Radiator fan upgrade

[kartone]

Any input will be appreciated. Would a set of twin radiator fans from say a 1984 2L GTV fit into a 1980 2L GTV? Can just the fans be exchanged or is the radiator also required? Many thanks.   

[Paul Gulliver]

With summer approaching,  if your having troubles with an early Alfetta that is susceptible to overheating, fans may not be the answer . They maybe just masking the problem . I would be more inclined to start with the  radiator. Get it taken out and flushed also possibly add an extra core  added. I did that with my car that I was club sprinting at the time and it worked a treat.

[GTVeloce]

Yes, I think it should fit. I believe the only change was for the 6 cylinder cars that got a bigger radiator. The twin fans work well but as Paul mentioned, it is only part of the solution. Is the car running well? Condition of the thermostat? Condition of the radiator? Is the switch cutting in and out at the correct time?

[kartone]

The existing fan activates at the correct temp, just want to reduce the temp inside the engine compartment when held-up in traffic so as not to "cook" components (eg seals, plastic tanks, oil in brake lines, etc); the proposed additional fan would be activated by switch when sitting still in traffic.
While I have your attention, in the last 3-4 months, never before, after a drive when the engine is turned-off plenty of bubbles can be heard migrating from the radiator to the coolant tank, what is the cause?

[poohbah]

I had a similar problem in my 116 GTV with bubbles in overflow tank on shutdown a while back. Had no overheating or gasket issues, or signs of oil/water mixing. Issue completely disappeared after I drained the cooling system and filled up with fresh coolant - possibly an airlock I guess?

As for not cooking engine bay components, I went to Supercheap and bought a sheet of that shapeable silver metal heat shielding material, and made a very simple (and easy to remove) heat shield to sit over the exhaust manifold, protecting the brake fluid reservoir, wiring etc. Simply attached by screws in the two existing holes on left hand edge of the camcover.

Some of you may recall about a year ago I asked about the merits of removing heat shields - which I did because the prior owner had made a really clunky impractical one out of a big sheet of aluminium which was a pain to work around. After about two months I noticed some bits and pieces started to look a bit worse for wear (wiring insulation looked a bit crusty and brake fluid reservoir looked a bit sweaty) hence my decision to come up with a neater alternative to the one I pulled out.

Works perfectly, looks pretty neat, doesn't rattle and is easy to work around or remove as required.

[kartone]

Thanks Poohbath. No apparent coolant leak, where is the air coming from? Will drain the system and purge the air at the high spot and hopefully the bubbling will disappear. Mounted aluminium heat shield on the exhaust manifold and corrugated plastic conduit around all brake lines 8 years ago, works well, but want more airflow   

[poohbah]

No idea where the airlock may have originated in mine - assuming that's what the root cause was - all I know is that its been fine since. Hopefully drain/purge of the system will fix the problem in yours too.

[NigelC]

Could you please post a picture of the heat shield in you 116?

[poohbah]

Will do when I get a chance - will take a pic when I get home.

[carlo rossi]

the bubbles would be steam boiling
when you shut down the engine the pump stops and
the water does not move and in certain spots it will hit 105 deg plus
then it will bubble through no reason for concern
thats where electric water pumps are best they stay on for a minute or 2 after shut down
a circulate the coolant tiill a resonable temp is reached

[poohbah]

Hey Carlo, what about if it also coincides with heavy outflow from the expansion tank though? That was what really triggered my concern when I had bubbling in the expansion tank. I'd shut down after driving for a while, and I'd hear the bubbling happening. Then if I came back a few minutes later there'd be a big puddle under the end of the overflow hose, enough to require a top up when things had cooled down.

I don't know if that is happening to kartone, but it hasn't happened to mine since I purged the system (hope I haven't just jinxed myself!)

[poohbah]

Nigel, here is the really basic heat shield I made to sit over the exhaust manifold. Just cut and folded the material to fit. Seems to work.

[kartone]

I'll post a photo of my heat-shield tonight

[kartone]

Photo too large, will reduce tonight and post!

[kartone]

here we go!