Electric fan?
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 519
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From: Missouri
Electric fan?
Just popped in my head, anybody ever switched to an electric fan? Save engine load and engine bay space, and a small amount of weight. Just curious if anybody has done it yet.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,956
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From: MD
Well, if you want to put that way - electric fans can be fabbed on the cheap using junkyard parts...but you probably would need to upgrade some electrical, many of them came with a puny-*** 40A or 65A alternator.
Many had a fan clutch from factory to begin with, so it's only a question of replacing it with OEM parts. Some non A/C trucks [like mine]had a belt-driven fan, so it's always spinning at full power. No parts to replace.
Many had a fan clutch from factory to begin with, so it's only a question of replacing it with OEM parts. Some non A/C trucks [like mine]had a belt-driven fan, so it's always spinning at full power. No parts to replace.
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Elder User
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From: Missouri
My parents own a salvage yard, but i'm not doing that conversion, just wanted to see what others thought.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Southern Delaware
I used a fan off a early 90s tbird. it was free, only took a hr to hookup and mount, and it is two speed. the high speed pulls about 4000cfm, which can cool off just about any engine. just my two cents...
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2003
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I used to have dual electrics cooling my 429, worked great-until the relays wouldn't work on a hot day=no cooling.
I went back to the stock setup, with a factory flex fan, which is working good in cold weather, heh.
Plan on using overkill, good quality relays and have a backup system for hot weather, or other problems.
I will be using the electrics to supplement the mechanical fan, just to be sure. Torqueing around at low speeds with high compression especially can run hot fast.
+1 on a better alternator too!
I went back to the stock setup, with a factory flex fan, which is working good in cold weather, heh.
Plan on using overkill, good quality relays and have a backup system for hot weather, or other problems.
I will be using the electrics to supplement the mechanical fan, just to be sure. Torqueing around at low speeds with high compression especially can run hot fast.
+1 on a better alternator too!
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
I did an electric fan conversion on my 79, straight six. It clicks on at 185F. I used a relay and a temperature sending unit. If you're interested in the specifics, I can look up the numbers. It works great...keeps things at a cool 190F.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 796
Likes: 1
From: Minnesota
I run an aluminum racing radiator and a black magic electric fan in my 75 F100 with a 429 It has an adjustable thermostat. Never had any cooling problems and warms up much faster in the winter. Been on there over 4 years now.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 522
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From: South Central PA
I had a black magic fan w/adjustible thermostat on my S-10. It burnt itself up after 60,000 miles...I mean there was only a fragment of one brush left. The others were gone! Bearings and shaft were black and blue! I have a Perma Cool now- seems to be better quality construction, time will tell.
Posting Guru
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From: In the Middle
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Here's the only pic of the junkyard fan I picked up for $15. I got the relays, wiring harness/connector, and fuse with it also. The fuse is a 65 amp.
The fan fits almost perfectly on the radiator... the angle of the pic makes the fan look wider than it really is. I'll have mounted pics in a few days.
Here's the only pic of the junkyard fan I picked up for $15. I got the relays, wiring harness/connector, and fuse with it also. The fuse is a 65 amp.
The fan fits almost perfectly on the radiator... the angle of the pic makes the fan look wider than it really is. I'll have mounted pics in a few days.