electric fan conversion 80'
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 486
Likes: 1
electric fan conversion 80'
I am going to do it. Texas is getting to summer time and it was only 85-90 and the engine was warming up pretty good while sitting in traffic.
What are some donor cars for the dual fan conversion? I read taurus but what years? What other cars?
What all should I take from the car?
The wiring setup... I know painless from summit has ~15 choices... which one is right?
I am confused on the dual speed setup's. Do I have to do special wiring for it or do I not even bother?
Thank you!
What are some donor cars for the dual fan conversion? I read taurus but what years? What other cars?
What all should I take from the car?
The wiring setup... I know painless from summit has ~15 choices... which one is right?
I am confused on the dual speed setup's. Do I have to do special wiring for it or do I not even bother?
Thank you!
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 1
From: grand prairie texas
I also purchased my fan kit from Summit and I used kit #PRF-30102 and it cost me $66.88 and I bought it a little over a year ago. So far no problems. There are several posts on folks using the Taurus fan assembly. I used a very similiar fan asembly from A volvo. I am also here is Texas and my temp usually stays around 200 degrees even with the A/c running. i do also have an aluminum radiator.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
Dual electric fans are going to require a relay and a thermal switch. Whether you buy the parts separately or as a kit (Painless, Ron Francis, http://www.thehoffmangroup.com/zirgo/) it still needs to be wired through a relay.
When I buy fans, I try to get the most efficient in terms of CFM's that I can. Keeping the heat out of the engine is one the best ways to keep those underhood temps from creeping up.
When I buy fans, I try to get the most efficient in terms of CFM's that I can. Keeping the heat out of the engine is one the best ways to keep those underhood temps from creeping up.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 486
Likes: 1
Dual electric fans are going to require a relay and a thermal switch. Whether you buy the parts separately or as a kit (Painless, Ron Francis, http://www.thehoffmangroup.com/zirgo/) it still needs to be wired through a relay.
When I buy fans, I try to get the most efficient in terms of CFM's that I can. Keeping the heat out of the engine is one the best ways to keep those underhood temps from creeping up.
When I buy fans, I try to get the most efficient in terms of CFM's that I can. Keeping the heat out of the engine is one the best ways to keep those underhood temps from creeping up.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 86
From: Rotonda FL
The Taurus fan comes from early to mid 90's 3.8 liter equipprd cars.Other popular donars are the Ford focus (dual fans) and the Lincoln Mark VIII/Thunderbird.
Do a search on these 3 fans. You will find hunderds of posts complete with photos and wiring schemes to help you.
Do a search on these 3 fans. You will find hunderds of posts complete with photos and wiring schemes to help you.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 486
Likes: 1
The Taurus fan comes from early to mid 90's 3.8 liter equipprd cars.Other popular donars are the Ford focus (dual fans) and the Lincoln Mark VIII/Thunderbird.
Do a search on these 3 fans. You will find hunderds of posts complete with photos and wiring schemes to help you.
Do a search on these 3 fans. You will find hunderds of posts complete with photos and wiring schemes to help you.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
I used the Flex O Lite FLX-420. I see it jumped in price about a $100 in the pased year but it is still worth it. If you do a search I know I posted a pic a year ago. It looks like a stock application, that's how well it bolted in.
The only thing I can caution you about is your alternator! It has to be a well working 70amp+ or you may have problems in traffic with the A/C on.
If you don't have A/C get the FLX-430 pusher fan. I had that on my 74, 427 vette. It slips right in front of the radiator where the ac condenser goes and leaves the front of the engine completely open for easy access!!
The only thing I can caution you about is your alternator! It has to be a well working 70amp+ or you may have problems in traffic with the A/C on.
If you don't have A/C get the FLX-430 pusher fan. I had that on my 74, 427 vette. It slips right in front of the radiator where the ac condenser goes and leaves the front of the engine completely open for easy access!!
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 86
From: Rotonda FL
There is no one way of choosing and installing an electric fan. Everyone has different objectives and different experiences. I live in southern Florida and wanted enough cooling to keep my tpi engine cool and to keep my A/C cooling (Vintage Air).
I installed Stewart water pump with an aluminum radiator (another whole set of controversies!) and chose a Lincoln Mark VIII fan. I chose this because it is the baddest one out there - it unquestionably moves more air than any other. (Incidently, the Taurus fan uses the same motor with a slightly smaller s-shapped fan and also flows a lot of CFM).
I used a Delta Current Controller (dcc) (another controversal topic!) because it seemed to lessen the starting current draw and controlled the fan speed to match the radiator temp (the Mark VIII can be loud if running on high all of the time) while leaving plenty of reserve fan capacity. It also allowed me a place to connect my A/C's trinary switch lead, boosting the cooling when the A/C pressure showed the need.
So far, so good, but I expect many others to give their opinions on my choices. If you have questions about my choices, post them or PM me.
I installed Stewart water pump with an aluminum radiator (another whole set of controversies!) and chose a Lincoln Mark VIII fan. I chose this because it is the baddest one out there - it unquestionably moves more air than any other. (Incidently, the Taurus fan uses the same motor with a slightly smaller s-shapped fan and also flows a lot of CFM).
I used a Delta Current Controller (dcc) (another controversal topic!) because it seemed to lessen the starting current draw and controlled the fan speed to match the radiator temp (the Mark VIII can be loud if running on high all of the time) while leaving plenty of reserve fan capacity. It also allowed me a place to connect my A/C's trinary switch lead, boosting the cooling when the A/C pressure showed the need.
So far, so good, but I expect many others to give their opinions on my choices. If you have questions about my choices, post them or PM me.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
I have dual C4 fans. Dual C5 fans will also fit. Do a google search on "big block from hell". That is the basic setup I have, but with the '76L-'81 radiator setup (like you have). It bolts up nicely.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
Believe it or not I don't run a dual fan setup in the 80 Vette yet, it runs cooler than the street rod. The last fan I bought was a Scotts single unit, high flow, s shapes blades, thin profile. I called Scotts about duals for the Vette and was recommended to use the dual 24" x 16", 4 1/2" motor depth, 3,000 cfm, comes with relays I believe, about $325.00, they have different temp switches available. Talk to Gary @ 1-800-272-3267. I am pretty sure they are made in USA and it was the only fan after several attempts that could keep the Rod's underhood temp from creeping up.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,000
Likes: 1
From: Minneapolis, Mn USA
I went with a Lincoln Mark VIII fan. Do a search on that and you'll find lots of info on it. Run a 75A relay to handle the current draw.
If I had to do it again, I would have probably done a dual fan set-up, for redundancy, like dual Spals from Dewitts. If the single fan fails, your screwed.
B.
If I had to do it again, I would have probably done a dual fan set-up, for redundancy, like dual Spals from Dewitts. If the single fan fails, your screwed.
B.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
I went with a Lincoln Mark VIII fan. Do a search on that and you'll find lots of info on it. Run a 75A relay to handle the current draw.
If I had to do it again, I would have probably done a dual fan set-up, for redundancy, like dual Spals from Dewitts. If the single fan fails, your screwed.
B.
If I had to do it again, I would have probably done a dual fan set-up, for redundancy, like dual Spals from Dewitts. If the single fan fails, your screwed.
B.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Chatham Ontario
How hard would it be to add an auxillary electric fan set up like the one from the factory that was available on some of the 80-82 models? Is there any point to doing this? I am assuming that by getting rid of the fan on the front of the motor, your going to pick up a few HP. If you go with just the electric fans, do you use the factory shrould, or is that gone as well?
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
How hard would it be to add an auxillary electric fan set up like the one from the factory that was available on some of the 80-82 models? Is there any point to doing this? I am assuming that by getting rid of the fan on the front of the motor, your going to pick up a few HP. If you go with just the electric fans, do you use the factory shrould, or is that gone as well?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,663
Likes: 162
From: columbia city in
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 486
Likes: 1
Hopefully, someone else can chime in on that. I have not installed the fan setup yet. I have been working on the transmission instead so I dont know about power or ground wire. I will post back when I find the time to install the fans