To quickly summarize this thread the amp now works fine.
An update to the summary is that I got the strain relief from Walter's
Carver to go on some 14 AWG conductor and stabbed it back into the hole.
I was kind of lazy about it and simply wire nutted the old to the new.
I didn't want to take it apart to solder in the new.
The 14' of 14 ga replaced 4-1/2' of 18 ga and probably 15' of 16 ga extension cord.
... and now I use that for those subs. No fan. Quiet.
I have a different strain relief solution but this works for now ... probably for ever.