what fan is best?

[EThirty318i]

I am in the process of removing my clutch fan and want to install a pulled fan. What cfm rating ahould I look for? I want the motor to be as cold as possible.

[Keith M]

Question: why are you removing the clutch fan?

[mr.vang]

Question: why are you removing the clutch fan?

because he's a racer....

[acolella76]

gotta get that extra .5 hp

[jlevie]

I use a 16" SPAL fan rated for 2300cfm and it has proved to be sufficient in the worst conditions. The 2300cfm fan replaced an 1800cfm that was fine except on the hotest days. That fan did keep the engine from overheating, but recovery in a race red flag event had the temperature spiking a bit high than I was comfortable with.

[EThirty318i]

Question: why are you removing the clutch fan?

Because its bad, and i thought why not get a fan to take its place instead. I'm tired of overheating problems

[jlevie]

An electric fan makes sense on a race car where you need every last bit of performance, but the engine driven fan is reliable, simple, and more than enough on a street car. Not to mention being cheaper than a quality electric fan and controls. A new fan, clutch, and shroud can be had for about $100. A 16" SPAL, relay kit & 82C thermo switch is going to cost a bit over $200 and you'll have to come up with mounts that don't attach to the radiator core.

While a bad fan clutch will result in overheats at idle or in stop and go driving, if the car is running hot at speeds of 35mph or more you have other problems not caused by the fan (or lack thereof).

[EThirty318i]

Thanks jlevie
I guess I'll just get a new clutch fan then. And its only hot when sitting still, brand new hoses, 71 degree thermostat and brand new radiator.

[bmwm42]

use your aux fan, i have mine on high at all times ac blasting cold at idle no temp creeps.

[EThirty318i]

The car use to be a 318, did the swap and the original purpose of the car was going to be a full on autoX car. Took the aux fan out

[bmwm42]

early aux fans sux anyway you would want one from a late model anyway but i have to two one in front of condensor and one mounted to the radiator, do i really need both no but then again my engine will never bitch because its to hot.