Modifications

Fitting an electric fan to a side radiator

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Fitting an electrical , thermostatically controlled fan in place of the mechanical, engine -driven type can prevent fuel and permit you to regain engine power normally wasted in constantly driving the fan. This article shows you ways to suit an electrical fan to a car that features a transverse engine with a side-mounted radiator – like the Mini.

Restricted space

The compactness of the engine compartment in this type of car means there’s a restricted amount of space round the radiator area and you would like to suit a special sort of blower – a suction fan.

Also as a result of restricted space, the fan is mounted during a different way. instead of being attached to the radiator itself, it’s fitted to the inner wing, outboard of the radiator. Hence it sucks. instead of blows air through the radiator. you would like to chop a hole within the cowling that covered the mechanical fan to allow air, which is forced into the engine bay when the car is traveling, to assist cool the radiator in order that the fan doesn’t need to work all the time the engine is running.

Suction fan kit

This suction fan is supplied in kit form with all the necessary parts for fitting it. The kit includes the fan and motor (A), with protective cover (B), wiring and electrical connectors (C), and temperature sensor and setting control (D). A dash-mounted warning light (E) and all the necessary nuts, bolts and washers (F) are also included.

Fitting

It is a touch more complicated to fit a fan to a side-mounted radiator than to a front-mounted one. you would like to try to to some cutting and drilling to the inner wing and you furthermore may need to remove the radiator to chop out the opening within the cowling.

Fitting the temperature sensor and control unit and wiring up the system is far the same as for the other types of fan. The procedure for fitting a Kenlowe suction fan to a BL Mini is roofed overleaf. When fitting this fan, or another maker’s fan, to a different model of car, you ought to ask the kit fitting instructions for any additional or alternative instructions.

1. Remove fan

Drain the cooling system. Release all the radiator securing bolts and lift it out of the engine bay. Remove the drive belt, fan bolts and fan, then refit the water pump pulley and fan bolts. You may have to pack out the pulley bolts with washers to make up for loss of fan thickness. Refit the belt.

2. Mark and cut wing

Rest the car on an axle stand and take away the road wheel. Find the midpoint between the upper and lower center vent squeeze the inner wing. Scribe a line 15/8in (41mm) above and below and on all sides of now to make a square. Cut out the square with a hacksaw. This lets the motor pass through the wing.

3. Rotation test

Join a wire to every fan motor terminal and touch the loose ends to the battery terminals. The motor should spin anti-clockwise viewed from the spindle side. Swap the wires on the motor if it spins the opposite way. Fit the shrouds over the terminals and therefore the rubber cover over the rear of the fan motor.

4. Fit the motor

Attach the specially shaped brackets to the motor. Offer the assembly up to the wing,a nd mark and drill four 8mm holes within the wing. Secure the motor and bracket to the wing ensuring the nuts and bolts are tight. Fit the fan to the motor spindle with the side marked ‘S’ nearest to the radiator.

5. Radiator shroud

Mark out the section to be removed on the radiator shroud. The side to cut out is the one nearest to the front of the car. The entire side of the cowling should be cut out using a hacksaw but leave the flanges that attach to the radiator (see diagram). Refit the radiator back into position.

6. Fitting sensor

Refit the radiator bottom hose. Bend the sensor tube into a ‘U’ shape and insert it into the radiator top inlet stub. Position the special seal on the stub and lay the sensor tube within the seal’s groove. Position the hose and Jubilee clip over the seal and sensor tube and tighten the clip. Fill with coolant.

7. Thermal control

Fit the thermal control to its bracket ensuring the sensor tube emerges next to the bracket. you ought to then mount the bracket on the bodywork as almost the sensor as possible. confirm the coiled sensor tube can’t rub on the other components. Fit the over-ride switch to the dash.

8. Wiring up

Run the red/black motor wire to an ignition-controlled feed. Run the green/black motor wire to the NO thermal control terminal and then another wire from there to the dash switch 4B terminal. Run a live feed to the dash switch 3A terminal. Earth the control box C and indicator light 5B terminal.

9. Testing

Turn the control knob fully clockwise. Run the engine until the temperature gauge is halfway between normal and hot. Turn the control anti-clockwise until the fan starts. The fan should switch off before the needle returns to the normal position. Lock the switch in position with the screw provided.

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