Winter upgrades on the list...

[xgecko]

Nice Dolphin!

I see you put a temp gauge in the clock spot. Nice to know that a standard gauge will fit; I plan to put my tach there this winter.

[68 Toro]

I considered a tachometer at first, but opted for an engine temperature gauge instead.

I didn't think a tachometer would be nearly as helpful with regard to monitoring engine health.

[xgecko]

Ah. I have a triple gauge with temp, oil pressure and voltage to handle the engine telemetry and the tach is for actual driving and to generally know what I am running at. For example it appears that I am at around 2,800 RPM on the highway which is quite a bit higher than I am used to with modern overdrive transmissions...

BTW, what do you find your car runs at tempwise? I have a 180 degree thermostat in mine and it stays rock solid at 180 no matter what. The twin electric fans pull much more air than the original but necessitated the new CS-130 alternator.

[68 Toro]

Since installing the electric fans, my engine temperatures have typically been:

city driving: 140-160 (depending upon ambient temperature)
expressway: gradual rise to 170-190 (depending upon ambient temperature)

These temperatures are 40-50 degrees cooler than with the engine-driven clutch fan. I once saw 235 while speeding on the Florida Turnpike during a hot summer day. That was the day I decided to take my mechanic's advise and convert to computer-controlled dual electric fans. The conversion was extremely expensive, but will likely result in the engine lasting another 43 years.

[xgecko]

You mention that the conversion was expensive. I assume that a significant portion of that was labor... I used a pair of Summit Racing 16" fans that cost about $85 each plus another $50 for the controller (twice, it turns out as the first controller fried at some point). My total was about $270 if you include the second controller, and of course labor was zilch as I do my own work.

So you probably paid around $400 to $500 including labor, I surmise. Does that sound accurate? Also, you say they are computer controlled. What computer?

I will be eventually eliminating the controller and using one of the outputs of the Holley HP Fuel Injection ECU to control the fans. If all goes well that will happen over this winter.

I agree that the electric fans are far superior to the mechanical fan between the ability to shut them off when cruising combined with the simply massive airflow they generate. My radiator core is quite oversized so my temp remains rock steady once it gets up to operating temperature; based on your comments I can see that the oversized core really helps keep it cool.

[Chazzer]

Interesting topic,

I have been concerned about the temp of my Toro. I have an after market temp gauge and the car seem to cruise at 212F minimum. I have seen it creep up to 225-230 also. I was thinking it was an aging rad situation but I guess not.

My 70 Merc Marauder with the 429 cruises all day long at 150F. I was kinda hoping good get my Toro down in that range with the stock fan.

[Chazzer]

wooh..please excuse the extra words here and there in that last post....I really need to take a second and proof read before I hit the submit button

[68 Toro]

The cost for my Toronado's dual electric fan installation was more than double your estimate. Aggravating factors included fabricating the custom mounting bracket for a solid professional installation and look, work to the radiator core itself including its removal and reinstallation, living in Miami (everything is more expensive here), and a few odds and ends that added to the cost here and there. And the only heavy lifting that I am capable of doing is raising my pen up to my checkbook.

The "computer" is merely the controller.

One item I wish this installation had was a pair of indicator LEDs to mount on the instrument panel, glowing green to confirm fan rotation. I mentioned this to my mechanic who replied that my engine temperature gauge would have to suffice. Temperature rise significantly above that which is normally seen may indicate one or both fans inoperative. Pull over, open hood, look.

Of course he would have liked this setup to have had the LED indicator option also. He bills by the hour.

[xgecko]

I can relate to the indicator showing the fans are running... and I fully agree with you that it is necessary. The reason for this is that I had a failure in my fan controller - luckily right after I started it in the shop for some diagnostic/tuning work. I figured out that the fan controller failed when the thing started puking coolant. You never saw anyone scramble so quickly to rig up a temporary feed for the fans! Fortunately they were all connected via spade terminal disconnects so after quickly crimping some jumpers I managed to get them running enough to cool it down. My Aluminum heads were breathing a sigh of relief!

I plan to install a manual override switch and an indicator so that I can turn them on from inside the car if the controller fails again - I think it was the temp sender wire that broke.

I just mounted my fans to the radiator using the thingies they provided as I have no means at present to custom fab bracketry. With luck that will change in the coming years as I have some pretty big plans up to and including the fantasy that I will design and build an IRS for these cars.

At the moment I am in the process of pulling the headlight covers from the 68 to install on the 69. It will be nice to have working headlight covers even though I never drive at night....

[68 Toro]

If your electric fan indicator LEDs, and bypass switch, all function as intended, then I will most definitely beg you to build one for me!