Small electric pusher fan, what kind where to buy?

[White90GT]

My grandpa's 1971 Ranchero GT has problems staying cool when sitting in traffic or moving slow. We want to get a couple small pusher fans to mount on each side of the front of the radiator. Problem is there is a bracket mounted in front of the radiator that supports the cross brace and I have about 8-9" of radiator on each side of the bracket that I can put the fans over to cool. So I need suggestions.
What kind of fan?
What kind of vehicle might I find one or two on?
Can they be purchased at AZ or Oreilly?
Anyone have one they can loan me for a few weeks.

I'm assuming possibly one of the small pusher fans like I've seen on tranny coolers or something similar. There's room beyond the radiator on each side for mounting as long as the majority of the fan blades are over the radiator. It will be operated simply by a 12 volt supply and a toggle switch and will only be used as needed to keep it cool. Basically we plan to use the truck in a parade pulling a trailer/float next week.
The engine is a 351 cleveland, slightly modded, and the factory clutch fan just doesn't pull enough air at idle to keep it cool.

[sledgehammer]

I wonder if maybe a person could just take off the stock fan assy and temporarily install a bigger electric fan and toggle switch just for this occasion and return in to stock afterwards. The only reason I say this, it might be easier to find a big fan than two little ones.

harvey

[Shaggy]

Most auto parts places stock some electric fans. The good thing is they are all dc motors so to make it reversible all you have to do is wire the motor backwards (motor ground to car hot and motor hot to car ground) but the cheapest way that would probaly work is to buy a flex fan and a spacer.

[White90GT]

You think a flex fan will move enough air at idle to keep it cool?
In order to run a big fan on the radiator, he'd probably need to put in some type of relay so as not to blow anything up or melt any wires. He's using an optima red top battery. The truck will be pulling the trailer in a parade that could take up to an hour of idle time.

[sledgehammer]

Although not the most desireable set up. They do make those adapters to do away with the clutch on a clutch type fan. What you end up with is a fan that wont flex and a solid connection to the pump. That will move the most air you are going to get from an engine driven fan. If this does not move enough air, then you are back to the electric fans. I do know they will run either direction I " think " they are more efficient one way than the other. I also think there are some that are designed to go both ways.





harvey

[Shaggy]

A flex fan like the one on the right or left not the center one will pull more air at idle then a solidily driven factory fan.
http://www.dieselpage.com/pics/haydenff.jpg

An electric fan in no more then an air pump but because of its style they all make inefficient pushers in comparison to the amount it can pull.

[maveRick]

Does the Ranchero have a fan shroud?

[White90GT]

Does the Ranchero have a fan shroud?

I believe it does. I talked to my pops yesterday evening though and he's decided not to use the truck. Says it doesn't idle very well and we also decided that the gas fumes from running no cats would probably bother the girls on the float and possibly make them sick LOL. This is a float for the Jr High cheer leaders (my little sister is one).
Thanks for the help guys. I do intend to take a look at this thing a little more in the future, but its no longer a pressing matter.