Tiger 5.0 Conversion
An Article by Curtis Fisher
Sept., 2001
Page 5
Fan Tastic:
Flex-Lite makes them but the smallest is 16 inches, that won’t clear a Tiger rack. In clockwise fan rotation (viewed from front) there are several as small as 12 inches. I wanted to not have to reverse all the work I had done so I decided to stay with CCW. I bought the 16 inch Flex-Lite and cut it down (actually if you did that, there would be no blade left so I moved the blade in to keep blade area. A smaller fan equates to smaller air movement. At 13-14 inches, the Tiger fan is about the smallest on the market). The crate motor water pump presents a threaded nipple which fits the Ford Explorer fluid clutch fan. Insufficient room for this however. The front of the nipple clears the fat core radiator by 2.375 inches. I used a spacer and direct mount.
After installing the modified fan and installing the original shroud, the system works great. No temperature excursions. Its been out in 100+ temps at all speeds and the (accurate) gauge holds steady at 188-192. The electric fan is still there if needed, but has never been turned on. As a side note, the electric fan is in front of the radiator (pusher) and blocks cooling air. A more efficient fan location is behind the radiator configured as a puller. However, this would not allow an engine fan.
In my application, I could eliminate the electric fan and achieve better cooling. I prefer to keep it as my system works with margin and the electric fan can provide emergency cooling. I have tried several types of fans on the test set up. I think the cooling tips on TigersUnited website are right on for approach.
The previous headers were in poor shape from years of service. It was obvious the drivers side was leaking at the tube merger. You just hate putting old rusty parts on new motors and I had just seen Don Whitely’s neat ceramic coated CAT installation. The picture shows the comparison of the old and new set. The CAT headers have slightly larger primaries. Installation is a slow process to check interference and adjust. Dimpling for the mounting bolts is a must. I did not remove the Alpine motor mount on the drivers side. That was a mistake and later I will have to remove the motor and take it out as #7 tube hits it.
**
