| Author | Message | ||
     Will Selden (Ncrcwill) New Member Username: Ncrcwill Post Number: 19 Registered: 02-2004 |
My 96 Disco has two electric fans mounted in front of the radiator. Are these factory installed? If so, are they controlled by the air conditioning compressor circuit? I would like to install a secondary in cab switched relay for manual operation. | ||
| Joey (Joey4420) Senior Member Username: Joey4420 Post Number: 614 Registered: 04-2003 |
Yes they are factory installed, they are for the A/C just like you suspected, not sure why you would want an in cab switch to control them, but anything is possible and everyone has a reason for something. I would presume water crossing? If so, just do run the A/C. | ||
| Will Selden (Ncrcwill) New Member Username: Ncrcwill Post Number: 20 Registered: 02-2004 |
Mainly for manual ON operation. It's an old jeep trick, most modified jeeps are running with increased BTU output while relying on stock radiators. Adding electric fan(s) aid in cooling during increased density altitude operations especially while traveling < 5 mph. | ||
| Will Selden (Ncrcwill) New Member Username: Ncrcwill Post Number: 21 Registered: 02-2004 |
Mainly for manual ON operation. It's an old jeep trick, most modified jeeps are running with increased BTU output while relying on stock radiators. Adding electric fan(s) aid in cooling during increased density altitude operations especially while traveling < 5 mph. | ||
| Joey (Joey4420) Senior Member Username: Joey4420 Post Number: 617 Registered: 04-2003 |
I personnely am getting ready to remove the stock clutch fan and install a Dual Electric Fan from flex-a-lite. www.flex-a-lite.com look for 27' fan. I talked to there Tech Support person and he said it should fit with not mods (yes I already have it, just haven't installed it yet. Ordered mine from Summit Racing. | ||
| Joe B (Denverrover) Member Username: Denverrover Post Number: 181 Registered: 02-2003 |
Did the same on my RRC....good mod. | ||
| Joey (Joey4420) Senior Member Username: Joey4420 Post Number: 618 Registered: 04-2003 |
Joe, You said you made the same mod on you RRC, do you mean the 27' fan mod or the Manual power on the current A/C fans? If the 27' Fan mod, did you run into any issues. I just got it in the mail, and haven't started yet and just curious. | ||
| Peter Matusov (Pmatusov) Senior Member Username: Pmatusov Post Number: 1396 Registered: 09-2002 |
Will, in general it's not a bad idea; however, the electric fans are also controlled by the temperature switch - so they should turn on automatically when needed. My Disco keeps the temperature like a rock, so it isn't much of an issue; the rangie often runs warmer than I'd like, so I've routed the switch into the cab. Joey, if you live in the area with fast highway traffic, steep grades, high temperatures, or combination of the above, you'll be very disappointed. I have not yet come across something that equals the stock engine-driven fan in cooling capacity. I don't know if "denverrover" is a good indicator of a person's whereabouts - but if it is, I'd love to hear about what's been done and how the truck is used. Going up I-70 in a 90-degree day from Denver towards the tunnel, at 65-80 mph, is pretty hard on a truck. | ||
| Joe B (Denverrover) Member Username: Denverrover Post Number: 183 Registered: 02-2003 |
Yes - I am in Denver. I bought two Flex-a-lite black magic open-box fans when I was at the Summit store in Ohio. They were pretty cheap. The new 27" looks pretty trick - it can blow (suck) almost 5,000 cfms. I don't have a switch to turn the fans on/off, but I do have a temp sensor that turns the fans on at 170 degrees & I do have the AC relay from flex-a-lite hooked in too. I fabricated a "safari" grill for my RRC that looks pretty cool and I have my fans set up to push air through the radiator. Hence they are set up on the outside of the rad facing in. So, my stock fans and shrouds are all gone opening up the front of the engine compartment. I do have a fuse mounted that I can pull to shut the fans off for water crossings. I took this setup off of my Jeep Cherokee. Those Jeeps are known for their cooling issues and adding more electric fans is the only to cool things off - short of adding a four core rad. Even on such a low horsepower engine like the 3.9 I don't know how much of an advantage taking the mechanical fan off will be - but it must be something. It is true that the electric fans will never push as much air as an engine turning at 3000 rpms - but it looks like the new 27" will come pretty close. The good thing is that these fans turn at full rpm even at idle on a trail - typically when things start to heat up. I would have to say the most important thing when adding an electric fan is make sure that they are properly shrouded & they are sealed TIGHT aganist the rad. Even a gap of like 1/4 of an inch can make a big difference on the efficiency of the fan. Whew. I'll try to take some pictures of my setup & my engine with the heads off (valve) job. BTW I have not done this setup to my Disco although I have considered it. On the RRC the guage has never gone past halfway - orig rad. Joe | ||
| Joey (Joey4420) Senior Member Username: Joey4420 Post Number: 619 Registered: 04-2003 |
Joe, the new 27' fans come with a rubber seal to go against the Radiator...as per the tech guy. The Disco Radiator is 27 1/8 x 15 3/8, and the 27' fan is 17½" x 27½" x 4" | ||
| Peter Matusov (Pmatusov) Senior Member Username: Pmatusov Post Number: 1397 Registered: 09-2002 |
Thanks Joe. I've had a 16" flex-a-lite electric (1900cfm rated) and an 11" fan (about 700 cfm) together as pullers, PLUS stock twin electrics as pushers, on my RRC - and they didn't come even close. | ||
| Joe B (Denverrover) Member Username: Denverrover Post Number: 184 Registered: 02-2003 |
Peter - I'd say with all that air moving around you might have some kind of radiator issues. | ||
| Peter Matusov (Pmatusov) Senior Member Username: Pmatusov Post Number: 1398 Registered: 09-2002 |
nope, radiator recored. Once I put back the engine-driven fan + working clutch + shroud, overheating was gone. | ||
| Mud Man (Clarance) Member Username: Clarance Post Number: 97 Registered: 02-2002 |
I have the 210 installed the fan are great BUT the controller is sh*t. The wiring tabs are constantly breaking off. Jet has a controller that looks much stronger that I'll be trying next. Good luck | ||
| Sergei Rodionov (Uzbad) Senior Member Username: Uzbad Post Number: 356 Registered: 08-2003 |
well my 2 cents - i didnt listen to Peter's bad experience and tucked electrical fan in, last December. Didnt do much of winter driving in Disco, just occasional outing to test things, and then back to garage. So spring hit, temperature rose, and there we go - overheated and spluttered coolant... I am putting engine driven fan back as soon as it arrives (old one had blade broken). Basically its matter of loosing 1-5HP, while having peace of mind. But then you can always gain it all back by using proper lubricants, better air intake and stuff. Then again - it all might have something to do with living at 7K feet  | ||
| Ryan Roundy (Rrefxut) Member Username: Rrefxut Post Number: 71 Registered: 12-2003 |
It's ot on a rover, but I put two flex-i-lite fans on my camaro, one pushing, and one pulling, along with an alluminum radiator. With the extra fan I ordered the new wiring kit and relays to properly do the install. The fans have worked okay, but I installed last year and have blown the relays 3 times now. I've gone over the wiring, been on the phone with summit, and even had the local speed shop take a look, and all say it's properly wired. So, happy with the fans, not so happy with the wiring kit. Ryan | ||
| Ken Rountree (Krountre) New Member Username: Krountre Post Number: 29 Registered: 01-2004 |
Ha$ anyone replaced the two electric fan$ with an aftermarket electric fan? They are rather expen$ive new. I've located a couple at salvage yards but worry they will die too. |
