RUNNING PROBLEMS WHEN VERY HOT

I and several other members here run with just an electric fan (std fan saps power), so you should be OK.
IMHO you need to sort the heat problem out in this order:
1) Stop producing too much heat (by checking the valve & ignition timing are correct, and not too lean a mixture)
2) Keep the heat you do produce inside the engine/exhaust (wrap the exhaust manifold, fit the rocker cover with a silicone gasket)
3) Make sure the heat is diffused efficiently as far as possible by the fan and radiator.
4) Fianlly, and only finally, reflect the heat that inevitably gets out away from the fuel lines & starter with reflective stuff as mentioned before.

Cheers
Jules

RatSport www.ratsport.co.uk
 
WELL
JUST STRIPPED THE RADIATOR OFF TO PUT THE OLD FAN BACK AS I HAD RUN OUT OF IDEAS, HAD A THOUGHT AND REMOVED THE NEW THERMOSTAT I HAD FITTED WHEN I REBUILT THE ENGINE, BOILED A KETTLE AND PUT THE THERMOSTAT IN DIDN'T OPEN !!!!!!!!!!! WELL YOU COULD BLOW ME OVER WITH A FEATHER :I, WILL BE GETTING A NEW THERMOSTAT/RAD CAP AND SIX FOOT OF FUEL PIPE (TO TAKE AROUND THE FRONT AWAY FROM THE HOT ENGINE BAY, WILL BE COVERING THE PARTS OF THE PIPE IN THE ENGINE BAY IN HEAT RESISTANT SHEET) ;)
HAVE MADE A LOVELY HEAT SHIELD AROUND THE CARB SO THE HOT AIR FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD DOESN'T BOIL THE FUEL IN THE CARB SO I WILL HOPE FULLY BE SORTED FOR THE HOT START PROBLEM. :D
DOES ANYONE THINK I SHOULD KEEP THE ELECTRIC FAN SET UP NOW I'VE FOUND THE STAT STUCK [?][?][?] OR SHALL I REFIT THE OLD ONE AND STICK WITH WHAT WORKED FOR YEARS [?][?]

WOULD APPRECIATE SOME FEED BACK ;)

AMOS (Bluemouse1006)
 
Electric is the way to go but there's no harm in carrying your old fan just in case. Once you've fitted all the new stuff see what happens before making a decision, remeber a puller is more efficient than a pusher.

th_killin.jpg
 
good stuff - I'm interested in the pros and cons of electic fans and I'm wondering about my thermostat now too!

I baught some heat wrap from Ratsport a few weeks ago and I'm planning on fitting it when I swap the carb over. I have read some dodgy things about exhaust wrap though - how the increased temperatures can cause the manifold to fail. Anyone got any experience?

Rupert

"Atheism is a non-prophet organisation"

www.littleyellowcar.co.uk
 
Do not wrap a standard manifold, its probably damn near impossible anyway.
if you do it will keep more heat in BOTH manifolds and the cast exhaust one will warp or crack.
they have to be seperated,as that is the root cause of the problems,the exhaust heat is dumped straight into the inlet manifold and overheating it and the carb [xx(]


4512057915_d4db8c4f01_o.jpg

"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
 
I'm also interested in the electric fan route and have been dabbling - is there anyone on here that successfully runs their Commer with just an electric fan (not in conjunction with the mechanical)? I think 12" is the biggest can you get away with, but Commerjules reckons he fitted a 14 incher on his.

Not much room for puller fans as the water pump sticks out quite far.
 
I run a Holbay manifold thats wrapped, I doubt you'd find any racers with unwrapped manifolds as wrapping it liberates power. But then they have always junked the cast iron one, which is a particularly silly design on the Commer.

Chamba: I think there are pics of my fan installation on my thread on readers' rides


PS is anyone wants to see our racecar its on TV tonight on Men & Motors (Mallory Park) at 1:00 am tonight/tomorrow morning (its the Cossie with the big rat logo driven by Rod Birley, class & outright winner. Sorry not feeling modest today [}:)])

Cheers
Jules

RatSport www.ratsport.co.uk
 
Hi :D

Fitted the old fan back on today and replaced the faulty thermostat (fitted a 82c instead of a 88c) hopefully to help it run cooler,fitted a long fuel pipe along the front and covered the bits inside the engine bay with heat reflecting tape stuff, the bottom of the carb float chamber has been covered with the same stuff along with a heat shield plate under the carb.
had problems bleeding the system but once it slightly cooked and i let it cool and refilled it was ok hopefully,seems to run cooler now.
Going for a run to Bridlington on Friday night so will you all know how she goes [8D][8D][8D]


AMOS (Bluemouse1006)
 
quote:
PS is anyone wants to see our racecar its on TV tonight on Men & Motors (Mallory Park) at 1:00 am tonight/tomorrow morning (its the Cossie with the big rat logo driven by Rod Birley, class & outright winner. Sorry not feeling modest today )



Didn't realise Rod was still racing. My eldest sister used to know him when he raced a Capri in the early 70's.

avatar_23306.gif


'I intend to live forever - so far, so good'
 
Electric Fan....

I removed the mechanical fan from our Highwayman last year in favour of an electric fan. We towed a small vintage car on a trailer behind the van all around the North West coast of Scotland and the fan performed well. However when the adjustable thermo switch failed the fan stopped working. I fitted up a temporary direct link switch on the dashboard and switched the fan on and off when necessary. I bought a new thermo switch but this also failed (on the Edinburgh by-pass!!), and I was forced to refit the mechanical fan which I had, thankfully, decided to keep in the van with my other spares, at the side of the road (lots of swearing and very hot spanners!!!).

The van ran smoother on electric and gave slightly more power, but I would reccomend keeping the old fan in the van for emergencies, when electrics go they just stop!

Cheers

Ruairidh Dunford
 
Cheers for the info! I have worried about the fan failing to work for whatever reason. At least with the crude factory fan it's going to work unless the fan belt snaps, but that would give you a fair bit of warning! What type of thermo switch did you use and what size + type (puller/pusher) fan did you use? Thanks.
 
If an electric fan doesn't correct things it is possible you've connected it the wrong way around, given most of the after market fans can be configured to be either pushers or pullers this is suprizingly easy... The result is that when the fan comes on it effectively stops air moving through the rad when the vehicle is moving causing it to run hot, but will work fine when the vehicle is still.

m_5ab8dd55b2c2c84c5ce92d6090469c78.jpg
 
:D:DJust got back from Bridlington after a fab night away,Van went well,the temp stayed at just below half way with the old mechanical fan fitted, will be keeping it on for the I.O.M trip I think,
I ran on LPG all the way and it went fine, seemed to have helped the hot restart problem with the mods i carried out, will try and post some photos soon..[8D]

Thanks

AMOS (Bluemouse1006)
 
[8D]
on the way to the IOM in the morning still had probs with the van yesterday ran very rough when hot !!!!!!!!! changed the coil and it seems to be ok now !!

Ill post some photos when i get back

Amos [8D]

AMOS (Bluemouse1006)
 
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