Build Thread '83 Camping Scrambler, trailer build

[Hedgehog]

One thing I don't understand about electric fans. They take up so much radiator real estate. What isn't covered by fan is covered by plastic. It's well known that a vehicle running at 65mph has more air forced through the radiator than the fan can handle, therefore the fan clutch or the flex fan. What happens when the electric fan can't keep up ... I suppose it can free wheel. That still leaves the loss of cooling area to deal with. With a duel fan arrangement does the radiator have two distinct cool spots? I really don't have an answer to any of these questions. All I know is that I run a stock fan, in 105* temp with a 360 and have never had cooling problems. Maybe they are lurking around the corner though.

 

[Posi]

Contrariwise, if your geared correctly offroad one could crawl at an idle or just above for a full day of wheeling.
Running a 360 with a mechanical fan and shroud just doesn't give enough air flow on warm days. Add an automatic and it doesn't get any better.
^^ is what I'm currently wheeling, plus a clean radiator and all coolant passageways are clean.
Last June we wheeled a hot day and I had to stop a couple times to cool. Another 360 in the group with a mechanical fan, shroud, and manual had to as well.

I added a temporary quick change electric fan just for hot days. My current build has a dual contour fan.
Also, I rather not be working/diagnosing on a running engine with a mechanical fan, folks lose finders, or worse die from a blade that broke off. Plenty of pics on the net of blades going through hoods as well.

 

[Petescj]

Hmm. Lots of good points here. Enough to leave me even more confused.

 

[Hedgehog]

I suppose it is possible that we actually run faster, providing more air flow, here in the Desert SW. Never really thought much about it. Lots of people like their electric fans, I can't understand how their engines get enough volume, but the electrics certainly seem to work. While it certainly can happen, sorry Posi , I'm a little dubious about the loosing fingers and broken fan blade argument though.

 

[Posi]

While it certainly can happen, sorry Posi , I'm a little dubious about the loosing fingers and broken fan blade argument though.

Dubious? Ask CJ forum member Lumpy Grits, he lost a finger to a fan blade. I'm positive he wasn't the only one who ever lost a digit.

A quick search finds 3 that were killed by a fan blade.

Fan blade snaps off truck, kills man | Local News - KETV Home

https://news.google.com/newspapers?...AIBAJ&sjid=NQ4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=6559,1568349&hl=en

https://www.toledoblade.com/local/2014/07/26/Mechanic-dies-after-car-s-fan-cuts-neck.html

 

[Woolyworm]

It doesn't get real hot here so my non shrouded AMC 304 fan works fine. Only time it ever crept up was at the 4th parade creeping along. Anyway, have you considered venting your hood?


Wooly

 

[Posi]

A venting hood would help, and that's a good option for Pete if he chooses, for me, the auxiliary fan I mounted for wheeling in June, July, and August works for me.

The other things that doesn't help an auto is the lower set idle speed, (500-700rpms) compared to manual (700-900rpms) the fan is turning that much slower while crawling. Crawling gear I'm typically at 550rpms

 

[Petescj]

Well right now it's a blank canvas. There isn't anything there. Nothing for a mechanical or electric fan. I'm going to go through these posts again and make a decision with an explanation later this morning. Thanks everyone for your input.

 

[Posi]

I wanted to give a flip side to the electrical fan in general. In your case, and the wheeling you prefer a mechanical fan with a shroud would work just fine.

 

[Neuner]

I wanted to give a flip side to the electrical fan in general. In your case, and the wheeling you prefer a mechanical fan with a shroud would work just fine.

Just getting ready to say something similar. Sounds like if you crawl more and for great lengths of time in your offroading then you should get an electric fan otherwise a mechanical fan is fine for everything else.

 

[Petescj]

Yeah I'm going to go mechanical on this one. From all the info provided that seems best for me. I don't have any clearance issue and the Scrambler won't see any rock crawling , just light duty wheeling. I think it's still going to get hot under the hood due to the long tube headers. Since the scoop has grown on me I'm going to cut the hood under it and see where I stand temperature wise. Vicki and I were talking and decided it's best we flip flop Cjs as well. Since she bike her ankle getting in and out of the Laredo is more difficult and braking really bothers it. Doesn't mean I won't drive both though.

 

[Hedgehog]

Dubious? Ask CJ forum member Lumpy Grits, he lost a finger to a fan blade. I'm positive he wasn't the only one who ever lost a digit.

A quick search finds 3 that were killed by a fan blade.

Fan blade snaps off truck, kills man | Local News - KETV Home

https://news.google.com/newspapers?...AIBAJ&sjid=NQ4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=6559,1568349&hl=en

https://www.toledoblade.com/local/2014/07/26/Mechanic-dies-after-car-s-fan-cuts-neck.html

Lumpy lost a finger on a fan blade. Darn, I wish he had come here to mention it.

Yep I wrote "Dubious", as in possibly a old and retold wives tail. Apparently out of the millions of vehicles on the road some folks have lost fingers and been in the wrong spot at the wrong time when a fan blade broke loose. I do wonder what was happening when those fans let go. But, I did ride my bicycle without a helmet so I might be considered to be a wild man who constantly throws caution to the wind. Prop driven airplanes have a mark on the fuselage for where a broken prop would pierce the plane. With the litigious society we live in today it is surprising that we didn't see the same warning mark on our cars with metal fan blades. So, I stand corrected .......

Sorry Petscj, I got a little side tracked there for a minute or two. Maybe you need to get a plastic mechanical fan. Best of both worlds.

 

[Posi]

Lumpy lost a finger on a fan blade. Darn, I wish he had come here to mention it.

He did, in a thread you started.

Be careful around that dang fan.
There's a reason I only have 9 7/8 fingers-
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

There have been soooo many threads. I have no reason to doubt it, but it would have been nice to hear from good ol' lumpy again is really what I was thinking about.

 

[Petescj]

Knee surgery has kept me out of work longer than expected and the bank account is drained. The Scrambler is now up for sale:

83 Scrambler in Pa $2800

 

[Hedgehog]

Oh I'm so sorry to hear that you are forced to sell your Scrambler ...... Life just sucks sometimes.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Yes-I did lose a finger tip when I failed to remove the fuse to a electric pusher fan that's temp activated, mount'd just behind the grill of my Jeep. I was doing some work on my winch.
The nail did grow back, tho it's pretty flat and the flesh regrowth was amazing.
Nerve damage and loss of feeling in the finger tip.
This happen'd about 6 yrs ago.
It was 110% my stupid-
LG

 

[elwood blues]

Damn Pete, I'm sorry to hear that. Let us know if there's anything we can do for you :driving:

 

[007]

Pete please PM me your phone number. I'm on Tapatalk, I can't p.m. mine to you from here


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Petescj]

Oh I'm so sorry to hear that you are forced to sell your Scrambler ...... Life just sucks sometimes.

Well it is what it is. It could always be worse. Getting healthy and back to work again is the priority. I'm thinking just build the trailer and after I move in a couple years hunt down another Scrambler.

Damn Pete, I'm sorry to hear that. Let us know if there's anything we can do for you :driving:

Thanks. It's ok I just had some set backs but everything is going better now.

Pete please PM me your phone number. I'm on Tapatalk, I can't p.m. mine to you from here


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Pm on the way