V8S fans

[Deadfast]

My car is finally going on the ramp today, after 5 weeks of waiting to get the radiator fixed and fan replaced (radiator woes thread). However, the garage now tell me I may be better sourcing the fans myself! Any quick recommendations, as the work has now got to be completed yesterday? I believe 10” fans will be correct (and Kenlowe do them at a price), but any others recommendations please?

Thanks a lot chaps.

[S2Mike]

I have a spare fan, from my V6, I have converted to Alloy rad and the one fan is sufficient, as tested in roasting bank holiday traffic jam for 3/4s of an hour, so wont be using the second one, but I see you are in Cornwall, I can measure dimensions and find out courier costs.. If it helps.

[Deadfast]

Cheers Mike,

I'm converting from one fan on the rear, to two on the front (as that's what a lot of other V8s owners have), so I've already got a single fan which will now go-a-begging. Appreciate the offer very much though.

I'm flipping between screens at work, in the hope I could get something out in the post tonight, but looks like there won't be time now. I'll have a more leisurely look tonight.

[Russell Mc]

Think I have a pair of 10" fans off a V8 Range Rover if you're interested? Think they are the same as my Griff ones.

Any good?

[phillpot]

Always plenty on Ebay....... Clicky

[Deadfast]

Cheers Mike,

Have ordered those very fans. However...

Now I'm told the previous repair was completely bodged, and the alloy radiator is basically u/s. It won't accept the fans I've bought anyway. So, I can attempt a repair which probably won't last or buy a new radiator. I'm fed up of the hassle so I will bite the bullet and buy a new radiator. I will keep the old and see about repair at my leisure so I've got a spare. In the meantime, I need a new radiator pronto as I have to have the car running next week...

Please...what rad will fit, preferably taking the two fans on the front...

Thanks again guys.

Oh, and it was a Radtec one, so that seems to be out.

[The Big G]

I fitted 2 fans in exactly the same way as Simon did on his courtesy of RT Racing:



The two fans bolt together then bolt to the radiator mount with 2 small brackets for the top and a couple of spacers for one side (you can make them out on the far side of the right hand fan in the photo). Only a couple of holes needed to bee drilled through the frame. I'm not sure off the top of my head what size the fans are though. I bought them directly from Richard as I was running out of time for my rebuild, I was loosing the garage that I was working in along with my temporary rented flat and I wanted a quick and effective solution. The price was reasonable too for pretty much a bolt on kit with powder coated bracketry and correct length bolts supplied. The brackets are just angled sheet steel with a hole on each side to hold the bolts to the top of the frame. The fans bolt together in the middle. So pretty much any radiator that fits the mount should take fans fitted this way as long as they blow not suck.

What is the issue with your radiator? I would be very surprised if a Radtec radiator would not fit as lots of guys have fitted them successfully. Its also probably the only option for getting one quickly too as there are not many of the originals going spare.

Edit - Please forgive the leaky looking rad, its solid, it was the old porous steel coolant pipes, swirl pot leaking onto it that caused the discolouring on the fins, just didn't have time to paint it as no-one was going to see it easily. Well, until now

Edited by The Big G on Friday 7th June 16:07

[Deadfast]

Pictures tell a thousand words. I will take your description to my garage this afternoon. If they are happy, I'll sort out repairing the Radtech. I've almost given up hope of getting the car back on the road whilst we have any good weather...

Thanks a lot for the help.

[The Big G]

Just had a quick look through your radiator woes thread, most of the two fan set ups are bolted onto a brace that then fits onto the radiator mount. The way that RT Racing did it was to bolt the two fans together then bolt them to the radiator mount. Negating the need for a brace. This would not be possible with the fans that they have purchased or the one linked to by Philpot as they do not have flat sides to them. This means that they can not be bolted together securely easily.

What you need is something more like these currently on ebay. It would be far cheaper to purchase these and make up the small mounts/brackets yourself and mount them in a suitable distance in front of your radiator.

Quick caveat - the fans I have linked too may not be the correct size or fitment. They are an illustration of the flat sides that are required.

Good luck at getting her back on the road, there will be more good weather soon, I hope!

Edited by The Big G on Friday 7th June 16:41

[v8s4me]

The Big G said:

........... most of the two fan set ups are bolted onto a brace that then fits onto the radiator mount.

Like this?



The RT Racing method is much simpler, but you use bigger fans and the brace means the blades can never hit the rad.

[The Big G]

The way mine are fitted also mean that they don't touch the radiator. Same couldn't be said for the original factory set up, you can still make out a gentle imprint on the fins!

By having a large mating surface in each vertical and also mounted at the top to the rad mount means that the fans do not move, they are very solid in their position. with yours being flat steel only mounted at each end horizontally with no support at the top in the middle, do they flex/bounce and repeat a little when pushed once? I'm merely quizzical, at it would seem a bit like flat steel vs box section, one offers a lot more rigidity. Each set up has their own merits, mohito's looks the most complex although it seems to retain the style of the original struts!

[Deadfast]

OMG, now my head is really spinning.

First bit of luck is I have bought fans with a straight edge. I've decided to get the radiator rebuilt. I'll call the nearest radiator repairers in the morning. I'm going to ask them to fabricate mounts for the fans and drop the radiator and the fans into them. Is there anything I need to look out for given that they won't physically have the car?

Thanks again.

[v8s4me]

If you’re having the brackets brazed directly to the rad frame just make sure it will fit into the rad support bracket when you get it back.

[Deadfast]

I'm assuming that's the top bit?

[v8s4me]

Yes, but depending on where you put the brackets you'll need to think about the sides as well.

[v8s4me]

The Big G said:

....... with yours being flat steel only mounted at each end horizontally with no support at the top in the middle, do they flex/bounce and repeat a little when pushed once?

- No

[phillpot]

So do the plastic "push through the matrix" type fittings supplied with some of these fans not work with alluminium rads or do you not trust them / want something more secure?

[mohitos]

They may but I was heavily advised not to use them and disturb the matrix at all.

[v8s4me]

phillpot said:

........ or do you not trust them / want something more secure?

That was it for me. I didn't like the idea of the blades being so close to the core. You saw my original rad which had been "shaved" with the standard set up.

[Deadfast]

Ok, well the rad is going to Newquay Radiators on Monday morning, and we're going to work out a solution for the fans. I'll post back what we decide to do.

Cheers all.