Even with a really long extension...
Even with a really long extension cord, this method of cooling yourMopar is not something even I would try.
We chose the Black Magic fan,...
We chose the Black Magic fan, PN 150. The universal design will fit mostapplications, and the 15-inch fan is already enclosed in a shroud toincrease efficiency. We ordered our fan with the adjustable thermostatand A/C relay because of the possibility of A/C being installed down theroad.
The direct-driven fan already...
The direct-driven fan already installed on the Valiant was definitelyrobbing horsepower. it was too far from the radiator, and with theabsence of a fan shroud, it wasn't efficient at all.
Living in Florida has its disadvantages. For starters, sitting at a red light gives a car the chance to boil itself into an explosion of coolant, water, and radiator hoses. When our Mopar musclecars were built, the factory supplied an ample cooling system for the engine and the accessories supplied with the car. That was 20, 30, even 40 years ago in some cases, and aging parts and aftermarket modifications have changed the playing field a bit. The adding of items such as larger camshafts and higher compression ratios create more heat within an engine and the cooling system needs to play catch up.
An integral part of any cooling system is the fan. Be it a nonthermal or thermal coupling, or direct driven, the factory used these three versions with great success. It has long been known, however, that the effort exerted by the engine to turn the fan will rob a certain amount of horsepower. Even though a nonthermal coupling fan is the most efficient of the mechanical drive fans, horsepower is still used to rotate it. If you need to free up every last bit of horsepower, an electric fan can be installed, and since the engine has no connection with the fan, it requires no engine energy to run. The little stock 360 in the Valiant needed every last bit of horsepower it could muster, and an addition of an electric fan was a definite must. We contacted Flex-a-lite and ordered one of their Black Magic universal fans, PN 150.
With the installation of an electric fan and shroud, Flex-a-lite recommends at least 70 percent of the radiator's core be covered by the fan and shroud. Although the Black Magic fan is designed as a puller-type fan, by turning the blade over and reversing the polarity of the motor, it can be used as a pusher. Keep in mind, a fan is more efficient when used as a puller fan as opposed to pushing.
Reciept:
Flex-a-lite Black Magic fan PN 150 $199.99**
TOTAL: $199.99
**Priced through Summit Racing
The supplied mounting brackets...
The supplied mounting brackets (above) were positioned on the sides of theradiator and the holes were outlined for drilling (right). Flex-a-lite alsoincludes rubber, through the radiator attaching hardware.
With the position of the fan...
With the position of the fan finalized, install the fan-mounting bracketto the radiator support, and measure the distance from the fan to thebracket. Flex-a-lite supplies four 12-inch-long pieces of 3/8-inchthreaded rod to attach the fan to the bracket. Determine the length youneed and thread the rod into the fan assembly. The rod will be securedto the fan assembly by a jamb nut, and attached at the bracket end withtwo nuts.
Following the wiring instructions,...
Following the wiring instructions, we ran one red wire from the fan connection marked + to a 12-volt hot wire. If you connect this wire to a switched source, the fan will shut off with the ignition switch. If you connect this wire to a constant hot feed, the fan will run until the thermostat tells it to stop. We hooked it to a constant hot circuit.
The "B" terminal on the fan...
The "B" terminal on the fan is connected to a high-amp feed like the alternator or other connection. The "G" terminal on the fan is the ground.
With the connections made,...
With the connections made, we zip-tied our wires to the fan-mounting brackets.
A thermal probe that installs...
A thermal probe that installs through the radiators core operates the thermostat. The probe tells the thermostatic switch what the temperature is. By adjusting the on/off temperature on the fan, when the temperature reaches the desired setting, the fan turns on. Likewise, it turns off when the temperature comes down to the determined level.
Completed, the fan fits snugly...
Completed, the fan fits snugly between the radiator and engine, and the engine seems to rpm a lot quicker than before. Although we have not been able to take the Valiant to a chassis dyno to verify an actual horsepower increase, gains of up to 17 hp have been noticed on V8 applications in other dyno tests.