I have a 1988 Clubwagon with a 351W V8 EFI. I was thinking of replacing my stock fan with an electric fan. I have heard that you will gain about 10hp and get better gas milage. My A/c does not work and I don't plan to repair it, so that is not a factor. Will an electric fan be strong enough? How many cfm does a stock fan move? Will it really benefit me as much as I think? Has anyone else done this conversion?

 

I'm not impressed with the CFM figures on aftermarket fans; they may be worse than the engine fan. Too small to cover much of the radiator too. The thing to use is the fan & shroud from a Lincoln Mark VIII, look on eBay. That should produce GREAT cooling!

No electric fan should be used with the stock Motorcraft 2G alternator from an '88. Stock 2G is very poor output and totally unreliable; a fan takes a LOT of power, far more than a 2G can safely output. You need the 3G alternator (recent Crown Vics), it's extremely high output and very reliable. Opposite end of the spectrum. It will fit the bolt spacings except something like 1/4"-1/2" of the alternator bracket has to be ground off. You'll need to change the wiring to a real stud instead of those stupid flag terminal plug that keeps melting on the 2G.

You will probably want some kind of controller. Leaving the fan on whenever the engine is running can cool it too much.

I doubt the claims of such substantial HP gains are credible. The stock fan is wasteful but isn't that wasteful, and the electric takes a buttload of power too, like 1/4 HP. Some said it was about the inertia of speeding up the fan when you gun a hotrod. I think they're still seeing something that isn't there. I'd believe 1-2 HP and that's about it.

Its main benefit is to prevent overheating and make the AC work better when in traffic.