[270win]

I just installed an aluminum radiator and electric fan setup. The fans move 4600 cfm and came with a relay. The relay is set at 160 degrees and the thermostat is a high flow 180 degree. Will this work? My thinking was that if the water in the radiator is at 160 then the engine will always get cooler water. Am I expecting too much from this setup? Would a 180 relay setting be better?

Any thoughts on this are appreciated.

[quicksilver97ta]

It will just depend on if your cooling system is up to the task. Your thinking is correct though about keeping the radiator cool however depending on where your sensor is your fans will run nearly all the time once the stat opens. Once you have established what your cooling system is actually able handle you can pretty much adjust your operating temps with your fans on/off settings. The 160 stat will just get you off the outside temps quicker than not having a stat.

[270win]

Originally Posted by quicksilver97ta

It will just depend on if your cooling system is up to the task. Your thinking is correct though about keeping the radiator cool however depending on where your sensor is your fans will run nearly all the time once the stat opens. Once you have established what your cooling system is actually able handle you can pretty much adjust your operating temps with your fans on/off settings. The 160 stat will just get you off the outside temps quicker than not having a stat.

I have the temp probe close to the inlet near the top of the radiator. It would be great if it would stay around 180 in traffic. These fans move serious air and the shroud covers every square inch of the radiator.

[t/a 79]

what brand are the fans?

[270win]

Originally Posted by t/a 79

what brand are the fans?

They're Flex-a-Lite.
Here is a URL for the Summit page-
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FLX-298/

[t/a 79]

thats the unit I have bought it for a 4x4 ford I built a few years ago,was not enough fan so I switched back to mech. Fast forward when finishing my 455 decided to try it in my t/a same result would not cool off idle. switched to twin be cool fans cools much beter. The flexalite blades are way back from radiator. by the way the be cool fans rated at about 3300cfm but cool better

[aronhk_md]

I would prefer NOT to have the fans kick on before the T-stat opens. If thats the case then it'll always be running, and there may be lots of instances where you dont need it to run. Cruising down the highway for example. Honestly you get the most efficient combustion closer to 200 degrees.......thats why they used a 195 stat from the factory. In fact modern engines run between 210-220 for this reason.

If I were you I'd start by leaving it alone until the weather gets warm/hot. Then I'd disconnect the fans and run a manual switch to each into the cabin. Sometimes with duals each fan is the same, but sometimes theres a low speed one and a high speed one. I'd then take the car on a spin with a co-pilot......someone who can drive the car while you watch the temp gauge.

When the car reaches your 180 stat opening temp......just watch it. Its entirely possible that as the pump starts circulating water through the new radiator that the temp stops rising above 190 all on its own as long as you are moving. Much depends as quicksilver97ta says on the sizing of your new system and how much airflow is generated with normal driving.

Ideally you'd be able to keep the temps while playing with it manually to around 195 with just using 1 fan when the car comes to a red light or sits in traffic. The ideal is never needing fan #2 and only having fan #1 come on when sitting still. But of course most of us dont have ideal. I'd like to see an iron headed car open the t-stat at 180, fan #1 come on around 190, and fan #2 come on with a separate thermostat switch at 200-205 OR when you turn the A/C on. But of course thats ideal and sometimes you need them to come on earlier if the cooling system isnt adequate.

If necessary switch both fans on at 190....if fan #1 doesnt do the job.

By manually switching them on one at a time on a trial run you'll have better knowledge of what your cooling system is inherently capable of too.

People are so afraid of running their cars at 200......but truthfully if it doesnt CREEP upward from here its a good temperature. I am switching to aluminum heads, and I plan to use a 195 t-stat and turn my 2 spd fan on low at 200, with the high spd coming in at 210 or when the A/C is on

[270win]

Originally Posted by t/a 79

thats the unit I have bought it for a 4x4 ford I built a few years ago,was not enough fan so I switched back to mech. Fast forward when finishing my 455 decided to try it in my t/a same result would not cool off idle. switched to twin be cool fans cools much beter. The flexalite blades are way back from radiator. by the way the be cool fans rated at about 3300cfm but cool better

My mechanical fan wouldn't cut it before the engine build. It darn sure won't keep up now... Maybe my results will be different.

[wreckwriter]

I have the same basic system on a 78 Camaro. I set the fan to 180, right with the stat. Seems to work pretty well in this car.

[270win]

Originally Posted by wreckwriter

I have the same basic system on a 78 Camaro. I set the fan to 180, right with the stat. Seems to work pretty well in this car.

I'm going to leave it at 160 for now, but once the weather gets warm I'll bump it up to 180 too.

[HWYSTR455]

Same fans I run on the driver, had to run two relays for them since they draw like close to 30a when they come on. One thing many don't account for is the draw, and the fact that it will KILL alts and batteries. When those things come on, and you're standing in front of the car, it will suck a beer can out of your hand!

Mine are set to come on at 195, off at 185, and I run a 180 stat. It runs right at the stat temp on the highway, or a couple above, so the fans don't run while driving. It takes a few mins at idle in traffic to creep to 195, and that keeps the fans from coming on in stop & go and between lights. I also run a switch to the relays for manual operation. I'm going to add a wire so one fan runs full time when the AC is on, will do that before the summer.

There should be a setting for an 'off' temp too, and you can set that to roughly 5 degrees above the stat temp. True, about optimal operating temps, though some use the 160 to gain a cooler intake charge, or to help fight det. I prefer to run a 180, since I drive in the winter, and heat is a good thing then!

.

[270win]

Holy cow! that's a serious relay setup! My relay is just an on off at one temp. I like the idea of leaving one fan to be turned on manually only.