How To Install CustomFit Brushless Fan On Your Classic Car

Vintage Air’s Brushless Fan Tech Improves Cooling Capability

By John Gilbert   –   Photography By the Author

Computers and 12V electric motors have evolved and advanced significantly since 1966, the year our subject vehicle was brand new. In the second decade of the 21st century a classic car done restomod-style is oodles more sophisticated than meets the eye. A case in point is this ’66 Chevelle Malibu that took First Place in Restored Class at the Grand National Roadster Show 2022 in Pomona, California.

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02 Here are the basic dimensions of the Vintage Air Monster Fan
Here are the basic dimensions of the Vintage Air Monster Fan.

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Right from the get-go the plan was to make this Chevelle appear as stock as possible while incorporating little tweaks to the theme that would make it hard to finger why it looks better than a person’s recollection might be of a ’66 Chevelle—plus to create a car infinitely more refined than rolled off Chevrolet’s assembly line in 1966. At the top of the list, restoring this ’66 Malibu beyond back to bone stock was sending it to Harold’s Hot Rod Shop, in Enid, Oklahoma, for concours-quality fit and finish that culminated spicing up its factory original Tropic Turquoise color and burying it under PPG clear.

03 all mounting bolts removed except the driver side lower bolt which is loosened but not removed
Radiator-left-in-place method; all mounting bolts removed except the driver side lower bolt, which is loosened but not removed, allowing the radiator to tilt upward at the passenger side.

For creature comfort this Chevelle is air conditioned with a Vintage Air SureFit kit designed specifically to convert a non-air ’66-67 Chevelle into having AC. The power to drive the air conditioning compressor comes from a Vintage Air Front Runner serpentine drive system installed on a Chevrolet ZZ454 crate engine disguised as a ’66 396 engine.

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04 space in the passenger side fender well behind the headlights to mount the temperature based Lingenfelter fan relay controller
Removing the Duralast Group 24-DLG battery, Lindfors utilized the space in the passenger side fender well behind the headlights to mount the temperature-based Lingenfelter fan relay controller.

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Vintage Air as a manufacturer is all about continuing to innovate and expand its product line, and this brings us to discussing Vintage Air’s recently released addition: CustomFit brushless fan kits. Designed for the ’64-67 Chevelle range it is called the “New Monster Custom Fit” brushless fan assembly and it brings previously unheard of modern computerized features to classic Chevelle cars.

05 the hefty radiator leaves little space for new brushless fan
The hefty radiator leaves little space for new brushless fan.

Quoting Vintage Air: “New Monster Custom Fit Brushless fan assemblies are the ultimate bolt-in solution for the most demanding cooling needs. Brushless motor technology delivers high-performance operation with superior longevity. Pulse width modulation control provides soft start, demand-driven variable fan speed to maintain consistent engine temperature in all driving conditions. Kit includes 850-watt 19-inch SPAL brushless fan, high-temp thermoformed ABS shroud, powder coated tubular mounting frame, and six-gauge wiring harness with 80-amp MIDI fuse with several control options available.”

06 Compatible with most aftermarket controllers Vintage Air Monster CustomFit fan shroud assembly
Compatible with most aftermarket controllers, Vintage Air Monster CustomFit fan/shroud assembly (PN 280481) fits small- and big-block engine applications for ’64-67 Chevelle cars.

It’s the on-demand-driven variable fan speed that as it increases or lowers rpm the engine temperature is kept unvarying to maintain the engine running not too cold or overheated, which translates into less engine wear, better fuel economy, lower emissions, and perhaps the most important being all-peak horsepower available at all times. MR

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07 Its a tight squeeze with a Vintage Air Front Runner on a big block
It’s a tight squeeze with a Vintage Air Front Runner on a big-block, but installed at this angle with the radiator dropped down minus three bolts the Monster fan/shroud assembly will fit.
08 Heres a different view of the angle necessary to cock the Monster fan shroud assembly
Here’s a different view of the angle necessary to cock the Monster fan/shroud assembly to install with the stock OE configuration radiator left in the car.
09 The Vintage Air Monster CustomFit fan shroud is pushed all the way angled down and then lifted up back into position
The Vintage Air Monster CustomFit fan/shroud is pushed all the way angled down and then lifted up back into position to align the shroud’s four mounting holes with the four mounting holes on the radiator.
10 Lindfors inserted the brushless fan shroud mounting bolts at the top of the driver and passenger side
Lindfors inserted the brushless fan/shroud mounting bolts at the top of the driver and passenger side on the fan/shroud first followed by inserting the fan/shroud lower two mounting bolts.
11 At full speed 4 000 rpm pulling massive air past fins
Delivers maximized cooling airflow when you need it. At full speed 4,000-rpm pulling massive air past fins, the Vintage Air Monster CustomFit fan/shroud sounds like a hurricane.
12 This OE style plug connects the SPAL brushless motor
Vintage Air OEM-quality means extended longevity with dependability. This OE-style plug connects the SPAL brushless motor to a (included) heavy-duty, six-gauge wiring harness.
13 Fully adjustable Monster fan can be dialed in to cure hard to cool cars
Compatible with many aftermarket controllers the Lingenfelter VSFM-002 was used for this application. Fully adjustable Monster fan can be dialed in to cure hard-to-cool cars.
14 This ZZ454 crate engine disguised as a 396 employs a Front Runner
This ZZ454 crate engine disguised as a 396 employs a Front Runner. That said, the Monster fan/shroud assembly works just as well with V-belt and OE-spec alternators.

Sources

Vintage Air
(800) 726-0402
vintageair.com

Harold’s Hot Rod Shop
(580) 548-3033
haroldshotrodshop.net

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