[Healeys] radiator thermostat

[m.g.sharp at sympatico.ca]

Interesting Len.  The previous owner of my BT7, Fergus Ross, who owned it for 14 years, would sometimes vacation on Long Island, driving the Healey with his lovely wife, Ava-Marie, from Oakville in Ontario.  About a 12-14 hour drive.  He told me he used to remove the fan on the long journey as he got a bit more power.  I though it a bit extreme as I never felt I needed more power in the Healey.  I seem to recall (i.e., I am not motivated to look it up to confirm) in his wonderful book about Bristols, L.J.K. Setright noted that Bristol experimented with different fans on a dynamometer and running sans fan produced about 5 extra BHP.

 

Mirek

 

From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> On Behalf Of Leonard Hartnett
Sent: September 19, 2025 1:24 AM
To: Healeys at Autox <healeys at autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [Healeys] radiator thermostat

 

I purchased my Healey while stationed at RAF Bentwaters in England about 80 miles northeast of London and about 10 miles from the English Channel.  The average annual temperature at Bentwaters is 46  to 72 degrees F.  

 

Perhaps because the temperature was relativaly cool AND the fan was so noisey, I removed it.  I found that as long as I could keep moving, the engine did not overheat.  I was not in a heavely populated area that involved a lot of stop and go traffic or long idles.  Back to the US and the Sacramento Valley area, the fan had to be reinstalled.

 

Returning from a meet on Vancouver Island, the fan threw a blade in Washington..  It did some major damage to the radiator.  We were able to get the damaged tubes soldered closed and drove home with the damaged radiator and without the fan.  Mostly Interstate, thank goodness.  Made it home successfully.

 

I tried an electric fan alone but it was not successful.  I left it installed but put the engine fan back on..  The electrec fan is thermostatically controlled and only comes on when the temp rises.  I do not know what that temp is but I think it is about 180 degrees.   Some have suggested that mounting an eletric fan blocks the radiator.  I have not found it to be a problem. 

 

Double your pleasure, double your fun (Doublemint Gum) 

 

              The Other Len
1967 Austin-Healey 3000 MkIII BJ8
                HBJ8L39031

               225,936 miles

 

 

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