I'm waiting to receive a Mark VIII electric fan from ebay with a foot long harness to replace the factory fan in my '80 to give it a little better acceleration and mostly to keep it cooler during the Texas summer.
And I already have an aluminum rad that's been in the car since before last summer

I've been searching the forum but haven't found much on how to install it. I've read this and that about relays and a controller and all that but no details on exactly what parts I need and how to install everything.
So if someone could please inform me on how to do this install.

Also I'm interested in using a variable speed controller. With how hot the summer is and how hot the vette tended to run last summer if the fan was only one speed I would bet it'd be running full blast all summer long but if it had variable speeds maybe I could keep the voltage its sucking up to a minimum and all the racket I've heard it'll create a little quieter.

 

I'll finally be installing my Mark VIII fan this weekend--I will post extensive images and video.

As for controllers, I'm installing this ---> http://www.dccontrol.com/

It's the best one I could find.

 

I installed a Crown Vic fan assembly in October, and I posted this thread about the install.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1520233

The thermal fan switch I got from Pep Boys for $19.99 it is part number
226203. It is adjustable from 32*f to 248*f. it is an easy install. It has a probe/thermal couple that you secure to the radiator with the supplied hardware. The switch comes with a mounting bracket.
Here is a good link.
http://s-seriesforum.com/how-to-efan.html
This is a wire diagram I made. You might have to "click, and save as" to read them as the font is very small.


I am no longer using the Ford starter relay as it would stick in the closed position. I now use a GM fuel pump relay for the fan.


Since I have installed the TPI I am sourceing the power for the relay from the aux fuse box I installed for the TPI.

 

That's what I'm gonna order too. It's costly but worth it. On board relays, variable speed, and a simple kit that's easy to install.

 

alright, that's a lot of help!
I liked the second control in that link that control both the fan and a water pump in one unit, because i plan on getting an electric pump to lessen the amount of power taken away by all the belts even more.

But it is expensive at $114 compared to the $20...

 

Do you race your car? I have heard bad things about street cars with electric pumps.

You'll need to make sure your battery and alternator are up to the task too.

 

I really wish someone would come up with a street-reliable electric pump. I'm rather surprised that GM or somebody hasn't made one to improve cooling and save power.

 

It would take a lot of gear reduction to get the constant speed needed from a little motor effort. Like how they went with small gear reduction starters. Otherwise they just take too much effort and spinning non stop to keep up with the cooling needs.

 

LT1 engines have gear driven water pumps. No belts to worry with.
Bernie

 

Anybody know what year MarkVIII fan?

 

I would guess the first year of the Lincoln MarkVIII.

 

I would call Mark at http://www.madelectrical.com/catalog/rly-1.shtml

I ordered one relay kit from him (among other things). His book is good about explaining the concept of relays. Then i went and bought 3 more relay kits from a big box store.

For the electric fan i am using 2 relays for redundancy. In the event that one relay goes bad I still have another to power the fan. I also put a fusible link on each relay and keep a couple spare links on the car with wire nuts just in case.

I didn’t use a variable speed, I just put an on off switch. I might think about a thermostat controlled unit that only turns on when you need it.

 

Not a great idea with a Mark VIII fan - unless your electrical system is hardened to take a 100+ amp startup draw.

 

I agree. I seem to remember a full speed start up spike at 107 amps. Not something even three 30 amps relays would take very well.

 

ya it will be street driven, in fact it's my only car, i drive it everyday. Are the electric water pumps really that unreliable?
I would like to get rid of all belts possible so i'm not wasting any horsepower on anything but shredding tires. My father and i have a long weekend off for a change so i'm hoping to atleast get the fan running.

So what would be the cheapest but still efficient way to wire it up.

 

Unless there have been some major changes in electric water pumps, they are to be used for short operation, like on a track. I may be wrong, or I may be puking old information when things have changed...but look into it seriously and thoroughly so you don't have to redo everything after a road side problem.

 

I was just studying the schematic given in that link and it seems that the 2 speed version would leave the fan running on low at all times and high when it gets to the set temp.
To have the fan off at temps under like 180, turn on low at say.. 190 and only go to high when it gets to too high a temp like.. 210, would that require 2 temp probes and switches?

 

My Delta Current Control unit is ****.

This is the best way to control an electric fan (I have the RF64 Mark VIII)--with no exceptions.

With this controller there is NO starting current.

In operation, it senses the water temperature leaving the radiator--this gives maximum chance for the radiator/airstream to cool things down.

It starts at 10% and slowly ramps up to what's ever needed.

The warmest weather I have driven it so far was 82F in Orlando. In stop/go traffic, it never went above 30-40% power (an then only for 20-30 seconds or so)--I know because it has a nifty panel mount indicator light that shows you how much power it is using.

The temperature gauge reads 180F rock hard--no variations. It is preset to work with a 180F T-stat (though it can be set to work with any t-stat). All I did was attach the wires and drive off--no adjustments necessary. You can buy an optional control that mounts in the car that allows you to adjust temperature setting while driving.

On the highway and speeds over 30mph, it does not come on at all, with the exception of a 10-20% blip every now and then.

It is more expensive than other units, but it sure gives me a glowing feeling I spent my money wisely (for a change!)

Except no substitutes--you want something that really works perfect, than buy the DCC controller.

BTW, it comes with absolutely everything needed for installation--right down to the mounting screws and wire guides--nothing else to buy.

 

PhotoVette1, regarding DCC what model did you purchase?

Thanks

 

I got the 60amp--mainly because of the extra positive connection--I use that to feed power from my emergency full power relay (75a). I have this just in case the controller craps out--I heard too many stories about SPAL controllers dying to really trust any controller without a backup.

The 35 amp model should handle the Mark VIII fine--according to DCC, the Mark VIII was the test mule and has always been the fan this controller was designed around.

"...You could have gotten by with a 35, but the 60s a pretty nice controller
in that it runs very cool, they're actually about 80 amp controllers,
but I can only test them to 60 here with the power supply that I have,
so that's what I rate them at 60 amps, the 35s do about 40A, so they're
not under rated as much..." DCC


I have been talking with them about making a controller that can be panel adjusted between 55-90F. I plan to hook this up to the evaporator fan motor so I can have automatic climate control.