Mace.un Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 Hello, Yesterday my radiator cracked and spilled coolant all over a mountain road. I'm now looking to replace with a 3 row aluminum unit. The only question I have is about this particular unit on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/70-75-NISSAN-DATSUN-240Z-260Z-Z-3-ROWS-ALUMINUM-RACING-RADIATOR-RED-FAN-S-HROUD-/150951825762?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item23256e1162 It looks like the fan shroud is blocking the radiator except where the fans are. Is this ok? I could also get a radiator without this fan/shroud combo and just get some universal electric fans that zip tie to the radiator. Like this: Is that fan shroud helping by accelerating air through a smaller opening or just blocking the flow? If anyone has any experience with this particular ebay radiator that would be of great help too. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLATA Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 (edited) I have this Ebay radiator , a 3 row , fit with no problem . My fans are from a 02 Camaro, 3 K miles with no issues Edited February 18, 2013 by PLATA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mace.un Posted February 18, 2013 Author Share Posted February 18, 2013 OK. I googled and the shroud is very important to make the radiator cool correctly. According to what I read other people say about fan shrouds, it blocks air from going around or under the radiator and helps direct air flow through the radiator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mace.un Posted February 18, 2013 Author Share Posted February 18, 2013 (edited) I have this Ebay radiator , a 3 row , fit with no problem . My fans are from a 02 Camaro, 3 K miles with no issues Thanks! Edited February 18, 2013 by Mace.un Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domzs Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Here's my Ebay 3 row radiator setup . Two speed electric fan by Hayden . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duragg Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Do those fans have their own themostats? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mace.un Posted February 19, 2013 Author Share Posted February 19, 2013 The fans that I linked to on ebay don't. They need to have a thermostat in order to switch on at the right time, correct? The original clutch fan has a thermostat, can that be hooked up to the newer electric fan? Obviously I'm new to a lot of this stuff, so thanks for all the help everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLATA Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 (edited) ^^^^ this is what I have on my Z kics at 170 degrees http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hayden-Fan-Switch-Thermostatic-Radiator-Probe-185-Deg-F-On-170-Deg-F-Off-Kit-/330875686968?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4d09ba5038&vxp=mtr Edited February 19, 2013 by PLATA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mace.un Posted February 19, 2013 Author Share Posted February 19, 2013 Thanks! I think I've got a handle on it all now. I appreciate all the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domzs Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Depends on what engine combo you are running , the on board ECM controls fan function . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tecreatta Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 I have the Hayden Fan Controller mentioned above. It's ok but they occasionally go bad. I put around 30,000 on my Z a year. I'm on my third controller in 3.5 years. Put an override switch in the cabin just in case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLATA Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 I have the Hayden Fan Controller mentioned above. It's ok but they occasionally go bad. I put around 30,000 on my Z a year. I'm on my third controller in 3.5 years. Put an override switch in the cabin just in case. Very good point, the override switch is a back up and in my Z I use it when my A/C is on . mine is placed on the fuse box cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldAndyAndTheSea Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 I'm ordering the Derale 14" puller fan, with the thermostat harness for my champion. It's like 125 bucks... 150 if you shop MSA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluDestiny Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 I have both of my fans wired to a single switch, both with relays. I turn them on around town, and I turn them off at freeway speeds. For what it's worth I am using an sr20 rad with fan shroud, total cost was abotu $350. Made some custom brackets for the top and bottom with rubber insulators. Its in a 280zx but should have no problem fitting into an s30. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duragg Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 I just ordered the MSA kit for $250 (back ordered). Comes with relays and such. Decent price, unknown quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 I like the adjustable units so you can quantify what temp your car runs at in 5th at 35mph on the hottest summer day...and set the kick in to be 10F above that. Then you're not needlessly turning on the fan, or the secondary fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domzs Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 I have my fan turns on low at 15'F, hi at 20'F and off at 5'F above the thermostat temp. . I'm running 180'F T-stat . Don't like the idea that you have to activate your fans with a switch , it's a good idea if you are using it as a back up or by pass . I've seen a few cars in the our shop where the customers rigged up the fans and forgot to turn them on . Don't see a reason to have your fans come below T-stat temp. . Fan motors would last long with low temp. setup . I even use A/C press. activate switch for my fans , in my 91 ZX ( converted to electric ) , so they don't even come on at hiway speed . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mace.un Posted February 23, 2013 Author Share Posted February 23, 2013 (edited) I have my fan turns on low at 15'F, hi at 20'F and off at 5'F above the thermostat temp. . I'm running 180'F T-stat . Don't like the idea that you have to activate your fans with a switch , it's a good idea if you are using it as a back up or by pass . I've seen a few cars in the our shop where the customers rigged up the fans and forgot to turn them on . Don't see a reason to have your fans come below T-stat temp. . Fan motors would last long with low temp. setup . I even use A/C press. activate switch for my fans , in my 91 ZX ( converted to electric ) , so they don't even come on at hiway speed .Yeah I'll definitely be putting in a thermostat. Having a manual override in the cabin is what I'll be adding. Not sure when I'll use it but I got these cool led switches and the t-stat has an override so away we go. That's a clever idea with the pressure switch. Edited February 23, 2013 by Mace.un Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duragg Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 I just ordered the MSA kit for $250 (back ordered). Comes with relays and such. Decent price, unknown quality. Got my "kit" from MSA and the quality is now known... marginal. Its not really a kit, but an assembly of stuff which shortens some of the R&D time which is valuable for me. Problem is, the "shroud" they shipped is a POS. Just a flat piece of metal which looks nothing like what is advertised on their website. I've sent in a Return Request to see what happens, or what their feedback on this is. Still probably better than what I had which was a stock fan with non-functional clutch and no shroud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mace.un Posted March 14, 2013 Author Share Posted March 14, 2013 Well the one I bought from Ebay wasn't much better. Though I got the 3 row radiator, shroud and 2 fans for $253. But upon assembling it all a problem arose: Because they made the outlet pipe have a 90 degree bend, it butted up tightly against the very thin shroud and was centimeters from the fan. This made it impossible to put a hose on it. So it went to the machine shop (I don't weld) and they made a new outlet pipe that actually worked. Good news about the Ebay store I bought from is that I showed them this and the invoice for fixing it and they refunded me a fair amount to cover the cost. DNAMotoring was the store name. So after was all said and done it was still a very economical way to get a 3 row + shroud + twin electric fans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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