Choice between 2 cooling fans: Recommendations?

[62BT7]

I'm rebuilding the cooling system in my '62 3000, and have two fans to pick from (how I ended up with these two is a long story...) Anyway, one is the red plastic five bladed fan from Moss that's asymmetrical. The blades seem short to me but it's very lightweight. Obviously it's nothing close to concours. The other is the reproduction of the Healey "tropical fan" offered in the mid-sixties as an option. It's a symmetrical 6 bladed fan, steel, heavier than the plastic one, also sold by Moss (although mine was from Healey Haven [and they say it was of English manufacture]). I know some have said these fans are prone to failure but just eyeballing this one it looks really sturdy, almost too much so (relatively heavy, multiple rivets, etc.)

Has anyone used either of the fans in hot weather? Pros, cons? Thanks!
-Tom

 

[GregW]

Hi Tom,
I’m not sure why you are limiting yourself to those two fans… Option “C” could be the stainless fan that British Cars Specialists sells. I can’t recall anything negative said about this fan. Here is a picture of mine.

 

[WALTER]

Re: Choice between 2 cooling fans: Recommendations

I installed the stainless flex fan from Moss. It improved cooling but is very loud. I've heard nothing but good things about the Texas cooler.

W

 

[Randy Forbes]

Re: Choice between 2 cooling fans: Recommendations

The original tropical fan (the heavy one) is tough on waterpump bearings.

 

[Keoke]

Hi Tom, Forget what that Moss six bladed metal fan looks like ,you can not judge a book by its cover, it is well documented that they break. Further, Moss at one time recalled those fans. Regarding the red five bladed fan all I can tell you is five bladed fans run quieter than there six bladed cousins, for aerodynamic reasons that I have long forgotten. OTOH, That fella Greg ,Surprised he is up so early in the morning , pointed you in the right direction.---Fwiw---Keoke-- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

 

[GregW]

Re: Choice between 2 cooling fans: Recommendations

Hi Walter,
The Texas cooler is no longer available, at least through the North Texas Healey Club.

 

[GregW]

That fella Greg ,Surprised he is up so early in the morning Keoke-- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

Heck, 11AM is half way thru the day for me. Dinner at 4:15, digest, then watch the 5 o'clock news and off to bed.


Well, maybe that's a couple years off. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif

 

[Keoke]

That fella Greg ,Surprised he is up so early in the morning Keoke-- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

Heck, 11AM is half way thru the day for me.

----------ON AH SUNDAY !!-----------------------Keoke--- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/lol.gif

 

[Randy Forbes]

Hi Tom,
I’m not sure why you are limiting yourself to those two fans… Option “C” could be the stainless fan that British Cars Specialists sells. I can’t recall anything negative said about this fan. Here is a picture of mine.

This is the fan that was on a MK III Healey I worked on earlier in the week (coincidently, the waterpump bearings had failed...):

 

[GregW]

Hi Randy,
Though they look almost the same, the fan on the car you were working on is different. It has 3 rivets per blade where mine has four. Dave Russell had commented on the 3 riveters possibly coming loose in this thread , maybe that’s why the pump went South?

 

[Randy Forbes]

Hi Randy,
Though they look almost the same, the fan on the car you were working on is different. It has 3 rivets per blade where mine has four. Dave Russell had commented on the 3 riveters possibly coming loose in this thread , maybe that’s why the pump went South?

Yes, I noticed that as soon as I saw both pictures in the same "box". Given the obvious mods to your engine, I certainly hope your fan stays together, as it sure looks like that baby's capable of some high revs.

The owner of the Healey that I just worked on has an F-430 for when he wants to go fast; I'm not really sure what he does with the Healey, but he's had it since 1980...

 

[GregW]

Mods? Why whatever are you talking about /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/angel.gif

 

[healeynut]

The red asymetrical fan is much better than the original tropical fan. use that one, it moves more air and is much quieter. That's what I use on my BJ8 here in hot steamy Hong Kong....