure how thick an electric fan is ? i dont have much room between pulley and radiator

 

I have a 283 chevy v8 engine...im going to look into a 14" perma cool pusher , thanks....wow, just looked up a perma cool fan,,$250 , i may look for something cheaper,

 

what size lift and tires are you running on your jeep?cant tell if youre spring over or under. your profile pic looks like the bridge on the rubicon....how does your jeep do on the rubicon? my 33's seem small, but i cant go with 35's....i did ok but the poor jeep took alot of abuse, not physically but alot of banging on the rocks...im still spring under

 

https://www.amazon.com/Flex-lite-11...dp/B00029J3U2/ref=psdc_15710351_t3_B003N81QHM what do you guys think about this one?

 

https://www.amazon.com/Flex-lite-23...t=&hvlocphy=9032436&hvtargid=pla-759240118265 this one is a little higher cfm's

 

https://www.amazon.com/Perma-Cool-19124-Standard-Electric-Fan/dp/B003N88V4S/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1F5YZWDIYSI3R&keywords=perma+cool+12"+fan&qid=1687496134&s=automotive&sprefix=perma+cool+12+fan,automotive,191&sr=1-6 perma cool 12" the dimensions will fit my jeep, alot higher cfm's

 

Spal 30102056 14.0 Inch High Performance Fan/Pusher Curved is what I used on a '67 V6 grill. Not sure if the '69 is the same. With a V8, I would
try to find an intermediate grill and radiator to match the Chevy engine for the best results. This would give more engine to radiator clearance,
larger radiator and room to use a larger mechanical fan or two electric pullers.

 

Yeah that’s the bridge going into Rubicon Springs…taken last year.

I’m spring under on 33-12.5-15. I run the longer ECJ5 rear springs in front and have around 3-3.5” of suspension lift + 1” body lift. Flexes nice. Air lockers, 85:1 crawl ratio, etc, etc. The jeep performs well. I ran the Rubicon cautiously last year for the first time since like 1995 or 1996. No problems or damage. I hit bottom here and there. I don’t push it too hard… maybe I’m a wimp but my Jeep is no rock buggy. I’ve had some major breakdowns back there and I prefer to work on my Jeep in the garage.

Quite honestly I’d like to run 35’s. I have a plan for that but I just can’t take the jeep apart right now to do what I want.

That trail has changed a lot over the years, and changes year to year. Reroutes, erosion, weather etc. I imagine it’s a grade more difficult this year. Lots of the ECJ5 crew run 33’s… sort of the classic 4 wheeling standard for our Jeeps. With the trail how it is these days, 33’s are a bit small but they work. IMO it’s better to have a well-balanced set up than run over-size tires on something that can’t adequately support them with a margin for error… the reason I’m staying where I’m at for moment.

On the fan: Everyone has their preference but whatever you get, find the one with highest CFM that will fit in there. That’s how I came across the one referenced above. Pushers are already like 20-30% less efficient than a good puller gong into it. Do you have a shroud for the mechanical? That will simultaneously help funnel air for both fans. Makes a difference.

 

For long term sustainability, that seems like an intelligent way to think about it for getting a bigger radiator in there.

 

Yes I know this is about a CJ but the concept is the same: IMHO, getting a larger radiator would be first; either adding rows or surface area or both (though it could involve a grille mod.) I run a 350 in my Wagon, and the current radiator is a custom fit 3 row aluminum unit which exceeds the width of the grille, but it includes a custom aluminum shroud. I'm currently running a mech fan and this combo keeps the temp at 175 on the hottest days. Talking to other SBC Wagon owners, a stock sized 5 row rad will do a great job cooling the Chevy as well.
At some point I'm adding AC to the wagon, so I see an electric fan in my future, most likely a pusher over the condenser. Heard a lot of good things about Flex-o-Lite...

 

thanks for the info on your jeep, are you running a 4 spd trans? i still have the original 3 spd...i have 5.13 gears front and rear, i do not have a shroud on the fan, not sure how hard it would be to make one, no place to mount it to the radiator, its a radiator for a 58 chevy belair...its a new aluminum one ...and about the rubicon, i have only been there in my sons rock buggys over the years...i think the smallest tires were 38's....he has a buggy now on one tons and 40's....no comparison when driving my jeep on 33's,lol

 

a fan shroud would definitely help