STS Corvette Forum

kensmith · Guru

Spal 16" electric fan swap?

ffas23 · Guru

Ken,

There is an electric fan mounted on the inside of the radiator on my '67 Coupe. A previous owner had put it there hooked up to a switch under the dash rather then a sensor. I guess he may of felt he would use it if needed. When I purchased the car it ran hot at times especially during the Summer. I fixed the problem and haven't had to use the electric fan on my car being the car doesn't overheat anymore. Not a Spal but it is the curved blade type.

I put a curved blade type on my Street Rod on the outside of the Radiator actually mounted to the A/C Condenser on my Street Rod. I did the same using a on/off switch under my dash for the time I feel it would be needed. Not a Spal fan. Doesn't seem to make much noise when operating it. Sorry I can't give much more help on the issue.

kensmith · Guru

Well, I did some research and found the best 16" fan is a paddle curved blade. Pulls more than the straight or standard curved blade and is quieter than either. Also found a great price on the internet with free shipping:

http://www.ultrarev.com/30102082-spal.html

Babbah · Newbie

It pulls the same CFM as the Spal 16" straight blade unit - Make sure you wire it with the external relay kit as this fan and the straight blade I have pulls 24amps!!!

kensmith · Guru

Babbah wrote:
It pulls the same CFM as the Spal 16" straight blade unit - Make sure you wire it with the external relay kit as this fan and the straight blade I have pulls 24amps!!!

I already have the relay kit installed with the Spal 16" straight blade that is currently on the car. I ended up buying the Spal paddle blade fan from an Ebay seller as the original vendor said they were on backorder. I think the straight blade also draws about 22 amps and it has a 30 amp fuse.

kensmith · Guru

Update, installed the new fan. Works great. About half the noise of the straight blade and pulls every bit as much air if not more.

ffas23 · Guru

Ken,

Just curious to know how the aftermarket A/C is working in your Coupe?

kensmith · Guru

It works good but the Vintage Air sure fit system has a small under dash unit that fits behind the glove box and I don't think it is nearly as efficient as your daily driver. Plus it uses the 2 center console vents and adds two under dash vents at either end. Everything it low so it blows on your legs. (But the original A/C from what I understand is worse with less efficiency). It does blow really cold air, just wish there was a way to spread it around more and maybe a bigger unit but bigger probably would have issues fitting. I had the larger VA system in my 32 Ford and it was great.

ffas23 · Guru

Ken, I put the Vintage Air system that was recommended to me in my '34 Ford also. Bought the system just after '92 when I started building my Street Rod. The system was built for R12 Freon but I decided when it was time to go with R134a instead being R12 was getting very expensive and not being made anymore. Sorry I didn't put R-12 in the system instead. Blows cold air but not as cold as R12 I believe. Works nice on not so hot days in the 80's but 90's and up it is not cold enough for me. Remember these systems just cool the inside air as I am sure yours is probably made the same way not taking outside air into the system. I could be wrong on the Vintage system for the C2 though but that is how it is made for my Street Rod.

kensmith · Guru

Fred,

My 32 Ford Vintage air was 134a like my 65 coupe. But the evaporator and blower fan was much bigger. On 100* days it would keep the cabin cool on the low fan setting. With the Corvette, I have to run it on medium or high in 100* weather. The 32 had their Super-cooler system where the 65 has the Sure Fit system. Also, the 65 has defrost and heat. I don't think my 32 had heat.

ffas23 · Guru

The Vintage Mini unit in my '34 has defrost and heat also but I decided not to slot the top of the dash for defrost on my car so I didn't hook up the defrost being I never thought I would need it being I only drive the car in nice weather. Defrost is more a Winter thing. I have used the heat in October early November with it though when taking it for a ride on cold days or at night time at a Cruise when the weather turned colder in the fall.