[DeTomaso] Stock fan output vs. Flex-a-lite

[Garth Rodericks]

Tom,
   
  I'll play Devil's Advocate here and throw in my opinion, but remember, it's only worth what you paid for it.  ;o)
   
  <<< I can't seem to ignore the thought that almost everyone is changing their radiator fans 
  to Flex-a-lite, or Mariah's, etc.  Does anyone know what the CFM is of the stock eight blade 
  fan which is what is currently on my car. >>>
   
  Stock fans have only 4 blades each. They look like an X.  The 8-blade fans you refer to are 
  from a Ford Cortina. They were also used by DeTomaso on later Panteras - I think the 
  competition cars (one of the experts can clarify which models).  Anyway, they have 8 blades 
  that have significantly more pitch than the stock 4-blade fans and they move significantly 
  more air (although I couldn't tell you at what cfm). I have these blades on my car too.
   
  If you rebuild your fan motors, they should be good to go for another 30 years of trouble free 
  driving. I rebuilt my fan motors last year following the instructions outlined in the "Cooling 
  Fan Refurbish" article on Pantera Place, and they work great!
  http://www.panteraplace.com/page115.htm
   
  As far as radiators go, stay away from aluminum!  Yeah, yeah, everyone thinks it's an 
  "upgrade," but different does not mean better; only different.  The real reason auto 
  manufacturers switched to aluminum radiators is cost. They cost less than traditional 
  copper brass radiators. 
   
  If you plan to drive your car, go with a traditional copper-brass radiator. It can be fixed just 
  about anywhere should you ever have a problem on the road. The same can't be said for 
  aluminum radiators. And, a lot of Pantera owners have experienced problems with the 
  aluminum radiators leaking. Two Pantera vendors no longer sell aluminum radiators as a 
  result of consistent problems/failures.
   
  FWIW, aluminum is less efficient at thermal transfer than copper-brass, although I don't 
  know if the difference is noticeable. The aluminum radiators are lighter than their traditional 
  counterparts, but I believe the aluminum radiators may be larger (thicker) to compensate for 
  the inefficiency of the construction material. I would be curious what one of these aluminum 
  radiators weighs when full of water. If anyone has one that's not installed, please fill it with 
  water and weigh it. I can do the same with my old copper-brass radiator. Just curious.
   
  Anyway, I have a stock style copper-brass radiator and rebuilt stock cooling fans with 
  Cortina blades and have absolutely no cooling problems. I can sit in stop and go traffic in 
  100-degree weather all day. And, the car runs cool at speeds of 80-95 mph for hours on end. 
  I haven't tried sustained speeds above 100 mph for any extended length of time,  yet.
   
  And remember, this advice is worth only what you paid for it. 
   
  Cheers!
  Garth
   

 
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