Electric coolant fan conversion?
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 346
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From: Bristol/Hartford CT
Electric coolant fan conversion?
My truck has been running quite cool... About 150 degrees, or 'O' on the NORMAL Temp gauge..
Anyone ever do an electric coolant fan conversion? I'd imagine I could probably pick up some ponies from eliminating the drag from the fan.
Anyone ever do an electric coolant fan conversion? I'd imagine I could probably pick up some ponies from eliminating the drag from the fan.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 704
Likes: 2
From: louisville, ky
the fan conversion is a fairly common thing on here that i hope to tackle some day myself... what engine do you have, and whats the mileage on the motor? many people use the electric fans out of a taurus due to their high cfm output, and some use the fans out of some lincolns. in my truck i have the 4.9, and after i curved the timing to 12 deg., my temp guage only goes just past the "O", but not quite to the "R". i guess it just runs cool.. and yes you could pick up a lil bit by doing this conversion. i know that some companies offer fan setups that are made for our truck, specifically if you have the 5.0, or 5.8. my suggestion though if you decide to go the route of the electric fan would be to buy a quality electric fan wiring kit from jegs or summit.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 11,289
Likes: 6
From: Lakewood, Ohio
answer the question of why it is running cool first.
then do search on electric fans because many answers are already on this forum.
then do search on electric fans because many answers are already on this forum.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Bristol/Hartford CT
I've got a 5.0L with 148k on it.. I get plenty of heat in the cab... It ran at operating temp out in the desert of New Mexico, but I drove it back here to CT and it's running really cool here..
My buddy said I could do a radiator shield.. I was going to maybe fab up some 14ga sheet metal strips about 6" wide on either side of the radiator in the front to restrict some air flow in hopes that it will get up to operating temperature. No idea if it's got a 160* t-stat in it or not.. bought the truck used about three years ago.. And I'm thinking about picking up about an 01-04 F150 or F250 seeing as I need the 4WD here in CT for the winter.. No Limited slip rear is just a darn 1 legger... + Snow = PISSED and stuck!!!
I found an 01 F250 Super Duty, 7.3L PS Diesel, 66k miles with a Plow for $19,995. And an exhaust! KBB says $19,625 so it's accurately priced. We had a 6.0L PS in an 05 single cab as a work truck out west and that darn thing MOVED!!!1! Just imagine a darn 7.3L PS pullin a house down! and I can make some money on the plow this winter..
Dunno if I feel like payin $20k for it though.
My buddy said I could do a radiator shield.. I was going to maybe fab up some 14ga sheet metal strips about 6" wide on either side of the radiator in the front to restrict some air flow in hopes that it will get up to operating temperature. No idea if it's got a 160* t-stat in it or not.. bought the truck used about three years ago.. And I'm thinking about picking up about an 01-04 F150 or F250 seeing as I need the 4WD here in CT for the winter.. No Limited slip rear is just a darn 1 legger... + Snow = PISSED and stuck!!!
I found an 01 F250 Super Duty, 7.3L PS Diesel, 66k miles with a Plow for $19,995. And an exhaust! KBB says $19,625 so it's accurately priced. We had a 6.0L PS in an 05 single cab as a work truck out west and that darn thing MOVED!!!1! Just imagine a darn 7.3L PS pullin a house down! and I can make some money on the plow this winter..
Dunno if I feel like payin $20k for it though.
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 288
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From: Okanagan
Agreed, check why it's running so cold first. T-Stat could be stuck open, or the clutch on your fan could have seized, blowing air constantly through the radiator.
I've done it the e-fan swap... works great. I have to watch the temp if I am towing something heavy, so if you tow lots I would not recommend it.
If you have A/C, use the compressor clutch wire connected to a relay so the fan will kick on for some colder air blowing in the cab. Works great if you're stuck in traffic.
I've done it the e-fan swap... works great. I have to watch the temp if I am towing something heavy, so if you tow lots I would not recommend it.
If you have A/C, use the compressor clutch wire connected to a relay so the fan will kick on for some colder air blowing in the cab. Works great if you're stuck in traffic.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Bristol/Hartford CT
^ I was thinkin about that.. I can wire it up easily. Just switched power to the thermostatic switch, then the switch to a solenoid that will route power from a larger wire from the battery to the fan... I'd have to Tee the E-Clutch from the AC in there somewhere.
Just gotta find a thermostatic switch, but even more important is that I'd have to stick it in the block/intake somewhere.
And I never thought of the fan clutch.. Come to think of it, I think is is 'on' all the time. I hear it blowin when I take off first thing in the morning.
Just gotta find a thermostatic switch, but even more important is that I'd have to stick it in the block/intake somewhere.
And I never thought of the fan clutch.. Come to think of it, I think is is 'on' all the time. I hear it blowin when I take off first thing in the morning.
F-150 air plane all it would need is wings
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2009
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I just added a electric fan last week. Great improvement. Up here in ND its about 45 to 60 degrees these days and I don't think its ever even kicked in yet, truck runs nicely at operating temp with t stat control. felt a nice throttle difference as well. Although I also did the ignition upgrade and timing bump at the same time as the fan switch.
I used a 95 tauras fan, and a basic fan relay with thermostatically controlled switch. Bent a few pieces of 1/4 aluminum for the brackets.
I would say the fan upgrade is easier than a plug and wire change. IMO
Good luck and do it!
I used a 95 tauras fan, and a basic fan relay with thermostatically controlled switch. Bent a few pieces of 1/4 aluminum for the brackets.
I would say the fan upgrade is easier than a plug and wire change. IMO
Good luck and do it!
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,208
Likes: 2
From: North Reading Mass
First determine why your truck is running cool. Don't depend on the stock gauge. The thermostat controls the coolant temperature and the factory spec is for 195. When replacing I have used the high flow models from Robertshaw.
I have used electric fans in several trucks, usually to replace a defective mechanical fan, or as an aux fan for trailer hauling. It will draw less Hp than a fixed fan but not a properly operating clutch fan. BTW all of my clutch fans (GM, Mopar, Ford) seem to fail right around 150k to 175k.
Happy Thanksgiving
Thank You Henry
rikard
I have used electric fans in several trucks, usually to replace a defective mechanical fan, or as an aux fan for trailer hauling. It will draw less Hp than a fixed fan but not a properly operating clutch fan. BTW all of my clutch fans (GM, Mopar, Ford) seem to fail right around 150k to 175k.
Happy Thanksgiving
Thank You Henry
rikard
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