Fan Recommendation
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,383
Likes: 385
From: Leland , North Carolina
My current stock L82 80 stays at 180-190* on a 100* day driving in traffic. I it does have a nice aluminum radiator and no emissions.
Living the Vette life....
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 555
Likes: 221
I am pretty sure the 80 L82 and the 81-82 cars all had an electric auxiliary fan built into the fan shroud. I know both of my 81's did. That might be another option if you can find a good shroud and fan assembly. They are not as cheap as they once were but they are out there. They had a temp swiitch installed in the right head and the auxiliary fan was turned on by the temp at about 230 degrees. Here is one of a few on Fleabay..
https://www.ebay.com/itm/33355738552...Bk9SR8CapuvcYg
https://www.ebay.com/itm/33355738552...Bk9SR8CapuvcYg
Last edited by MattoonVette; Sep 30, 2023 at 11:31 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,949
Likes: 4,507
From: Virginia
I am pretty sure the 80 L82 and the 81-82 cars all had an electric auxiliary fan built into the fan shroud. I know both of my 81's did. That might be another option if you can find a good shroud and fan assembly. They are not as cheap as they once were but they are out there. They had a temp swiitch installed in the right head and the auxiliary fan was turned on by the temp at about 230 degrees. Here is one of a few on Fleabay..
https://www.ebay.com/itm/333557385521
https://www.ebay.com/itm/333557385521
If you don't want to go all-in on electric fans, you can spend LOTS of money doing it half-way, or incorrectly. Put the stock stuff back in and get back on the road. For most use cases, it's fine, And if it isn't fine, it might not be the fan's fault.
If you want the aux fan, and want to do it right, read @interpon's thread below. He modified it to come on with AC, with a manual override, and at a lower temp, since he insisted, to his infinite credit, on keeping his engine compartment looking stock.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ss-option.html
Living the Vette life....
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 555
Likes: 221
LOL. That eBay listing is $350 for a used, low CFM fan that solves zero problems. You still have the massive shroud in the way (which can only be installed and removed if the radiator is out of the car first). A new C5 fan assembly is half of that, and a Dual Spal fan assembly, brand new, is only a bit more. You'd still have electrical stuff to do to make the aux fan useful.
If you don't want to go all-in on electric fans, you can spend LOTS of money doing it half-way, or incorrectly. Put the stock stuff back in and get back on the road. For most use cases, it's fine, And if it isn't fine, it might not be the fan's fault.
If you want the aux fan, and want to do it right, read @interpon's thread below. He modified it to come on with AC, with a manual override, and at a lower temp, since he insisted, to his infinite credit, on keeping his engine compartment looking stock.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ss-option.html
If you don't want to go all-in on electric fans, you can spend LOTS of money doing it half-way, or incorrectly. Put the stock stuff back in and get back on the road. For most use cases, it's fine, And if it isn't fine, it might not be the fan's fault.
If you want the aux fan, and want to do it right, read @interpon's thread below. He modified it to come on with AC, with a manual override, and at a lower temp, since he insisted, to his infinite credit, on keeping his engine compartment looking stock.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ss-option.html
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,949
Likes: 4,507
From: Virginia
Now I didn't say he had to buy it or use now did I? LOLOL. Just simply showing him that there was a factory option with the factory shroud and electric fan. Did I say it was the best option....Nope. No matter what he does if he adds an electric fan, he will have to wiring mods, be it the stock electric or an aftermarket setup. There are many ways to do this and many ways that will work to keep his car cool. I ran the factory shroud and auxiliary fan on my 1st '81 with a four core radiator running A/C with a supercharged small block and it kept it cool. But it was the best option back then. Back then, the electric fans were just junk. Yes that has been many years ago and there are much more better options now. I do agree with you to do it right once and be done with it.
Years from now, someone will find this thread, and hopefully make the best decision for their car. And if that link to @interpon's thread helps, that's a fine result too.
Living the Vette life....
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 555
Likes: 221
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,528
Likes: 148
From: East London/SW Essex UK
Nothing IMHO wrong with stock viscous fan......providing you have a good, efficient radiator and a water pump that hasn't got an eroded impeller, engine block cooling galleries that are not filled with years of crud.........and most important of all a properly fitted radiator shroud with all its fillet pieces and seals. Aim for ALL cooling air to ONLY enter through the front end and ONLY pass through the radiator.
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,528
Likes: 148
From: East London/SW Essex UK
A 'pusher' fan will never be as efficient as a 'sucker' - the pusher fan will only 'push' so much air before 'stalling' and remaining if still operating in that same stalled condition.
A twin electric fan affixed to the rear of the radiator (unless mounted remote from the rear of the radiator on a shroud or plenum) will only ever draw cooling air from an area 2 x the diameter of the blades......whereas a single fan (mechanical or electric) mounted remote from the radiator with a fitted shroud will draw air over the total surface area of the radiator (if fully sealed)
A twin electric fan affixed to the rear of the radiator (unless mounted remote from the rear of the radiator on a shroud or plenum) will only ever draw cooling air from an area 2 x the diameter of the blades......whereas a single fan (mechanical or electric) mounted remote from the radiator with a fitted shroud will draw air over the total surface area of the radiator (if fully sealed)
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,028
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
A 'pusher' fan will never be as efficient as a 'sucker' - the pusher fan will only 'push' so much air before 'stalling' and remaining if still operating in that same stalled condition.
A twin electric fan affixed to the rear of the radiator (unless mounted remote from the rear of the radiator on a shroud or plenum) will only ever draw cooling air from an area 2 x the diameter of the blades......whereas a single fan (mechanical or electric) mounted remote from the radiator with a fitted shroud will draw air over the total surface area of the radiator (if fully sealed)
A twin electric fan affixed to the rear of the radiator (unless mounted remote from the rear of the radiator on a shroud or plenum) will only ever draw cooling air from an area 2 x the diameter of the blades......whereas a single fan (mechanical or electric) mounted remote from the radiator with a fitted shroud will draw air over the total surface area of the radiator (if fully sealed)
What do you folks have on your daily drivers? A clutch fan?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,229
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
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I run the C5 fans. OEM quality, cost effective, move tons of air. And look good! Super easy to put in and pull out once the shroud has been fitted to the car. Making other work on the car much simpler.
I also have a fan indicator light in my dash so I can see when they come on and turn off. And they really don't run often. Long lights, sitting in line waiting to get into a car show, that's about it. With the Spals I had previously, it would hold the temp from rising. With.the C5 fans I can watch the temp guage go down. And then they shut off.
I also have a fan indicator light in my dash so I can see when they come on and turn off. And they really don't run often. Long lights, sitting in line waiting to get into a car show, that's about it. With the Spals I had previously, it would hold the temp from rising. With.the C5 fans I can watch the temp guage go down. And then they shut off.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,742
Likes: 1,384
I have a Lincoln Mark VIII fan and it is wonderful. If I were to do it nowadays i would look for the C5 fans as mentioned below. My Mark VIII works like a dream and it's probably been 20 years or so. An electric fan makes your a/c work a lot better at idle but you need to have an appropriate alternator to support it. I have a 140 amp CS-144 and I am in the process of adapting a DR44G at the present time (slowly progressing).
I run the C5 fans. OEM quality, cost effective, move tons of air. And look good! Super easy to put in and pull out once the shroud has been fitted to the car. Making other work on the car much simpler.
I also have a fan indicator light in my dash so I can see when they come on and turn off. And they really don't run often. Long lights, sitting in line waiting to get into a car show, that's about it. With the Spals I had previously, it would hold the temp from rising. With.the C5 fans I can watch the temp guage go down. And then they shut off.
I also have a fan indicator light in my dash so I can see when they come on and turn off. And they really don't run often. Long lights, sitting in line waiting to get into a car show, that's about it. With the Spals I had previously, it would hold the temp from rising. With.the C5 fans I can watch the temp guage go down. And then they shut off.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,229
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Absolutely, as stated above, you need to have the electrics up to speed to handle it.
I also run a 140 amp alternator. With a separate strip fuse fuse panel covering updated wiring for said upgrade Alternator, headlight relays and the electric fans. My fuel injection is a completely different circuit all together. Running a fuse back in the battery compartment with separate power and ground just for that system.
You simply can't over kill the wiring. So go big!
With electric fans and a trienary switch on the high pressure line my air-con is up to modern specifications. In other words, my air-con blows very cold even when stuck in traffic with a accident up ahead on a 115 degree day.
Clutch fans just really don't do this.
But make no mistake, it's not just as easy as bolting in a fan and hooking up wires to a existing circuit.
I also run a 140 amp alternator. With a separate strip fuse fuse panel covering updated wiring for said upgrade Alternator, headlight relays and the electric fans. My fuel injection is a completely different circuit all together. Running a fuse back in the battery compartment with separate power and ground just for that system.
You simply can't over kill the wiring. So go big!
With electric fans and a trienary switch on the high pressure line my air-con is up to modern specifications. In other words, my air-con blows very cold even when stuck in traffic with a accident up ahead on a 115 degree day.
Clutch fans just really don't do this.
But make no mistake, it's not just as easy as bolting in a fan and hooking up wires to a existing circuit.