Jamie V
Well-known member
I figured some guys might like some of this information so I’ll share my latest mod (and one of my top 5 favorites)
I have been running a Mark VIII fan in my truck for a while and with the new PiMPxshift I’ve been struggling with the rpm dropping significantly when I turn the AC on (which turns the Fan on). The Mark VIII fan will draw about 70amps on startup then settle in to around 30-32amps continuous. I purchased this real nice solid state relay that I had planned to install so I could control the Mark VIII fan with PWM (pulse width modulation) from the PiMPxshift. Jeff has his fan currently controlled via PWM from his PiMP.
Before I got a chance to install the new SSR Tommy had came over and was telling me about these new brushless fans from Spal. I started looking into them and even called one of the engineers from Spal to talk about the features of it. After learning that the fans can be controlled directly with PWM and have a built in soft start I decided to go this direction.
I ordered the fan from wizard cooling (one of their dealers) and started planning the install. I ran my Mark VIII fan inside my stock fan shroud and I wanted to do the same with the new Spal. I came up with a plan of using a piece of aluminum to fill in the void between the shroud and the fan.
Then while I was trying to figure out how I was going to attach the aluminum to the plastic shroud I came up with the idea of making the filler piece from a piece of 1/2” thick polypropylene (which is what the factory shroud is made from)
I used the aluminum as a template and routed the plastic out into the proper shape.
I attached the fan to the plastic with some bolts and predrilled the edges of the plastic and screwed the shroud to it.
Got it installed in the truck and it fits like a glove.
Powered it up and it’s night and day without even messing with the PWM
https://youtu.be/yc-EYosyGwc
I got to take it for a drive Thursday and it worked like a champ!
I have been running a Mark VIII fan in my truck for a while and with the new PiMPxshift I’ve been struggling with the rpm dropping significantly when I turn the AC on (which turns the Fan on). The Mark VIII fan will draw about 70amps on startup then settle in to around 30-32amps continuous. I purchased this real nice solid state relay that I had planned to install so I could control the Mark VIII fan with PWM (pulse width modulation) from the PiMPxshift. Jeff has his fan currently controlled via PWM from his PiMP.
Before I got a chance to install the new SSR Tommy had came over and was telling me about these new brushless fans from Spal. I started looking into them and even called one of the engineers from Spal to talk about the features of it. After learning that the fans can be controlled directly with PWM and have a built in soft start I decided to go this direction.
I ordered the fan from wizard cooling (one of their dealers) and started planning the install. I ran my Mark VIII fan inside my stock fan shroud and I wanted to do the same with the new Spal. I came up with a plan of using a piece of aluminum to fill in the void between the shroud and the fan.
Then while I was trying to figure out how I was going to attach the aluminum to the plastic shroud I came up with the idea of making the filler piece from a piece of 1/2” thick polypropylene (which is what the factory shroud is made from)
I used the aluminum as a template and routed the plastic out into the proper shape.
I attached the fan to the plastic with some bolts and predrilled the edges of the plastic and screwed the shroud to it.
Got it installed in the truck and it fits like a glove.
Powered it up and it’s night and day without even messing with the PWM
https://youtu.be/yc-EYosyGwc
I got to take it for a drive Thursday and it worked like a champ!