Installed electic cooling fan

[iggy1718]

OK so my clutch fan froze and I couldnt get it off. Well I wanted to do the electric fan swap anyway so I cut it off. I had to get a new fan shroud cause I cut up the old one to clearance it for the body lift. I went to the local yard and went on the hunt for an electic fan that fit into the opening of stock fan shroud. I kinda knew what I was looking for and found a V8 camaro mid 80s 3rd gen. They have a big electic fan and it fit perfectly in the explorer shroud. I made some brackets to secure it to the shroud and wired everything up with a relay and a switch.

I drove it around with the fan off and left it sit in the driveway with it on and turned on the AC. Nothing out of the ordinary on the temp gauge the whole time.

 

[chewy4x4]

Dont you have to turn on your fans yourself?

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

Dont you have to turn on your fans yourself?

you have a few options really, you can hook it up so it'll kick on automatically with a fan controller, or use a relay with a switch to turn it on off.

it's not that bad really even if you have a switch, just wire it to something connected to your ignition so it won't run unless the ignition is engaged. from what i figure, if you have a clutch fan, and it turns when the engine turns, when you turn it off the fan will just stop after it spools down, like 5 seconds. so it won't hurt the engine just to turn it off, and the fan go off with it.

so a camaro fan eh? how loud/quiet is it?

 

[Afboy143]

very nice! Looks stock

 

[Maniak]

Nice install.. I like how you mounted it..

I just installed an electric fan on an 88 f-150 over the weekend. Instaling the fan in the factory shroud was the fun part.. So many different ways to do it.. you way looks like and is very simple..

To control the fan I used the Dakota Digital PAC-2000 two fan controller (I'm only using 1 fan)

We put the sending unit in the heater hose and have it set to turn the fan on when the water reaches 210F and off at 200F. It keeps the temp between the N and R in normal (Engine fan kept it at O w/out the a/c on and R with a/c on).

I also wired it so the a/c turns on the fan but you can flip a switch to make it so the a/c doesn't turn on the fan (i.e. long high speed freeway trip). The water temp will still turn it on if the water does get hot on the freeway (anything is possible).

the PAC-2000 has two features I really like..

first is it won't start the fan until 5 seconds after the vehicle is started
2nd is it will run the fan for a selectable amount of time after the vehicle is turned off (if the fan is already running). I set it for 30 seconds which seems to help the heat soak problem that happens with restarts in 100F+ weather.

I'll put a full thread about the install later.. Just wanted to throw out a fan controller that you could add.

~Mark

 

[carlover]

Nice install.. I like how you mounted it..

I just installed an electric fan on an 88 f-150 over the weekend. Instaling the fan in the factory shroud was the fun part.. So many different ways to do it.. you way looks like and is very simple..

To control the fan I used the Dakota Digital PAC-2000 two fan controller (I'm only using 1 fan)

We put the sending unit in the heater hose and have it set to turn the fan on when the water reaches 210F and off at 200F. It keeps the temp between the N and R in normal (Engine fan kept it at O w/out the a/c on and R with a/c on).

I also wired it so the a/c turns on the fan but you can flip a switch to make it so the a/c doesn't turn on the fan (i.e. long high speed freeway trip). The water temp will still turn it on if the water does get hot on the freeway (anything is possible).

the PAC-2000 has two features I really like..

first is it won't start the fan until 5 seconds after the vehicle is started
2nd is it will run the fan for a selectable amount of time after the vehicle is turned off (if the fan is already running). I set it for 30 seconds which seems to help the heat soak problem that happens with restarts in 100F+ weather.

I'll put a full thread about the install later.. Just wanted to throw out a fan controller that you could add.

~Mark

Nice, i wanna do an e-fan pretty soon and a good install writeup for a controller would be perfect.

 

[chewy4x4]

Is the fan out of a mid 80's GM car going to hold up? I like your set up I want to do this also. I just dont know how long that fan will be good for. Oh and read through this its what maniak was talking about it seem its the best way to go. http://www.dakotadigital.com/pdf/pac-2000.pdf

 

[trucku]

here is a good controller also from what I have read. I have this one. I will be installing it as soon as possible....hopefully.

FAN PWM Programmable Fan Controller

This programmable fan controller is state of the art and will work off of the signal from your existing temperature gauge sensor or the optional Spal temperature sensor. This controller also provides a variable output allowing fan to be run at low speed to lower fan noise. When using the controller with dual fans, an FRH fan relay must be utilized for the 2nd fan. This control module is designed to work with any of the Spal cooling fans or other aftermarket electric fans.

 

[Maniak]

I looked at those controllers (PWM style) but I installed a Taurus/Lincoln Mark VIII fan. It pulls way too many amps for those controllers. The only way to use the PWM style with a Taurus/Mark VIII fan is with an extra relay which means you loose the PWM anyway.

~Mark

 

[chewy4x4]

Maniak what is the pull from the fan you have??

 

[aldive]

I have been very happy with the FAL controller.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161482&highlight=vsc

 

[wyochimneysweep]

just get a thermostatic off/on coolant temp switch and drill out the top of the thrmostat housing. works good for me. on at 205 off at 195. also wired in a relay to turn on with a/c clutch engagment

 

[Maniak]

Maniak what is the pull from the fan you have??

I need to get a new meter/shunt so I can measure high enough current.. My meter only reads 20 amps and its way over that..

From what I've seen on the 'net its 40 amp continuous and 90 amp start..

That sounds about right.. the battery voltage drops from 14V+ to about 12V at startup.. It then goes back up to the mid 13's..

~Mark

 

[trucku]

I looked at those controllers (PWM style) but I installed a Taurus/Lincoln Mark VIII fan. It pulls way too many amps for those controllers. The only way to use the PWM style with a Taurus/Mark VIII fan is with an extra relay which means you loose the PWM anyway.

~Mark

read this about the spal from other forum when looking specs on spal. Looks like a bunch of people ran the SPAL with 40A fuses with no issues.

(((((Originally Posted by SHANE 73Z
I am running the SPAL controller with a Lincoln MK8 fan. It came from the factory with 10-20-30 amp fuses.

After blowing a couple of 30A fuses, mostly because of my own stupidity, I contacted my vendor who informed me that the SPAL could handle a 40A fuse with no ill affects. I have been running it in this configuration for a few months now & all seems well.

Shane)))))

 

[Maniak]

read this about the spal from other forum when looking specs on spal. Looks like a bunch of people ran the SPAL with 40A fuses with no issues.

(((((Originally Posted by SHANE 73Z
I am running the SPAL controller with a Lincoln MK8 fan. It came from the factory with 10-20-30 amp fuses.

After blowing a couple of 30A fuses, mostly because of my own stupidity, I contacted my vendor who informed me that the SPAL could handle a 40A fuse with no ill affects. I have been running it in this configuration for a few months now & all seems well.

Shane)))))

Everything I've seen on the 'net says the SPAL and the other PWM controllers can't handle the Taurus or Mark VIII fans. They pull too much power. What I've seen them do is use the PWM controllers to run a relay and that would run the fan but you loose the PWM that way. I think there was a big thread in PBB about it.

~Mark

 

[trucku]

Ahh looks like these guys are talking about way above 40amps.

yeah for that I would get a fan that draws less and is more efficient.

How much does the Taurus or Mark VIII fans flow?

You need a good fan to compliment the SPAL and other PWM controllers.

Yeah your right if your going to go with a relay might as well just get dual temp switch. A PWM controller would just be a waste of money.


Ok been reading that forum. Some stated that spal won't run with more than 30amps. Other forum I read said they have been running 40amp fuses with no issues or burnouts. But a fan that pulls more than 40amps is gonna fry it.


With the spal you can run the first fan with PWM and the second on a relay at whatever amp draw you need. That would work well for ac and full 100% speed. Going to read the manual to verify that, but I am pretty sure I am right....

 

[Maniak]

I've only seen one site on the 'net with flow numbers for a 2 speed taurus fan.

They said they got 3800 cfm at 12V and 4800 at 14V before it pulled itself from the test platform.

It was on the 'net... so it must be true..

~Mark

 

[trucku]

I've only seen one site on the 'net with flow numbers for a 2 speed taurus fan.

They said they got 3800 cfm at 12V and 4800 at 14V before it pulled itself from the test platform.

It was on the 'net... so it must be true..

~Mark

WOW that is some flow.....Excellent....


I tested my Perma-cool fan on the floor next to an ebay plastic one. The Perma-cool one took off.. So that is going to be the one I install... ...scientific I know.

Maximum Fan CFM: 2,950 cfm
Fan Quantity: Single
Fan Diameter (in): 16.000 in.
Height (in): 16.000 in.
Width (in): 16.000 in.
Thickness (in): 3.750 in.
Number of Blades: 6 blades
Maximum Fan RPM: 1,750 rpm
Blade Material: Aluminum
Blade Color: Natural
Amp Draw: 9.80 amps

 

[Spdrcer34]

That PermaCool fan is the EXACT fan I used in my 400hp/470 ft/lbs tq Cutlass...

I mounted it to the radiator, hidden in the stock shroud, to a Griffin Custom Aluminum Radiator...

I controlled it with a CSI (now CSR) Gauge/Fan Controller....

Never overheated...not even when breaking in a cam, or on the Dyno.....

Awesome set-up......When I drop a SBF into the X, I am going to have the same set-up.

Ryan

 

[iggy1718]

Yes it was from a 85ish camaro cause it still had a carb on it. I have a modified 91 camaro so I knew the stock fan in it would be more than enough to cool my 4.0 v6. If you are unsure about how long the motor will last its a 35 dollar part from the local parts store to replace the fan motor. It flows just as good if not better than the stock fan. When i compared the diameter of the fans the blade area was about the same. I do have it rigged to a switch at the moment but I have learned it is bettter to have a auto kickon cause Ive over heated my camaro sitting in traffic without relaizing the fans dont kick on unless I flip the switch. Ive also notice a bit more pickup on aceleration and shes also much quieter. Im not through a full tank of gas yet to see if there is a MPG difference yet either.

wyochimneysweep
just get a thermostatic off/on coolant temp switch and drill out the top of the thrmostat housing. works good for me. on at 205 off at 195. also wired in a relay to turn on with a/c clutch engagment

Im interested in how you wired this cause i want to do the same thing. Also what temp sensor did you use?