[TR] TR3A Radiator Fan

[Jim Henningsen]

Thanks for the note.  As an update for everyone, I switched the wires on the electric fan and drove for about 10 minutes with the fan on (now blowing into the radiator from front) and everything worked great until the car completely lost power.  After getting the car back home ( 2 blocks)  I realized that the wire blew off (not by wind, looks like it shorted) one of the terminals on the underdash switch that controls the fan.  It also blew the inline fuse installed from that terminal to the ignition switch.  I am thinking reversing the wires may have been an issue with a positive ground car.  I will now move my plan to convert the 3a to negative ground.  Jim Henningsen

 

From: Geo Hahn <ahwahneetr at gmail.com> 
Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2018 12:16 PM
To: Jim Henningsen <trguy75 at gmail.com>
Cc: Triumphs <triumphs at autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [TR] TR3A Radiator Fan

 

On Fri, Mar 9, 2018 at 1:48 PM, Jim Henningsen <trguy75 at gmail.com <mailto:trguy75 at gmail.com> > wrote:

 

1961 TR3A, stock motor setup, with stock radiator that includes crank hole.
My temp even on a 68 degree day in Florida today runs at the mark between
185 and 230.  Assume 200 or a little higher?...

 

In my opinion you have a problem that no fan will solve.

 

I routinely drive my TR3A (with a crank hole) in 100+ temps with no overheating or even the high temps you are seeing under much cooler conditions.  But I have cleaned out the block, re-cored the radiator, mostly blocked the bypass, have a Tropical Fan and added an air-dam.

 

Some of those steps may be uneccessary but I suspect the radiator core and/or accumulation of crud in the block may be at the heart of the issue.

 

Also worthwhile to verify that your gauge is being truthful - get a second opinion with an IR thermometer.

 

Geo

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