81 cooling question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 91
From: Leander TX
81 cooling question
This will be my first summer with the 81 and I live in central texas. I flushed the fluids, put a new waterpump on, new thermostat (190 degree) and put some water wetter in. I have also hooked the AC up and charged it up. I noticed the fan is only 5 blades which a book of mine says is for non-ac cars. After 10 years with my 85 I know these older corvettes tend to run warm so I wanted to upgrade the fan. Was thinking of pulling the stock fan off the waterpump and add the below. Thoughts?
Pusher fan:
http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/52100/10002/-1
Puller fan:
http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/52110/10002/-1
Harness (will use with temp sensor):
http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/10571/10002/-1#
Pusher fan:
http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/52100/10002/-1
Puller fan:
http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/52110/10002/-1
Harness (will use with temp sensor):
http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/10571/10002/-1#
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,911
Likes: 2
From: gold coast queensland
nothing wrong with thermo fans or clutch fans if everything is in order like seals , shrouds, etc etc.
if you really want to clean up your engine bay and get some more space in there then yes i like the electric fans as well but you are bringing in more variables such as wiring, relays, sensors, is your alternator up to it?
if your car has no cooling issues already then a clutch fan really is bulletproof as there isnt much to go wrong and it will always pull great air.
i couldnt help myself and went the electric fan option just for the tidy look but really if my life depended on keeping my engine below 190 i would have stuck with an engine fan.
if you really want to clean up your engine bay and get some more space in there then yes i like the electric fans as well but you are bringing in more variables such as wiring, relays, sensors, is your alternator up to it?
if your car has no cooling issues already then a clutch fan really is bulletproof as there isnt much to go wrong and it will always pull great air.
i couldnt help myself and went the electric fan option just for the tidy look but really if my life depended on keeping my engine below 190 i would have stuck with an engine fan.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 91
From: Leander TX
It does have both on there and the stock elect fan is functional. Just waits to what looks like the last min. to turn on. Guess I'll just give it a try and see what happens. I ran the car yesterday with the AC and that temp really started flying up when I hit traffic.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 1
From: Tuttle OK
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
I've run a decent hp 350 and 4 speed in Oklahoma for several years since replacing both and don't have overheating problems.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Like mentioned above look at the radiator seals to make sure no air is bypassing the radiator. Make sure the fan shroud is properly sealed, Make sure the air dam is in place and not all bent up, if its bent it will actually block air flow. High temp in traffic indicates a problem with fan driven air. possible bad clutch on the fan. The aux electric fan is old and underpowered and it does not come on until the passenger head hits 238*, far to hot in my opinion, but GM didn't ask me.
If it was me, I would definately concider the electric fan upgrade. 2 each 12" fans on a controller that looks at the temp of the output side of the radiator. The fan is there to cool the coolant, not the engine, so it should only run if there is not enough air coming thru the radiator from forced air from speed, such as traffic.
The fans draw enough juice that you will likely need to upgrade the alternator, but it is a bolt in with no wireing changes required.
this asumes your radiator is good
If it was me, I would definately concider the electric fan upgrade. 2 each 12" fans on a controller that looks at the temp of the output side of the radiator. The fan is there to cool the coolant, not the engine, so it should only run if there is not enough air coming thru the radiator from forced air from speed, such as traffic.
The fans draw enough juice that you will likely need to upgrade the alternator, but it is a bolt in with no wireing changes required.
this asumes your radiator is good
