DiscoStu Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 Hi all. I'm planning on adding a fan or pair of fans to my 1994 Disco 300Tdi. I've already removed my viscous unit, I've found it makes the engine a little keener and more willing from low revs. Its a bit quieter, warms up a little quicker and my heaters are now nice and warm by the time I get on the motorway a mile or so from my house. At the moment (Brand new Rad), its not even reaching half temp, even when in stationary traffic for a while but summer will be here soon enough and I'd sooner not trust to luck that it will never overheat without a bit of help. Kenlowe or Pacet seem to be the obvious choices as advertised in the mags but with the news that there is another nipper on the way and the instruction to stop "Spending all my money on that stupid car" fresh in my mind I'm hoping to recycle some off a scrapper. I've decided I'll probably invest in an X-switch to control it but everything else needs to cost peanuts. My question is what make/model of car to get the fans from? I've wondered just how much "Help" the viscous fan provides to the intercooler at low speeds until the air flow naturally builds up, removing the fan doesn't seem to have adversely affected it at the moment but its pretty cold out! What fans would you guys reccomend? Would you dedicate a smaller fan for the intercooler? What cunning and ingenious builds have you undertaken that I can copy and pretend I invented to my mates?? All wild and weird ideas appreciated, Stu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDB Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 My question is what make/model of car to get the fans from? I seem to recall reading that Sierra fan and shroud were a pretty good fit. You could keep cost down by just having an on/off switch on the dash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicedayforit Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 I seem to recall reading that Sierra fan and shroud were a pretty good fit.You could keep cost down by just having an on/off switch on the dash. Ford Mondeo seems to be a popular choice if you need a fan. I've removed my viscous unit and found much the same as yourself. I have a feeling I'm not going to need any fan at all, I just carry my viscous fan in the boot just in case. I've been out in fairly hot weather with ac on - no problems, temperature gauge steady just over half way up. I'd be interested what you end up with, I may yet succumb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discobandit Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 I went down the electric fan route as I picked 1 up really cheap, but even when towing a caravan on the few sunny summer days we had it only came on when sat in stationary traffic for an hour. They work fine when running but worth the money? I wouldn't like to say!! Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiscoStu Posted November 1, 2008 Author Share Posted November 1, 2008 Thanks for the feedback all, I will let you know how I get on. I went down the electric fan route as I picked 1 up really cheap, but even when towing a caravan on the few sunny summer days we had it only came on when sat in stationary traffic for an hour.They work fine when running but worth the money? I wouldn't like to say!! Gary I can see where you're coming from Gary but if the whole lot costs me £50, it compares favorably to the cost of overheating. If you didn't have a fan when you needed it you may have overheated, then it's a possible head gasket, head skim etc. A couple of hundred quid and the inconvenience of having the truck off the road. Like I say, I get your drift and for the moment, this cold weather will help but I've cooked a few cars over the years, I've started to get a bit paranoid Stu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discobandit Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 Sorry about that Stu! Meant to say "is a brand new one really worth it"? I, like you, fitted an electric setup for around £50 and, it is after all, something else to toy with. Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 Take the tape measure to the scrapyard and see what looks good - I found Audi twin-fans fitted my rad well, Ford have a similar setup on Escorts that may fit a Disco, or there's some socking big single fans on stuff like Mondeos, Lagunas, people carriers and sporty german stuff. Don't forget to measure clearance to the engine as well as width/height though, some fans can have long motors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbin Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 I removed the viscous fan from my 1997 300 tdi (also fitted a new radiator).I fitted an electric fan fron a vauxhall carlton via a relay & manual switch.Took my caravan to france etc & temp never moved.Only time i had to use elec fan was this year laneing in scotland (high revs slow speed).So my advice would be biggest fan you can find in scrap yard ,whatever suits ,mine cost £10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiscoStu Posted November 6, 2008 Author Share Posted November 6, 2008 Thanks all, it's off to the scrapper then I think I'll wire it up through a switch and relay to begin with, maybe I'll invest in an X-switch to activate it in the future. Cheers, Stu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muther Trucker Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 i got one from the scrappers for £15, its off either a pug or a citeron, its branded with both logos... it goes really fast, even when you forget its going + put ur fingers in it... it fits virtually completely over the rad (disco 200tdi), it had 2 lugs on the bottom which located in the lugs on the bottom of the rad, and i drilled the surround to go over the fan cowl studs at the top of the rad... its wired upto an illuminated switch on the dash and uses a big relay, a big fuse (think its 60amp) and some thick wire taking a feed straight from the battery so i can leave it on with the engine off if i need to... i have heard of using an electric fan off a motorbike on the intercooler, but time/money mean i havent had time to fully invesigate this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drkwack Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 My turn to throw a spanner in the works, I had an electric fan (pacet) on my defender 90 200tdi, it worked great, but I removd the cowling totally,Im also considering doing this to my disco, but using an electric fan from a freelander ( fitted as standard) any thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiscoStu Posted November 16, 2008 Author Share Posted November 16, 2008 There is a thread over in the defender forum where, IIRC, LandyMan Luke uses one of a Mondeo, with the shroud slightly modified. Its s a good thread if you have a quick look I'm sure you'll find it. This is the link to the info on the fans he put on his own website: http://www.crookesmountain.plus.com/landrover/fan/fan.htm Stu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stageonesimmo Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Just for info...... I fitted the fans from a Pug 406, (10 quid from the scrappies off a rear-ended 07 plater), in mine - they are push fans and fitted to the front of the rad. There's a load of chopping about involved with the cowl , but mine are in and without the need to bolt them in its such a good fit! They come with the relays fitted into the cowl in a panel on the front, but theres a bit of re-jigging of the loom required as they are air con fans and designed to be 'staged', I just chopped the trigger side of the loom about a bit, replaced it all and hey presto - all done in a couple of hours - 2 really powerfull fans run off the second battery via their own supplied relays via a Carling 'X-Fan' switch in the dash next to the fog lamp switch. Not a bad way to waste some of a weekend...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.