Thermo Fan recommendations

[mike]

Hi guys lookin for some cooling gurus!
i'm running the 16V 1.6 EFI Vitara in my sierra with a 3 core sierra radiator.
I've been using a thermo fan which looks a like a 14" ICE (ashdown/repco) not sure what the specs are on this but it does struggle on slow crawling hot days. It finally gave up the other day. I suspect the small hole rubbed into the back by the water pump assembly alowed moisture to get in causing a premature failure.
Ideally would like a viscous coupled engine fan and a small Thermo to assist at slow speeds, but I only have 50-60mm to play with.
I can't make any combination of the Davies Craig fans work (using their recommended airflow of their suggested replacement, the DC31). I have a DC31 in fact but it's wayyyy to big to fit.
If i can find this ICE fan http://www.nissansilvia.com/forums/lofi ... 07358.html that'd be ideal but every 12" ICE I've seen locally has a plastic back rather than the metal back seen on that web site and are much bigger than 50mm in profile. Additionally it seems odd to me that the quoted specs are soooo much better than the Davies Craig in the same size.
IDEAS???
Thanks in advance
Cheers Mike

[bazooked]

im rinning a davies craig 14" in mine with the 1.6 efi, i had to lop of the extra length of bolts stickin out from the water pump pully, it just misses now so all is good . also i got the next rad up with finer fins and an extra core, so far cooling hasnt been a problem.

[OVERKILL ENG]

Running a shroud with the fan will make it a lot more efficient as well.We
usually make a shroud that lifts the fan about 10mm of the radiator and the cooling efficeincy of the fan is greatly increased.
SAM

[Webbie]

I can vouche for the lce thermos my twin 10'' thermos push 1350 cfm each nearly double that of a davis craig in the same size.

[josh9465]

are you guys using a temperature sensor with ur thermos.

where have u guys placed the sensor

[OVERKILL ENG]

are you guys using a temperature sensor with ur thermos.

where have u guys placed the sensor

We use a thermo switch outa a laser radiator and mount it in the thermostat housing way more reliable than the adj thermostats and are generally idiot proof.
All our comp vehicles however the fans are just hardwired in so when the ignition comes on so do the fans even more idiot proof.
SAM

[mike]

Running a shroud with the fan will make it a lot more efficient as well.We
usually make a shroud that lifts the fan about 10mm of the radiator and the cooling efficeincy of the fan is greatly increased.
SAM

yeah good call Sam. I don't quite have room behind the radiator but am thinking of making a scoop in front so all the air coming from the grill gets to the radiator (mebee leave the bottom off so it doesn't also scoop water and air can still get airflow from underneath?) Better still, (thinking as I type) mebee I can make an aluminium shroud that offsets the fan mount and solves my clearance issues

BTW anyone got thoughts on mounting on both front and rear of radiator and any subsequent effects of overlap? I spoke directly to a Davies Craig tech on this and was left a little underwhelmed in confidence.

[BenT]

You could run a Subaru Legacy thermo fan. Thats what I've got on mine and it works well. The shroud fits the radiator almost perfectly. A couple of bolt holes even line up. I just had to rivet on a 20mm wide aluminium strip to attach the other side.
The Subarus have two fans, a large and a slightly smaller one next to it - its the large one you need. Mine came from an early 90s Turbo.

They are nice and thin and fit between the stock radiator and engine. Also fits with the 1.6 I have in there now too. Its two speed, but I just wired it to work flat out when its on.

I used a thermoswitch from a Suzuki Swift G13B. I just put a threaded boss into the top of the thermostat housing.

Ben

[1Lzook]

im running the g16b and with the vitara radiator and a 14inch thermo on a thermatic switch it never gets above half way

[josh9465]

i take it the thermo switch looks like a brass nut with a wire connector on top.
how did you manage to fit to the thermo cover. did you have to drill a hole. or did you pick a thermo cover with a fitting.

the ones u buy from super cheap have like a probe sorta like an oven thermostat.

[BenT]

Yep, the thermo switch fits your description.

Here's another posting I made a while ago on off-road.com, with pics of the fan and thermoswitch. It answers some more of your questions:

http://bbs.off-road.com/ubbthreads/show ... art/1/vc/1

Ben

[mike]

im running the g16b and with the vitara radiator and a 14inch thermo on a thermatic switch it never gets above half way

what breed of Thermo are you running?
On the highway mine never switched on and everything stayed real cool low range up a steep hill in on a hot day was a different story. I ended up putting in some bonnet vents which helped but not cured the problem.

[josh9465]

thanks for that benT
that pic answered my question

[1Lzook]

i used a davis craig thermo switch which is like this one in front of the fan
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ICE-16-INCH-THER ... otohosting
i bought a 14inch thermo from supercheap for like $90 its a no name brand but its got like 1yr warranty on it, mounted it on the front of the radiator

i guess maybe it has something to do with the radiator positioning as well as mine is as far forward as u can get it

i have never had a problem with my car overheating whether in traffic or off road,
i guess another thing u could try is a different thermistat, electric water pump

[josh9465]

1lzook

where did you put that copper temperature probe.

[1Lzook]

it goes into the top radiator hose