Heater Refurb & SPAL Fan

[Grahjam]

Hi all

 

I'm refurb'ing my heater and came across a post on the forum (from 2014) which indicated some folk had replaced the original fan in the heater with a SPAL (manufacturer) fan.  Does anyone have any recent experience of this modification and know if theres a how to guide anywhere.

 

Thanks in advance for any replies

 

Graham

[rcreweread]

1 hour ago, Grahjam said:

Hi all

 

I'm refurb'ing my heater and came across a post on the forum (from 2014) which indicated some folk had replaced the original fan in the heater with a SPAL (manufacturer) fan.  Does anyone have any recent experience of this modification and know if theres a how to guide anywhere.

 

Thanks in advance for any replies

 

Graham

Graham - try this link to a previous forum post:

Cheers Rich

[Grahjam]

Thanks for the reply Rich, looks like just the detail I'm after, looks like a long read so maybe more questions to follow

 

 

 

 

35 minutes ago, rcreweread said:

Graham - try this link to a previous forum post:

Cheers Rich

 

[RogerH]

Hi Graham

why are you wanting to fit the SPAL fan.?

Are you updating the old heater or is the current fan missing etc.

 

Roger

[Grahjam]

1 hour ago, RogerH said:

Hi Graham

why are you wanting to fit the SPAL fan.?

Are you updating the old heater or is the current fan missing etc.

 

Roger

Hi Roger,

I've got the original heater out and am planning to fit it shortly.  While its on my workbench (its been there since 1988) I thought I'd give it an overhaul, new heater matrix, repaint etc.

I've checked the original fan and it does work, but 2 blades also catch on the housing, there is some play in the fan spindle, up & down, not sure if this is wear or just the way they are.  I can't remove the fan assembly as it looks like it been glued on so stripping the original motor and checking brushes etc would be very difficult.   I came across a post relating to the SPAL fan and it did seem like quite a good solution.  

 

If you've any experience of fitting this type of fan and living with it long term I'd be interested to hear your comments

[RogerH]

Hi Graham

I was part of the above supplied link and found a few things on the way.

The smiths motor is very quiet in comparison to the Spal.

However After installation I realised that I should have had rubbery feet to keep vibration to a minumum.

The whole thing was easy to do.

 

Roger

[Grahjam]

14 hours ago, RogerH said:

Hi Graham

I was part of the above supplied link and found a few things on the way.

The smiths motor is very quiet in comparison to the Spal.

However After installation I realised that I should have had rubbery feet to keep vibration to a minumum.

The whole thing was easy to do.

 

Roger

Thanks Roger, have you got yours running with the variable speed option, and I suppose the main question is,, would you do it again or just fit the original fan?

 

thanks 

Graham 

[RogerH]

Hi Graham

I tried a 2 speed approach but found that I only used the fast speed to clear the screen.

When travelling forward the ram air at the front is enough to give

a good silent blow through into the car.

To be honest I would probably have stayed with the Smiths hamster cage.

 

Roger

[Grahjam]

28 minutes ago, RogerH said:

Hi Graham

I tried a 2 speed approach but found that I only used the fast speed to clear the screen.

When travelling forward the ram air at the front is enough to give

a good silent blow through into the car.

To be honest I would probably have stayed with the Smiths hamster cage.

 

Roger

Thanks Roger, must admit I have been in 2 minds about the SPAL fan, another cost when i still got lots more to go, might see if I can get the original fan to work without catching the casing and whether I can strip the motor down to check the brushes.

 

Thanks again Graham

[RogerH]

Hi Graham

I wouldn't be too concerned about the brushes. They do not lead a long or hard life.  

If it runs then leave alone.

 

Roger

[Andy Moltu]

I fitted the Spal fan to both my TRs- initially to the 4A with a variable speed motor controller to set the low speed. Once set I've never adjusted the low speed again.

When the fan on the 6 died (it had been noisy for a while) I again replaced it with a Spal fan but this time retained the resistor (replaced with a Land Rover item as mine looked like it had seen better days).

At high speed the Spal is noisier but blows a lot of air but at the lower speed it's pretty quiet and when moving the fan is not needed as the air flow is ample.

Having done it both ways - the variable speed option is pointless; use the resistor and no wiring mods needed on a 6. If I have the heater out again on the 4A I will ditch the motor controller and fit a Land Rover resistor into the low speed circuit. The Land Rover heater resistors are readily available unlike the TR ones and still give a reasonable low speed with the Spal.

[AndyR100]

I still have the SPAL fan fitted and working very well in my 4.
I never went back to alter the switching setup and stuck with on or off, it demists the windscreen so much better than the original fan was ever able to.

Personally, I didn’t find it a difficult or expensive job to do - i was already opening up the air box to replace the failed heater matrix anyway so once a suitable fan was identified it was plain sailing.

whatever you do, enjoy your car   ….. Andy