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Topic: SPAL fans intermittent

in Forum: C3 Cooling and Heating Systems


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SPAL fans intermittent (19/29)
 3/29/07 6:38pm
eddie20875Lifetime Member
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Lanoka Harbor, NJ - USA

Vette(s):
1975 metallic blue coupe with t-tops,L48, t/t steering, black leather interior. 1990 L98, white/red leather interior, auto,a/c


Joined: 12/21/2006
Posts: 828

in post above, i called spal up to ask what should be used to seal the threads. they told me one reason they say not to use teflon tape is because people generally use too much. he said you could use it but at the least amount to seal it. i asked about rtv sealant and he said the basically the same thing, the least amount of anything to seal it. the connection on the radiator is under the return hose but with coolant circulating thru maybe it cools it too fast. just guessing on this. will let you know as i should be getting mine in hopefully this weekend.

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SPAL fans intermittent (20/29)
 3/29/07 9:09pm
74stingray454
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Willow Grove, PA - USA

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1974 Stingray Coupe LS4 454 Dark Brown Metallic with Deluxe Saddle interior


Joined: 10/27/2006
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well, tonight it ran and it ran just fine...
I THINK what was happening was the new rad and engine were still "burping" air pockets out as tonight when I check the water level it was low and took about 2 qts....
 
My guess is while the engine was running, the coolant lever in the rad was BELOW where the sensor sits and the water that was coming into the tank was simply flowing like a fountain OVER where the sensor was, never touching the sensor......
 
so tonight once i topped it off... they ran and ran as advertised.....
 
silly little simple things caused me undue grief!
 
 
SPAL fans intermittent (21/29)
 3/29/07 9:14pm
eddie20875Lifetime Member
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Lanoka Harbor, NJ - USA

Vette(s):
1975 metallic blue coupe with t-tops,L48, t/t steering, black leather interior. 1990 L98, white/red leather interior, auto,a/c


Joined: 12/21/2006
Posts: 828

great to hear it.  you are so right, that something like that can really get to you and it winds up being a simple solution. 

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SPAL fans intermittent (22/29)
 3/29/07 9:32pm
my7t1Lifetime Member
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Dorr, MI - USA

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71 Colonnade Hardtop Coupe Torch Red with black interior originally L48 built to push around 360hp


Joined: 8/21/2002
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Way to go Dude. Makes a lot more sense than a little teflon tape on the sensor. Always remember to bleed out air when filling system.

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SPAL fans intermittent (23/29)
 3/30/07 9:20am
74stingray454
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Willow Grove, PA - USA

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1974 Stingray Coupe LS4 454 Dark Brown Metallic with Deluxe Saddle interior


Joined: 10/27/2006
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What do you do to bleed it out? My uncle always said to run it a few mins with the rad cap off....
 
I chose to just fill it and run it with the cap on.... then check the water after it cooled.
SPAL fans intermittent (24/29)
 3/30/07 9:59am
my7t1Lifetime Member
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Dorr, MI - USA

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71 Colonnade Hardtop Coupe Torch Red with black interior originally L48 built to push around 360hp


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What I do is run the engine with the cap off until the stat opens. The level should drop down.  Then I throttle it a few times, hold the rpms up while I top it to the fill line and cap it. After I drive for a while and it cools down, I check the level. From there you should be good to go.



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SPAL fans intermittent (25/29)
 3/30/07 11:24am
74stingray454
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Willow Grove, PA - USA

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1974 Stingray Coupe LS4 454 Dark Brown Metallic with Deluxe Saddle interior


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Hum, sounds just like what my unlce used to do.....
 
sounds like a plan! thanks 7T1
SPAL fans intermittent (26/29)
 3/30/07 12:57pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


Joined: 11/8/2003
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If you drill a small, 1/8" hole in the flat surface of the thermostat, it will allow you to fill the system with no problems, as this will create an "air bleed". You'll find that most thermostats you buy today have this hole, just for this reason.
The old method of running till the 'stat opens, then filling the radiator is a tried and true way to do it. It's also a good idea to have a recovery system, as this will let the engine take in what it needs as you drive.
Glad you got it fixed!!!

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SPAL fans intermittent (27/29)
 5/21/07 7:24am
mikeee
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Oviedo, FL - USA

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1977 t-top


Joined: 9/8/2006
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Is there a down side to wiring these fans directly to the ignition,thereby the fans are running 24/7?
SPAL fans intermittent (28/29)
 5/21/07 8:00am
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20126

More wear & tear on them, as well as the alternator/charging system, for one. Plus, they don't really need to be running all the time.
At road speed, you can have enough air coming thru the rad. to actually fight against the fans, trying to spin them faster than they normally turn. This can create undue stress on the fan motor(s).
A better set-up, if you don't want to go with the temp. activated method is to just wire them thru an "On-Off" switch and relay, but you have to make sure the fans are on when they need to be on...

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Joel Adams
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SPAL fans intermittent (29/29)
 5/21/07 3:45pm
1969 L46
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Jefferson City, MO - USA

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1969 L46 4 Speed Roadster


Joined: 3/9/2007
Posts: 150

I highly recommend using the temperature sending unit for the fan setup as the source of power for the fans.  I have dual spal fans in the 69 Corvette and the 69 Camaro.  The sending units for both cars are installed in the intake manifolds.  Some people wire them separately to come on and go off at diferent temps.  Both of my fans are run parallel.  They come on when they are needed (200) and shut off when the temp is below 190. 
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