Give the Thermo's a go

[roverv8]

After doing some reading about thermo fans vs's Viscous fan i thought i might give the thermo fans a try.

I bought a lenght of angle aluminium and made up a frame for the thermo's to sit in.
The frame I made simply clips onto the radiator the exact same way as the cowling would, so if i decide i don't like them i simply undo the 2 top clips & undo the wiring which i haven't yet done.










http://luckey73.gallery.netspace.net.au/albums/album02/S6303999.jpg

They are twin 10 inch fans.
They will also fit in upside down so the fans are nearer the top of the radiator if i choose to put them tha way.

[350RRC]

Hi,

Most people who do the thermo thing with a RRC or D1 go for the genuine Ford EL or AU package (or the genuine fake EL or AU package) that contains two fans mounted in a shroud very close to the size of the LR radiator.

This shroud ensures all the fan's efforts are cooling the max area of the radiator, ensuring efficiency. The shrouding is important and it looks like you have none.

Not sure how yours will go, but keep us informed.

cheers, DL

[rovercare]

Hi,

Most people who do the thermo thing with a RRC or D1 go for the genuine Ford EL or AU package (or the genuine fake EL or AU package) that contains two fans mounted in a shroud very close to the size of the LR radiator.

This shroud ensures all the fan's efforts are cooling the max area of the radiator, ensuring efficiency. The shrouding is important and it looks like you have none.

Not sure how yours will go, but keep us informed.

cheers, DL

That^^^ also you need to offset the fans vertically as on a crossflow radiator your only cooling the bottom 2/3's;)

[350RRC]

That^^^ also you need to offset the fans vertically as on a crossflow radiator your only cooling the bottom 2/3's;)

Good point, but the large diameter of two of the real / fake real Ford fans is more than the width of the radiator so they are offset in the shroud diagonally.

The fans in the pics must be pretty small to go side by side. I'll post a pic of an AU shroud for roverv8 in a tic when I find the link.

cheers, DL

[roverv8]

Oh well,
If it doesn't work i can put the viscous back on,

Still looking at filling in the shroud around the fans,

It covers a wider area than the viscous but your right about the top few rows, if it can't get the temp back down they will be coming off!!

[cucinadio]

being a D1 owner mate, very interested in an update in a few days......interesting

cheers

[rovercare]

Good point, but the large diameter of two of the real / fake real Ford fans is more than the width of the radiator so they are offset in the shroud diagonally.

The fans in the pics must be pretty small to go side by side. I'll post a pic of an AU shroud for roverv8 in a tic when I find the link.

cheers, DL

Yea, should of made that clear, that was in reference to the fans he has in the pics, I cooled my 302 with 2x10" Davies Craigs in much the same holder as that, except staggered, without a shroud, I put the first set of EF-L fans on as they came in....a falcon wreck? I can;t even remember, but thought, Hey they look heaps better, now I've fitted heaps over the years:D

[roverv8]

I cooled my 302 with 2x10" Davies Craigs in much the same holder as that, except staggered, without a shroud,


Did they keep the temp under control?

[Rad]

Did they keep the temp under control?
Hey was having same issue with overheating at low speeds. My beast has the a 2.5'' body lift and had to cut the original shroud to fit. Went through the trouble of putting new viscous hub on, cleaning radiator, thermostat, radiator cap etc, and would still get hot when driving slow. Got hold of a EF falcon cooling fans complete. All i did was cut off the side mounts from the falcon shroud and it slid straight in. Couple of screws in the top and a couple of zip ties through the bottom plus some rubber strip to stop any rubbing. Wired up through a relay and run it off the temp sender in thermostat housing. Fan now runs when it gets to operating temp or when turning on air con. BEST thing i ever did. Any one want to buy a near new viscous hub to suit a D1?
RAD:)

[rovercare]

Did they keep the temp under control?

Sure did....once I ported into the back of the intake manifold to relief the hotspots in the back cylinders:D

[roverv8]

being a D1 owner mate, very interested in an update in a few days......interesting

cheers


Did a test this morning,
Let the engine heat up more than usual then powered up the fans,
They did bring the temp down but not as quick as i was hoping.
I don't think they would keep the temp under control on a hot day around town.

It's possible if they were fitted corner to corner and closer to the radiator it would improve, as suggested

I had the fans sitting in the shed for a year or so in there pack,
they were for a condenser on a VN which never got put on,
So i only wasted 10 bux on the aluminium.

The ford fans in the shroud sound like the way to go.

Thanx everyone for imput.

Luke

[PAT303]

The trouble is that people use A/C fans,like you have instead of rad fans.You need to fit fans that really push the air through the rad like Falcon fans do,the fans you have are for air flow through a condensor,get the right fans and it will be good. Pat

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Sure did....once I ported into the back of the intake manifold to relief the hotspots in the back cylinders:D


:rulez:;)

[rovercare]

:rulez:;)

Well before I owned a digital camera:D

[Ghostrider]

I run those AU Fans (Shrouded) in a Jag XJ-S V12. I ditched the stock viscous fan because I never trust them (how do you really know if they are working 100%?) and the small elec Air Con fan and put the Ford Twin set up. Mounting was easy and wiring was simple. They have worked keeping a modified V12 cool in traffic for the last 10 years so I doubt they'll have a problem with my LR V8. The amount of load a viscous fan places on an engine is imense and besides, last time I checked, the Ford Fan set up is about $200 (from Ford Parts!) so it's probably cheaper that replacing the viscous coupling!

I plan to run mine with with an auto 2 speed thermo switch and a master over ride so I can run them both flat out if I need on demand.

I'll take pics and let you know how the install goes!

[Ghostrider]

Okay, simple question...

How do I get the viscous coupling and Fan off? Shroud is easy but which bolts do I remove to get the viscous fan out?

Cheers,
John

[spudboy]

DIFFLOCK - TD5 & V8 Viscous Fan Wrench Set (http://www.difflock.com/buyersguide/newproducts/TD5V8-wrench-set/index.shtml)

[350RRC]

Hey was having same issue with overheating at low speeds. My beast has the a 2.5'' body lift and had to cut the original shroud to fit. Went through the trouble of putting new viscous hub on, cleaning radiator, thermostat, radiator cap etc, and would still get hot when driving slow. Got hold of a EF falcon cooling fans complete. All i did was cut off the side mounts from the falcon shroud and it slid straight in. Couple of screws in the top and a couple of zip ties through the bottom plus some rubber strip to stop any rubbing. Wired up through a relay and run it off the temp sender in thermostat housing. Fan now runs when it gets to operating temp or when turning on air con. BEST thing i ever did. Any one want to buy a near new viscous hub to suit a D1?
RAD:)

Some info for those thinking about doing the EF / AU thing and a bit of preventative maintenance maybe for others:

Pre EL shroud I'd had probs with the vertical seam splitting on the rad, so when fitting the shroud with the fans I fabbed some ali brackets to let the bolts holding the rad either side take the weight, rather than the rad itself.

When doing this I noticed that the grommets on the pins under the rad were not taking the weight of the rad, they'd shrunk. The weight was being taken by the side bolts on the tanks causing the splitting. Easy fix.No probs at all since.

Suggest everyone should take out the two side bolts and make sure the grommets on the pins underneath are taking the rad weight to prevent a pretty common problem (seam splitting).

When fitting EL/AU units consider fitting them in a way where the all weight doesn't go through the rad. At the very least make sure any weight is on lower grommets.

cheers, DL

[BigJon]

Did a test this morning,
Let the engine heat up more than usual then powered up the fans,
They did bring the temp down but not as quick as i was hoping.
I don't think they would keep the temp under control on a hot day around town.

It's possible if they were fitted corner to corner and closer to the radiator it would improve, as suggested

I had the fans sitting in the shed for a year or so in there pack,
they were for a condenser on a VN which never got put on,
So i only wasted 10 bux on the aluminium.

The ford fans in the shroud sound like the way to go.

Thanx everyone for imput.

Luke

If they are VN condenser fans then they are "pusher" fans, designed to go on the front of the condenser. They won't work as efficiently mounted on the rear "pulling" the air, as the blade design isn't as efficient that way.

As other people have said Ford EF/EL fans would be a better bet.

[roverv8]

If they are VN condenser fans then they are "pusher" fans, designed to go on the front of the condenser. They won't work as efficiently mounted on the rear "pulling" the air, as the blade design isn't as efficient that way.

As other people have said Ford EF/EL fans would be a better bet.

Sorry, i should have said purchased to put on a VN condenser.
They are universal thermo fans, I was going to put them on VN for my sister but she sold the car & said i could keep the fans,
They are reversable so you can make them draw or push air,
They are quite powerful & really draw the air, and probably ok in the cooler wheather, but on a stinkin hot day i think they would really struggle to cool the Disco's system.
As said, i could remount them corner to corner & closer to the radiator to work better but it's been pointed out that thermo's on these radiators need to have some sort of shroud to really pull the air through the radiator.
I might stuff around with them again 1 day, to many other things to do at the moment, getting the 96 Disco ready for a RWC & Rego.
Cheers Luke

[Scouse]

I might stuff around with them again 1 day, to many other things to do at the moment, getting the 96 Disco ready for a RWC & Rego.
Cheers LukeGoing by your avatar Luke, you have plenty of time to sort these out before using the Landy again ;).

[roverv8]

Going by your avatar Luke, you have plenty of time to sort these out before using the Landy again ;).

No, i just look very young in the pic.
Thats my boy and tells me that Rangie is his!!

[BigJon]

The pic in your avatar shows a very young driver... plenty of years to go before you can drive legally...:D

[LOVEMYRANGIE]

Again......

Pacet Home Page (http://www.pacet.co.uk)


Follow the links to Landrover.

Davies Craig are a waste of time and absolute rubbish.
10 inch fans are too small even in a twin setup as they won't pull anywhere near enough air.

Also, do a search or look under my posts historically. Have done a full install list of what I did and what I used.
I am away on holidays ATM and only have my iPhone so time consuming searching and listing the posts and don't have 3G where I am :mad:
my set have been in for a few years now and work better than the viscous ever did
Cheers

Andrew

[Scouse]

No, i just look very young in the pic.
Thats my boy and tells me that Rangie is his!!


The pic in your avatar shows a very young driver... plenty of years to go before you can drive legally...:DAha, quick use of the EDIT button by roverv8 ;).

My new message notification email says otherwise :p.

[roverv8]

Sorry about that BigJon,
It took a few seconds for the cogs to click in as to what Scouse meant:oops2:

[scrambler]

I had a good run with thermos using only a sheet of marine ply as a shroud (in a Stage 1 V8). Offset is, IMHO, the key, and adequate fan size (as big as you can fit on). The point of the shrouding is to make sure the air is pulled from the other side of the radiator, not the side the fans are on. I had no choice when I made the conversion - couldn't source a replacement viscous fan - but never regretted the change.