Can I add an electric fan to my 1968 Firebird to help with dditional cooling, especially in rush hour traffic.

Question

This car stays cool when it is running around, but stop and go traffic, yikes the temp gauge just keeps climbing. Would adding an electric fan and mounting it on the ouside of the radiator in combination of the existing fan function the way I would like? I plan on adding an additional switch to turn it on when needed.

Answer 1

Yes, that will work provided you have the room to fit it in there.

Answer 2

A viable option but I'd rather fix it and forget it. First, Make sure your fan clutch and water pump is working right. Second, Buy a new flex fan that has five or six blades on it and install where the old one is hanging. This should do the trick. Also, you can choose a "heavy duty" radiator over a stock radiator and this will add cooling power without doing anything else. There are more "tubes" or wider flatter tubes on the heavy duty radiator.

Also, make sure there are no bubbles in the system as this will make temp's look artificially high when hot air rather than coolant sits in the heads where the temp sensor sits.

Electric fans are supposed to be an add on for high speeds and off roading pressures you put on the motor where you might be running high RPM's at lower speeds.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

yes you can do that but with the fan on the outside of the radiator pushing the air it's not as effective as if it were in back of the radiator, it will help some but not enough to do what you want it to do, the biggest mistake people make is not having a fan shroud, if you don't have one get one it's good for a 10 to 20 degree drop in temp, also put a 160 degree thermostat in it and add a bottle of water wetter to the antifreeze that you can buy at summit racing and thats good for a 10 degree drop in temp. If you have never put a new radiator in the car I would suggest that you get a 4 core or an aluminum one.

Answer 4

Yes it would work, but you should check your existing fan first. If it is a clutch operated fan, check the clutch for excessive play. The problem you describe is also common on a vehicle that has had the fan shroud removed or damaged. The shroud makes the fan pull air through the radiator and not just circulate hot air in the engine compartment. Check these things first, you might not even need an electric fan.

Answer 5

it should help and make sure you have a fan shroud for your original fan and that the fan clutch is good. a good way to check the fan clutch is to get the engine nice and hot, like under the stop and go conditions, have an assistant rev the engine at about 1500 - 2000 rpm and watch the fan, have them shut the engine off while holding the rpms, the fan should not keep spinning, it should stop within a couple of turns. if not, replace it. also try and seal the shroud to the radiator so that airflow will be directed through the radiator.

Answer 6

If there is room to put it in. Best off flushing the cooling system, if needed switch to a lower temp thermostat like 185 degrees. Should be no problem as heck they had no problem in 68. Possible the water pump is starting to go. Nice car by the way

Answer 7

You most certainly can. There is an aftermarket electric fan available and is ideal for the problem that you describe.
The fan is controlled by a thermostat, so it only comes on above a preset temperature.
The manufacturer (in Australia) is Craig-Davis, but I am sure Google will give you local supplier.
Good luck with your projects.

Answer 8

yes.......by all mean,s..............if you have clearance....be sure the fan you use run,s in the correct direction...a pusher fan rather than a puller fan.....you could run it off a thermostatic switch that control,s the fan when temperature,s get extreme...also consider a high volume water pump...good luck!