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Description
You are buying only the 2 billet aluminum mounts, and the rest is useful information about how to use them, based on my own 308 GT4 installation.
This project began after my frustration with the original Lucas radiator cooling fans in my own 1974 Ferrari 308 GT4. There have been many discussions on the popular Ferrari Chat website about possible solutions, but there was no easy way to mount the modern SPAL cooling fans from Italy, without some funky home-made mounts, until now. I spent a lot of time talking with the SPA engineers to determine that the best cooling fans are the 3010.0320 model VA11-AP7/C-57S, 10" diameter PUSHER (not puller from inside of the radiator), 12 volt models. Order 30100320 (no period in part number at Summit) from Summit Racing and try to order the optional wiring harness plugs! These are the largest SPAL fans that fit in the original space without problems and have the highest CFM rating. Despite the huge appearance, the outside diameter of the SPAL units are actually a little smaller than the diameter of the original Lucas fan blades. A famous 308 GT4 specialist in Florida does order complete SPAL fans with original style fan blades that have a lower CFM rating, cost more, and do not look original, but they must be ordered directly from SPAL Italy in quantities of 20 or more per order, and I think that my solution is better. With my drawings, maestro Franco Cappellini in Como, Italy created prototypes that were tested and then further refined in my own car. I could not be happier with the results. I believe that they will work in 308 GTB/GTS, Pantera, and other 1970's cars using the Lucas round fan motors, as long as you have a minimum of 2.5" clearance between the edge of your original fan mounts and the front edge of your air conditioner condenser or radiator.
Please send a message about how these work in other models.
The plastic SPAL fan shrouds rest directly against the surface of the condenser or radiator. Installed photos here are of the original crude prototypes that remain in my own car. The high grade alloy billet finished product that you are buying is shown in the first photos. Made to look like the original Lucas motors, all screws in the black mounts are actually functional, holding the round adapter to the flat base plate, and the center screw mimicks the Lucas original armature shaft adjuster.
Mounting hints for 308 GT4, but may be helpful on other cars:
- Access is tight, but I was able to complete the entire conversion through the front, after removing the grille, without disturbing the radiator or AC condenser.
- Tie the air horns up and out of the way.
- Remove old fans intact and pull the original mounts wide apart, if needed, so that they come out easily.
- Connect SPAL wiring plug to original wiring first.
- Slightly squeeze tighter, in the middle, the original round mounts, as the new fans are .5mm smaller diameter than the original inch size Lucas fans.
- Install only new mount adapters, with flat spot on the mount pointing up, to clear cross member without modification. Do not fully tighten in mounts yet. Pointy-tip ViseGrip pliers help with keeping the mounting band tight to insert the original screw and nut.
- With flat sides of SPAL fans in vertical position, remove side and bottom original metal cover plate screws. Leave upper shorter original screw in place.
- Slide SPAL fans between new mount adapters and AC condenser, and then install new longer screws included with kit. If you drop one or more into the lower body valence and cannot fish them out with a magnet, they are standard #8 X 1" flat head available in the tiny parts drawers at ACE hardware stores.
- Position fans on the new adapter mounts nicely against AC condenser and tighten the bottom screw in the orginal mount, with flat sides of the SPAL fans perpendicular to ground. Double check clearance on all sides, but I had no problem at all.
- Reinstall grille and you are done.
- Read the Ferrari Chat and Birdman 308 discussions to make sure that you have Stant radiator cap 10331, thermostat 056121113A with tiny breather hole drilled (and round thermostat or-ring in box DOES work in place of square section rubber gasket, if needed), thermostat housing AND radiator bleed valves (my 308 GT4 is build #5, and did not originally come with any breather in the thermostat housing, and had to be added). Change coolant and install Clark & Clark drain valves to avoid huge mess during subsequent coolant changes. I spent almost 30 years worrying about coolant temperatures, and now all of that is behind me.
Gladly shipped around the world for actual cost, which depends upon the weight and country.
We are adding vintage Italian car parts to this store, as we find them.
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