Cooling fans

Cooling fans

Author
Discussion

Planman350i

Original Poster:

599 posts

264 months

Thursday 20th March 2003
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Having now discovered that cooling can be an issue with a wedge (on the way back from PH5), and given that mine is a modded engine I am wondering about uprating to a twin cooling fan system. The bible says this was standard on some wedges - any ideas how easy an upgrade might be and whether the twin fans are a TVR specific part?

jmorgan

36,010 posts

295 months

Thursday 20th March 2003
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Try an override switch first? Mine gives me no problems at 30 mph constant but stuck in traffic its a mare. Switch it on at the slightest sign of grief and it never gets to the 90 mark on the gauge. 45 mins stuck in a M way jam in summer last year proved it.

Planman350i

Original Poster:

599 posts

264 months

Thursday 20th March 2003
quotequote all
I've wondered about an override- will investigate.

Another one of my conerns is that the radiator was replaced by the previous owner and the receipt says: 'fitted exchange TVR (Range Rover) radiator' - are they one and the same, and is a RR radiator going to be as effective?

gaz666

70 posts

269 months

Thursday 20th March 2003
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Changed to twin fans last month, when they come on takes about 45 seconds to go from around high 90s to 80 degrees, a big improvement. With the override switch i can have both on or only one. Picked them up at a car show at Brooklands for £50. Took off the bonnet, unbolted the old single fan, dropped in the twin unit and it fixes to the rad with heat resistant cable-ties. All done with bonnet back on in around hour and a half!!

jmorgan

36,010 posts

295 months

Thursday 20th March 2003
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From what has been said on previous threads and the bible its supposed to be a TVR special. Now then, is there a difference between a 350 and 400 rad.
What problems were you getting?

Planman350i

Original Poster:

599 posts

264 months

Thursday 20th March 2003
quotequote all
Temp needle rose quickly (beyond 90 degrees) on 2 occasions, after driving at 30-50, not static traffic though. I have considered whether this is a dodgy guage as after shutting it down for a while and starting again it was ok.

Suppose process of elimination should start with flushing system, checking hoses, thermostat etc...Seen a lenghty thread elsewhere on PH on cooling and it all got a bit complicated!

bobble350

118 posts

265 months

Thursday 20th March 2003
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Never had the slightest cooling problems with the 350. In five years the needle ran rock steady, 82 in winter and never ever went above 84 in summer. Ram air was always sufficient on the move, Cooling fan (yes only one) only came on when stood and cut out again after about 40 secs.
I did flush the system and change the coolant every 2 years to keep things clean though.
I would look at the rad, as cross flows are notorious for partially blocking and you can't always tell just by flushing them out. They look an absolute pig to get out of that nosecone, so most people will only delve in if they leak and absolutely have to replace them. I'm told the rad is a modified vitesse unit with a longer neck on the outlet. If you go for a recore, don't tell them it's off a TVR or they'll sting you for an extra £50. Robbing ********.
By the way D type with solid fin matrixes are far more efficient than the cheaper concertina fin type.

jmorgan

36,010 posts

295 months

Thursday 20th March 2003
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My 350 used to behave like bobble's.
On 90 degree bit, I have been advised on mine to stop sharpish if the gauge shows no slowing going north of 90 even with the fan on, warped head territory apparantly?
As for removing the rad, it was fiddly rather than a pain. The biggest gripe was coppying the botched TVR original securing botched thingies, well it was on mine.
The fan override is good to have. Couple of lucars, several feet of wire and a switch.

Gaz666 any more info on them fans..

gaz666

70 posts

269 months

Friday 21st March 2003
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Re the fans, theyre based in west sussex, give him a ring on- 01903 772275.

jmorgan

36,010 posts

295 months

Friday 21st March 2003
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Cheers. Its a thought at the mo. The overide switch does the job but if it was to start at 90 odd then it would be struggling. Your comment about dropping 10 degrees in 3/4 min had me thinking. Another project to plan and cheaper than a new motor.

jamo

33 posts

279 months

Tuesday 25th March 2003
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Gaz666 - I rang this number for details - chap very helpful and fans sound ideal - looks like you could have solved a problem for me. Did you manage to get the fittings and override loom from the same place or did you source those elsewhere?

gaz666

70 posts

269 months

Tuesday 25th March 2003
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Got the wiring,switch etc from halfords, all easy to get and fit. Definately recomend going for the fans, good luck.