Electric Horizontal Fan Conversion

[Mark 84 Carrera]

Does anyone have first-hand knowledge of an electric fan conversion to replace the engine-driven cooling fan? It would sure solve a few problems for me, but I'm a bit leary. If it is so great, why isn't everyone using them? Does it work, is it noisy, does the drag on the alternator = the drag of the old fan! Any info. you have would help, I'm close to getting one from Air Cooled Classics (they advertise in Excellence).

[SteveStromberg]

It woks great if your the Factory racing team as for the rest of us,Stick with cranshaft driven fan stock or 911 style. Laurie Manifold (I am not making up his name) has over 100 wins during his racing career.Used a factory supplied engine and electric fan in his 1302 VW.Using the factory built fan and engine found it was unsuitable as motor would over heat after 30 minutes he remove it and put crank driven fan back on. Steve

[John Rogers]

If this is a full race car then you could remove all but four of the blades and run an air duct right to the air inlet for the fan from outside and as long as you are moving it will run cool enough. Many times the alternator is also left off and a spare batt is used between races. For a street motor I agree the stock setup is probably the best way to go. I would want to see an electric conversion in person since if it doesn't work the results could be disasterous. Good luck.

[Mark 84 Carrera]

I agree that a monitoring system should be used. Maybe a DC current meter on the fan power would suffice, or even better a small muffin fan spun by the air and generating voltage for a volt meter to monitor.

I would like to use the fan on a street car. The manufacturer claims 20Hp (probably more like 5-7) gain. I'm considering it because of the noise, vibration, rattle and antique-ness of the present setup. The car is a Beck 550 Spyder, so the fan has to look cool as well as stay cool. I'm looking for something better than stock dog-house fan setup. My first fan shroud failed internally, causing air not to flow to one side...and it croaked shortly thereafter.

[John Rogers]

Since this is a Spyder replica, I would get one of the flat fan conversions from Riechert at: http://www.ismi.net/riecherttuning/coolingt4.htm
That might not save much horsepower but it sure would look coooool! I talked to then a year or so ago and they seem like a pretty good buch of folks.

[SteveStromberg]

I agree thats a cool looking fan setup my first car was a 61 Vair. don't get sucked in to the fan while tuning the 48's.What gear box are you using? For better cooling mount a strip of rubber across bottom of your car like a 914 has to help pull the air under the car. Steve

[sammyg2]

There are no free lunches. If the stock fan uses 5 to 7 hp, then common sense tells us that the electric fan would have to use the same amount of energy to move the same amount of air, unless it is drammatically more efficient.
So, we can make some assumptions here:
1) the electric fan may be slightly more energy efficient
2) it may not move as much air
3) electricity used to run the fan is generated by the alternator
4) the alternator absorbs energy in order to generate electricity.
5) alternators ane only about 60% efficient.
As far as I can tell, the only way you are going to save power is if the electric fan moves alot less air. Bad, in my opinion.


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Gerald Gore II (Sam)
73 914 350 small block

[JP Noonan]

That and the electric fan doesn't work with the factory heating system. I agree it probably at idle the stock fan would be more efficient.

BTW electric and "flex fans" have been used for years in domestic hot rods, but there is always a trade off. Usally a second battery in the trunk for better weight, or the car gets hot at idle.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Don't forget, Sam--the electricity can be generated ahead of time, and be stored in the battery. Batteries are kinda convenient that way, eh?

It won't work very well for a street car, unless you have 20-minute commutes with recharging facilities at both ends. But for a race car, it could be quite worthwhile.

I have yet to hear about lots of people switching over to this system. I don't know if there is some "real" reason for that, like some problem that prevents it from working that well, or if it's just because people don't know about it or are unwilling to try something that radical.

--DD