re: Spider - traffic overheating

[Godfrey DiGiorgi <ramarren@domain.elided>]

I'm sorry, but this is counter to my experience with three different
Spiders ('71, '78, and now '79/'82). The standard cooling system in the
Spider is perfectly adequate to cope with any kind of traffic I've ever
been in if it's in good condition. The reasons to go to an electrically
operated fan are to reduce engine noise at speed and reduce the amount of
power consumed by the engine driven fan, not to improve the cooling. The
cooling is perfectly adequate as delivered, if the cooling system is up to
spec. My '78 held a perfect 185-190 degree temperature while
idling/rolling at 4 mph in a 12 mile long traffice jam last summer when
the temperature was a glorious 108 deg F. with the stock cooling system.

'76-'81 Spiders did have an additional crossbar fitted in front of the
radiator which reduced cooling airflow, but it doesn't compromise the
cooling to any great degree that I've experienced. I've known some folks
to remove it (it doesn't add substantially to any structural rigidity that
I've seen) but it doesn't change things by very much.

Godfrey

> It is not your thermostat, it is airflow to the radiator.  The
> installation of a  thermostatically controlled electric fan has
> been a very satisfactory solution for my 73 spider (and GTV and
> Berlina).   I got the generic parts at one of the autoparts super
> stores for <$100; mounted the fan as a pusher in front of the
> radiator and removed the shroud from the engine side of the
> radiator along with the fixed fan on the water pump.   Spiders
> are more prone to overheat in traffic because of the long "nose"
> and restrictive air ducting - particularly at low speeds.  The
> electric fan will turn itself on and blow a lot more air through
> the radiator in slow traffic conditions than the puny water pump
> fan, and will shut itself off when your speed picks up enough to
> provide airflow.   Side benefits are a large increase in room at
> the front of the engine for maintenance, a quieter engine without
> the "roar" of the fan, and a tad more HP freed up by removing the
> fan's drag.

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