So I am not looking for any answers or advice, not saying I will not take it. I got a new SPAL dual fan for my 75 vert. After a fight to install it on a non-Dewitts radiator, I was ready to connect the electrical. Well this became a bit of an issue, but I was able to make it work by adding wire and larger connectors. Since I had to pull the radiator I replaced the hoses, thermostat, thermostat housing and gasket. Well I installed the radiator and equipment over the mater of a few months. Last weekend I finished the electrical connections and was ready to start the car up. I crank it and it runs for what I thought was long enough to hit 180 degrees, this would open the thermostat. Forgot to say my temp gauge is the only gauge I have that does not work (the clock even works). So I wait til I thought it should be warmed enough, but there was no water running through the upper hose. I checked the lower hose and it seems to be sucking in and touching the block and is melting, so that is wonderful. After another minute or so I decided to shut down the engine because I am getting worried about heat. As I shut the engine down I assume I hit the temp to open the thermostat and that is when I realized that I forgot to "burp" the radiator. I guess the thermostat opened and pushed the air out the thermostat housing gasket. This weekend I am going to buy a cheap temp gauge from the local parts stores and a new gasket. I also ordered a hose from Paragon, the hose is the correct size and has a spring. After it was all said and done I am no closer to being on the road and I still don't know if the electrical connections for the fans are correct. The fans are set for 195 degrees. I am more looking for some validation on my ideas and that I am not just hosing up the engine and will have to rebuild sooner than I would like. Thanks all for reading.
Camel

 

Unsolicited and unwelcome advice:

Buy an IR temperature sensor (gun-type).
Read up on how to fill the cooling system (I take the water neck off, and fill the engine and radiator separately, then attach the waterneck to top off the radiator, with the front of the car elevated).
Check that your lower hose has the internal spring.
Test your fan relay operation by shorting the temperature switch to ground.

I bet you knew all this, but there it is anyway.

Good luck, and post photos!

 

Buy an IR gun like Bikespace said. You've got to know what temperatures you are dealing with.

Craig

 

I'd buy an IR gun before I bought a gauge. The IR gun can be used for lots of other purposes than the gauge could. Don't get me wrong, I'd definitely either get your dash gauge working for add an aftermarket one, but again, I'd get the IR gun first.

 

All,
Got her back together, bought a lower hose off Paragon and it fit perfect. Also found my culprit from the thermostat housing gasket gremlin. When I was cleaning the housing, I found what was like cellophane. I can only assume it came off the gasket I bought, I must have missed it. Regardless I went out and got an IR gun, let the car run today burped the radiator and thermostat opened up. Also one of the dual fans kicked on not sure why the other didn't, but that will be work for another weekend. It seems like the one fan running drops the temp pretty quick. So once it quits snowing and everything melts I should be on the road in a couple of weeks.

Bikespace thanks for the unsolicited but very welcome advice.

Camel

 

You are very welcome. I'm glad it worked out for you. Enjoy the warmer weather!

 

If your fans have a controller, one fan is probably set for 10 degrees lower than the other one. That way, if one fan is 'enough', only one will turn on. And, if the temp still goes higher, the other fan will come on. This is just how it should work to minimize fan noise and unnecessary fan operation.

P.S. I believe that you should have a temp gauge in the car, also. There are two things that an engine MUST have or it will fail...quickly!!

1) oil pressure, and 2) engine coolant. If either of these two systems is not working properly, you want to know.....AND you want to know NOW!! Checking engine temperature "every now and then" doesn't do it for me....