Mounting fans to the radiator

[Smokey228]

How bad is it to mount the thermo fans against the radiator?

I know that you shouldnt do it, but if i could mount with the straps through the actual rad, i could fit a slightly larger fan in there. I have made brackets to mount one slightly away from the rad, and it works, but i cant fit the 2nd fan in as the water pump fouls...

The bracket, atm, mounts from the headlight support. So its about 10mm off the rad.
If i could take that 10mm back, i could probably fit a 8" thermo in there... Which would probably be enough than...

Cheers,
Jase

Or, should i leave the 10" and make a shroud that covers the surface of the entire radiator, so the 10" draws from the whole surface? Or use a shroud, and get a 12"...?

[gargoyleman]

i have a 160 mill thermo with brackets angle alloy screwed in to side radiator mounting brackets 2tg works well can send pics if needed

[Stefan]

Why shouldn't you mount thermo fans against the radiator?? That's the only way they'll work, unless you are using some kind of factory shrouding. (confused)

[Gary]

i guess he means using the radiator fins as support for a mounting point

i've done it to mine, my logic is the fins that i'm damaging wont be doing much - considering they'd be blocked by the mounting arm. make sure you go through fins for your choice of mounting method though and not a tube other than that it wont hurt radiator performance significantly

[Smokey228]

Yes, i mean mounting it to the actual radiator. Via the straps that are provided that can be pushed through the fins and hold it against it...

I didnt think there was an issue, bar damaging the few fins that you push through. But the radiator guy begged me not to do it. I would prefer not to, but its going to be the best way for me to get enough fans in there to suck air... I may have issues otherwise.... So if i have issues, the radiator is useless anyway...

Cheers,
Jase

[ed]

i bolt mine through the radiator core, use silicone rubber sheet isolating material under anything hard, and use large washers to distribute load through this sheet.

[Smokey228]

Any pics / more info on that? Sounds like a good idea... I think i would mount both fans like this than, as it will make the standard shroud on the fan work alot better...

Cheers,
Jase

[misk]

most thermo fans are sold with either bolts or plastic straps of some sort to slide through the fins, as long as your not putting pressure on the actual rad. piping there shouldn't be an issue.
the thermo fan itself would be light as fuck, so as long as your gentle mounting it, u should be fine

i duno how big your radiators are, but do you guys play with things like ford AU or mondeo thermos?
they fit over the whole radiator and allow for fitting to be done via screws at the top of the radiator (if there is a lip)
they're very thin and cool extremely well!
but depends how big the actual radiator is i guess

[Stefan]

My Ebay thermos came with nice mounting kits - long teethed plastic rods (kind of like 3d cable ties) with big one-way washers.

I hurt my rad fins a lot more taking it in and out of the engine bay than mounting the thermos!

[Smokey228]

Yeh mine came with same things...

Though i broke one playing with it the other day I may have to see if i can buy more from somewhere

Cheers<
Jase

[YLD-16L]

i bolt mine through the radiator core, use silicone rubber sheet isolating material under anything hard, and use large washers to distribute load through this sheet.

Same, been doing it that way for years and have never had an issue.

["Z" UTE]

My radiator man advised me that bolts through the fins was the only way to go. I had asked about other methods, but Burl said "Use the kits that you get from Davies Craig".

cheers Chuck.

[oldcorollas]

Or, should i leave the 10" and make a shroud that covers the surface of the entire radiator, so the 10" draws from the whole surface? Or use a shroud, and get a 12"...?

whatever size.. make up a thin shroud (1" is still ok). will work heaps better.
if it restricts at highway speed on summer days, you can fit cheater holes with flaps.. like on some euro cars (audi etc?)

[Smokey228]

The thermos im using have a sorta shourd on them already, and if i mount it to the rad, i cant get a shourd in there...

So i'll prolly be running the 10" and an 8" side by side, against the rad, with no shroud... Bar the factory kinda ones on there...

CHeers,
Jase