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MG MGA - plastic radiator fan

I've been looking into replacing my fan with a yellow plastic MGB fan that I think I can make work, although I may have to re drill one bolt hole. Whats puzzling me is why the blades are not symmetrically positioned around the hub? I've seen this on other similar fans and there always one gap that is larger than the others. Is this something about balancing, although I can't think why a symmetrical layout cannot work?
J H Cole

Just a comment about plastic fans. they work ! A friend fitted one from an old Datsan to his '50s Riley, instant cure, even at idle it blows a gale and is quiet at higher revs. Sean
S Sherry

We have had lots of posts about the yellow injection moulded fan over the last year or so ( I admit that most were from me!) Check out the archive.

I have a kind of love hate relationship with the one I fitted.
I love how efficient it is and how much cooler the engine runs (approx 10 degrees F ) but I hate the fact that it makes the car sound more like a double decker bus than a sports car!

If you fit one make sure you add at least 10 or 15mm more clearance than usual between the blades and the radiator as the blades are inclined to flex forwards when the ambient temperature is high and they can the foul the radiator.

Im still looking to fit an electric fan(or fans) instead of a mechanical fan but I am waiting for Lindsay's report of how his electric fan copes this summer before I take the plunge.

Cheers

Colyn
Colyn Firth

The blades are still equally distributed around the centre, so it is still in balance. It's not just one space; they're all a bit different. The staggered blade spacing breaks up acoustic resonance(s) that would otherwise get set up at different speeds. Same as tyre treads, take a look.

FRM
FR Millmore

Colyn, still working brilliantly without the mechanical fan. I really hope I don't have to refit the old yellow thing, the engine runs so much better without it.
It would be interesting to know just how much power a mechanical fan uses, I have been amazed at how noticable the power increase is without it. I dread to think how much power your mighty propeller is consuming Colyn!
Lindsay Sampford

Lindsay

Like Colyn, just waiting for your hot summer day analysis before committing - could be a long wait!

Steve
Steve Gyles

Yes Steve, seems a long way off. I nipped to Newmarket for some stuff yesterday morning, about 4 miles away, and didn't make 190F even with no fan! Had some nice 40 mile round trips over the last week or so, including some fast dual-carriageway, and the temperature has stayed around 190, only rising significantly when at a standstill. It has been said before on this forum that the fan doesn't have any effect once you are on the move, and those are certainly my findings under the present mild conditions. So anyone having trouble with overheating when cruising at 60mph should be looking for a cure that doesn't involve a fan of any sort!
Lindsay Sampford

FRM I half understand your point its just that their appears quite a large interruption to the regular symmetrical spacing to achieve this as shown in this pic.

J H Cole

The injection moulded fan I have fitted to my car looks different to yours JH.
Mine has evenly spaced, square ended blades, is approx 20mm larger in diameter than the OE metal fan, is beautifully shaped and moves far more air through the rad than the standard OE fan.( It actually blew my baseball cap off my head the first time I put my head under the bonnet and revved the engine to check it out!)
I bought it from NTG services on ebay.
(Hopefully I will remember how to post a picture of it for you!)

Colyn

Colyn Firth

But Colyn, the trick is to run with no fan, not keep the fan and ditch the radiator!
Lindsay Sampford

Yes I suppose my photo does actually show that my car was air cooled!
But I was just not brave (foolish?) enough to drive the car in that configuration and I put the rad back on after fitting the fan.

They reckon that a mechanical fan takes up to 5bhp from the engines output so removing it would give most MGAs a power increase of at least 5%.

It certainly sounds like the simplest and easiest way to get more power out of the engine.

I will probably remove "BIGFAN" this year and fit an electric fan once I have decided which one to buy.

In the meantime Lindsay, I suppose I could always fit some ducts around my "BIGFAN" and vector the thrust from it to help jet propel the car.

Having the worlds only VTOL MGA could also be handy for parking in tight spots and vertical overtaking manoeuvres etc!

Colyn
Colyn Firth

Colyn

Is that an TC vented panel next to the carbs?

Steve
Steve Gyles

Colyn, on a more serious note, I have often wondered how much of the extra power developed by a supercharger is gobled up by the belts and the fan that make it work. Maybe Dominic could enlighten us.
P.S. Sadly I have had to withdraw from this years Northumbrian Tour as something has come up that I can't get out of without letting others down, but hopefully see you at one of the other events.
Lindsay Sampford

Steve, yes my car has the twin cam louvred panels fitted to each inner wing. I think they contribute to the cool running temperature of my car. Also they are really useful in improving access to some of the more awkward spots in the engine compartment.

Sorry we wont be seeing you in Northumberland Lindsay, we really enjoyed your company on all of the last trips.
I can make MGA day this year and we are already booked for the South West MGA Tour so we will hopefully see you there. Keep us up to date with the electric fans performance Lindsay

Colyn
Colyn Firth

Colyn

Off topic. Can you give me a link to the South West MGA Tour please.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Havent got the hang of posting the links yet Steve, I have been a bit wary of attempting it in case I send someone a link that isnt quite what they are expecting!
( I once was asked by a musician friend to search for the website of Britains most famous Brass Band.
Its quite surprising what turns up if you type into your search engine the words "Black Dyke"!)

So if you check out the MGCC website under Registers
All the info is on the MGA register section in "Events"
The South West MGA tour was fantastic last year Steve.

I can email copies of the info to you if you wish

Colyn
Colyn Firth

Steve, this is the man to get in contact with for the Southern Tour hilaryandpeter@btinternet.com His name is Peter Morgan.
Lindsay Sampford

This thread was discussed between 14/02/2011 and 18/02/2011

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