At the Good Guys show today, I picked up a 16" Zirgo fan. It's a 3650 CFM unit so I know it will cool my stroker and the A/C condensor too. Now to figure out the mounting part of it.

Not worried about wiring - I can figure that out (I got the relay and sensor kit with the fan) - but hmmm should I start with pulling the fan shroud and going from there? Use the shroud and just mount the fan behind it?

Decisions Decisions

 

I have the same fan...used the "through-the-radiator" plastic mounts. Adequate, but I hear they're not recommended. Switching to an aluminum fan shortly. I'll be looking for a more permanent solution.

D. Ocean
Miami, FLA

 

I got a decent rated cheapy 16" for a booster at low RPM use but blanched at using just one of those thin little nylon pull through deals to secure especially the upper two corners. I am especially concerned since I plan on leaving the manual fan for now and since the vette radiator has that 30ish degree rearward tilt.

That seems a bit "optimistic" to assume an eighth inch of nylon will hold against severe bumps and such foreever and always...and only one corner has to fail to make what the French would call "une mess grosse" if they did not speak French....

Man do I HATE to have to pull that fan/shroud yet again though to put on some radiator spanning support strips!

I've hit on another idea - that will probably only require pulling the hood and the A/C condensor (which I turned into a tranny cooler):

Why use just ONE of the nylon dealies on each corner? Why not make a pair of little metal flanges (possibly T- or X-shaped) for each corner and run 2, 3, 4 or even 5 fasteners through them over a larger area? Alternately a properly smoothed off number of metal through fasteners (1/4" or thinner SS bolts, dethreaded in the portion that remains through the radiator to prevent sawing through the core) would possibly also be a mid-level solution offering a little more support than a single piece of nylon.

Of course, maybe I could get away with only loosening the radiator and shroud and not removing them all the way - just enough to manuever a pair of sandwiching vertical metal supports in there....

...sometimes I just wish I were a little less good looking and not such a gutless worm....

 

Yea I actually envisioned aluminum brackets on each corner. What's the easiest way to get that shroud outta there?

 

I used this:



Not planning on re-installing the shroud. Ever...

D. Ocean
Miami, FLA

 

I got a feelin' it's gonna be a JOB!

 

You won't need the shroud, get it out and don't look back. Remove the stock fan while you're at it, you'll be AMAZED how much cleaner it looks in ther and how much space you now have to manouever. I have the same fan, put it in about a month ago. depending how your upper and lower rails are configured, it should be fairly simple to fasten some 3/4" steel strips vertically to the upper and lower rails, then run small bolts through the strips to the tabs on the fan. In my case, I was able to rotate the fan 90 degrees and bolt the tabs directly through the upper and lower rails (I'll post a picture tomorrow if I remember ).

 

I was more concerned with the fan vibrating against the radiator and wearing a hole through a core. I cut a vacuum hose in half and slipped it over the edge of the fan that contacted the fins. I then got four brake shoe springs, the type that you find on GM style rear drum brakes, from a junkyard. I ran the little plastic thingys through the core with the spring over the the plastic thingy. I compressed the springs a bit and then slid on the retainer cap. It held the fan in place, no movement and no damage to the core or fan.

 

How valid is that concern guys? something to really watch out for?

 

I've read more than one post on this forum about those nylon ties wearing a pinhole in the tubes. I've had mine installed this way for a year with no problems, but I only drive 500mi/yr. (and only @ crusing speed on smooth roads).

D. Ocean
Miami, FLA

 

Won't work here. We drive the car a couple of days a week, most of the year. I want a permanent, viable installation.

 

and I put 2-3,000 miles a month on this thing when it's running (has been as high as 6,000!) Most of that is high speed and not a little is on very bad roads.

I saw and replied to the newer thread already....I like the idea of those single flanges on the edges as opposed to anythign going through the radiator at all.

I want to keep my manual fan for now. I have always had a mistrust of electrical key features, although I have had electric fuel pumps and am waiting for reports on the newest generation of electric water pumps (pushing 55gpm now instead of 37...)

As for the shroud, I have to keep it since I remade the stupid thing! The one for my model '75 runs for something like $450 and I couldn't spend that on a peice of plastic so I made and enhanced one out of 3/8" lexan, formed and bolted to what was left of the original.

The shroud is very poorly designed. It really needs to be pulled simultaneously with the radiator in mine, and it's easier if you have also at least removed all except for the bottom two side radiator subframe bolts and loosened both those and the two large bottom ones. (Of course you also have to move the a/c condensor, which is slotted and bolted to the radiator support....) It's a real nuisance getting it past all the parts of the upper a-frames and it is relatively critical that all the foam "gaskets" are in place or replaced with some other type of filler like silicone rubber or expanding foam or it will not serve to direct air.

 

I've used those nylon deals on more than one car and NEVER had one wear through a radiator. The Permacool fan on mine now has instructions for mounting the nylon strips. While pulling it through the fins, make sure it is resting on the bottom of the "V" that the fins create instead at the bottom of an upside down "V", which would be resting on the tube.

As far as rubbing? most come with foam rubber pads to put between the radiator and the pulltabs. If you pull those puppies tight, there should be little vibration.

As far as the shroud goes? I ditched mine when I took off the mechanical fan.