Slim fans and electronics 101
 

Two thoughts here:
I have two eBay slim fans. I want to install one in the turbo car to free up some space. I also am starting to think my daily simply cannot keep up with 105*f heat in August in TX with working stock fans.

How do I know if I can wire them in on stock wires and relays? If I must upgrade, what do I upgrade and why?

If anyone has a spare, broke fan or just the stock fan shroud, I'd like to buy two of them.

I still have my ebay 10" fan within my a/c shroud. I was too lazy to go back and put the stock fan back in. i might have the stock fan/motor floating around but didn't notice it while moving my tools/stuff around this weekend.


but to answer your question, the stock relays are fine.

I'm going to use the factory shrouds to mount the slim fans.

I have a complete OEM fan/shroud setup. PM me and I can get it out of here a.s.a.p.

Just to be clear on my slim-fan-in-stock-shroud "upgrade", I'm using 100% stock wiring and it's completely reversible (you could go back to stock motors). Lemme see if I can quickly grab a picture before work.

shitty photos, but this is what you get for now.

Slim fan mounts on the INSIDE of the stock shroud, with the two screws that were used to bolt the motors to the ebay "shrouds".

Directions:

1. Remove stock fan blade.
2. remove stock motor.
3. remove ebay fan from motor.
4. place shroud on it's back on the ground.
5. place motor inside shroud.
6. rotate motor till the holes line up with stock shroud plastic.
7. use drill to screw the motor into the shroud.
8. cut harness off stock motor and crimp/solder on to slim motor.
9. bolt on ebay fan blade.
10. bolt assembly into car.

I just did this to a friend's car in about 20 minutes or less, starting with the fan outside the car, ending with the fan wired and installed.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1344299772
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1344299772
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1344299772
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1344299772

Dunno if you can see in the pics but mine is a little off center, I managed to get my friend's eyeballed to pretty much dead center, so it's possible if you were wondering.

I've been using the stock relays on my Spal 11" hi current hi flow thick fans for yeeeeaaaarrrsss now.

You'd only need to upgrade relays and/or wiring from the relays if the current draw of the new fans was significantly greater than the old fans. You should be fine in that regard.

Thanks guys. I like your idea Curly, but I want the space so I'm going to trim the shrouds and use the slim fan and it's cage.

Does anyone have experience with the Intercooler Pipe Fabrication - Silicone Intake Systems Auto Parts fans? Are they stronger than stock?

BTW, our search feature needs some serious help.

How do I measure this?

Two of my friends use their fans and IIRC many people on here use them as well. They seem to work very well.

I have your shroud boxed and marked. Ready when you are.

I sent money earlier today, did you not get an emale?

Just verifying that I've been running SPAL fans on stock relays/wiring for years as well. I just moved the fans from an old and busted 2/3 Cobra shroud to a shiny new FM shroud. Winning.

FYI MSM fans are dual speed and have a nice shroud setup.

done and done

Edit:While I'm in here....Anyone here use the Mishimoto aluminum shroud/fan setup? Or the generic ebay shroud/fan setup?

I scored a Mishi 53mm rad for 75 bucks a while back and my stock shroud was too large to work with my i/c piping.

I used a pair of their fans on my '95 with a homemade plexi- shroud setup, they definitely moved more air than the stock fans and I had no issues with them at all (the whole radiator setup has actually been installed in another Miata or two since I parted mine and the fans are still running fine). They were wired into the stock wiring with no ill effects.

I just found that I could sit in line at the bank in 96*f temps. When I parked and sat, waiting for my guts tacos in 101*f heat, it boiled.

You could use a clamp meter. The "clamp" of the meter just goes around the wires leading to the fan and reads the current flow by induction. Easiest way, though, is to look up specs on teh google and compare.

But you're probably fine, especially with slim fans.

Do slim fans move more air than stock fans? I'm assuming this is why you do this mod in the stock shroud?

I've seen some slim fans move a metric ton of air, others not so much.

the stock shroud is a better design than just slapping them onto the core.

I had good slim fans on a stock rad in a 240. ( 1200cfm? )
Would overheat after a bunch of drift runs in 95+ degree heat. They were directly on the radiator. This is boilover hot in 2 mins.

I have never had any problems when a shroud was used with slim fans. Unless there was another issue like low coolant or a bad t-stat.