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I swapped out my tired struts and springs for some Apexi N1 EXV coilovers last night and I set them too low. I read somewhere that the "recommended ride height"/factory adjustment on the coilovers was high so I set them 12mm lower and the car is nearly slammed. After finishing up after midnight last night I decided to send it today and raise it later, that was a bad choice as I ended up hitting one of the rad fans on the road and taking a chunk out of the ground wire insulation. At the current ride height the nub on the fan is about 2.5" off the ground - I have a custom v-mount and the rad sits low.. I have an extra set of fans that is much nicer but I'm keeping them as spares for if I really mess up the assembly that's installed or reach the point where I address ugly stuff under the hood.
I'm thinking I'll just melt some solder into the exposed wire and then put some windshield/glass sealant over the holes in the insulation. Do you guys have any recommendations on a better way?
Used fans are cheap and plentiful. That's a little close to the housing (and repeat danger) for a reliable repair. A little solder and tape will get you by. I prefer crimp connections and heat shrink where possible. But, I'd swap out those cruddy motors. Maybe make a shield, or tie those wires up tight, and shore up the harness for the future.
Yeah that's REALLY low. I installed a set of those N1 coilovers on a friend's FD and left them the height they came from out of the box. It was a comfortable height, lower than stock but not in the weeds.
Wondering who was saying that recommended height was too high?
I would definitely replace that fan motor. You could probably patch it up short term but it looks like some of the wire strands were compromised. That will reduce the load that wire can carry and it could got hot/melt at some point since that's a pretty high amp circuit.
Some V-mounts do put the fans really low (HKS V-mount for sure) and there's not a lot that can be done. Aftermarket "slim line" fans are typically garbage, super loud, not reliable, and don't cool well. I know there are some other OEM fans that do well that guys with FC's and 240sx's that have clutch fans have swapped out to, but I don't know which ones are relatively slim.
There is liquid electrical tape that might work. I would build up a few layers to feel confident and then pull a small piece of split wire loom over it. Solder is up to you but I wouldn't put too much and risk it wicking too far into the wire.
Yeah that's REALLY low. I installed a set of those N1 coilovers on a friend's FD and left them the height they came from out of the box. It was a comfortable height, lower than stock but not in the weeds.
Wondering who was saying that recommended height was too high?
I would definitely replace that fan motor. You could probably patch it up short term but it looks like some of the wire strands were compromised. That will reduce the load that wire can carry and it could got hot/melt at some point since that's a pretty high amp circuit.
Some V-mounts do put the fans really low (HKS V-mount for sure) and there's not a lot that can be done. Aftermarket "slim line" fans are typically garbage, super loud, not reliable, and don't cool well. I know there are some other OEM fans that do well that guys with FC's and 240sx's that have clutch fans have swapped out to, but I don't know which ones are relatively slim.
Dale
A the twist definitely got a shave- that's what I was thinking of wicking the solder for. I understand the wire cross sectional area is compromised but I'm not worried about overheating because it's not significant and the copper is still bright. I'd love to sleeve a piece of heatshrink with glue but that will involve cutting the wire to get it on so I'd have to splice it a second time which would probably be worse. The fan motor IS really ugly but it's just surface rust on the outer shell. @FourtyOunce is probably offended by my tolerance of surface rust but I'm managing my own expectations with the build.
Aftermarket fans are 100% not an option. I'm really leaning towards just repairing this and having a sturdy tube welded to use as bottom out protection and then swapping out the rad fans to the nice set I have. Has anyone experience an OEM fan failure due to a shaved wire like that?
I honestly can't remember where I read the factory adjustment was too high, wherever it was- it was total BS! Before I drive it next week it's going to get a raise!
There is liquid electrical tape that might work. I would build up a few layers to feel confident and then pull a small piece of split wire loom over it. Solder is up to you but I wouldn't put too much and risk it wicking too far into the wire.
I thought about the liquid tape but it doesn't seem very resilient.
When used motors are so cheap it's kindof a no brainer. A little elbow grease and POR15 will make that surface rust a non issue on any fan motor housing. Looks like it's waaay easier than normal to work with those fan motors. Knock it out.
Also, once you get your ride height where you are comfortable, make sure to get an alignment! Had a buddy burn through a new set of tires in like 2 months because he didn't get an alignment and the tires were big time toed in. They were being shoved down the road sideways basically.
Personally I don't recommend going lower than 26" for a street car measured from the centerline of the fender above the wheel straight to the ground. Thats usually enough to keep you out of trouble. As for the fans the Sll rx-8 fans make a nice upgrade and flow more. you need the fans and blades, then swap over the connectors.
Last edited by IRPerformance; 06-12-19 at 06:29 PM.
I'm going to raise the car up a little this weekend, I haven't measured the distance from the center line to the ground but it is sure slammed.
I went ahead and fixed the fan like I had proposed. Upon a closer look only 2 strands were cut so I just flowed some solder into it and then sealed it up, it still looks like crap but functions fine. I'll run it to failure.
Fab up some sort of skid plate. I believe LRB makes an undertray for V-mounts. Essentially an undertray with holes (in the shape of rotors) to allow airflow
Fab up some sort of skid plate. I believe LRB makes an undertray for V-mounts. Essentially an undertray with holes (in the shape of rotors) to allow airflow
I looked at that when I did the V-mount but it mounts too high. I think I'll just have someone weld up a bash bar to go across below the fans.
06-12-19, 12:36 PM
