[Healeys] radiator thermostat

Fri Sep 19 06:33:25 MDT 2025

I recall, from ages ago, my Ford Granada’s fan. It had some sort of internal thermostat in its hub which allowed it to freewheel when the engine’s temperature was OK and which engaged when the temperature rose too much. I don’t recall that one could adjust it but it worked fine in that car. Those cars had a nice 3litre V6 and went very well. If you’ve ever watched an old British cop show, The Sweeney, they were apparently much beloved by London’s police “Flying Squad”. Cockney rhyming slang….Squad to Todd  as in the demon barber of Fleet Street. Seemed to me that the Flying Squad was not much better than said barber.

So…….has anyone tried this type of fan on a Healey??

Simon

From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> On Behalf Of m.g.sharp--- via Healeys
Sent: 19 September 2025 12:58
To: 'Leonard Hartnett' <thehartnetts at earthlink.net>; 'Healeys at Autox' <healeys at autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [Healeys] radiator thermostat

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 <mailto: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 <mailto: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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