Fan/clutch upgrade

[gchemist]

The fan is moved back slightly from the stock position.

I installed a 4.0L fan from a '93 - '97 Explorer on my Jimmy today. A new clutch was installed on the fan. Does it move air? You bet! As soon as I turned on the engine, I noticed the extra air movement in the engine bay. I hope to notice the same difference with the A/C. A/C should run cooler. Especially in traffice and stop lights. The stock fan ran A/C near 75-80 degrees on a 95+ (100) degree day. Over the next few days, I'll watch A/C temperatures and report back.

[Arad68]

Very Cool...Pun Intended!!!! _Great upgrade!!!

[Arad68]

Does this fan blade fit the GM fan clutch?

[gchemist]

Physically, the fan it looks like it will bolt on. The GM clutch has the same four holes as the Explorer fan. Sorry, I didn't try to fit. I'll take the old GM fan and remove the clutch. I'll try to install the old Explorer clutch on it. I'll let you know if it fits properly.

I found about the conversion from an S10 to V8 conversion site.
http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Par...iator-134.html

[John Gilbert]

I have a story that's kind of related. In 2001, I was only 6-miles from my home headed for Texas Heatwave in Austin, when the fan clutch on my 2000 S10 2.2 4-banger with 11,000 miles on it let go. If I hadn't hit stop and go traffic from the 22 East onto the 55 North I would have never known — or least not until I got stopped in traffic somewhere. That was in Texas.

Prone to putting things off, I never made it to the dealer to get it covered under warranty, and today the truck has 70,000-plus miles on it, and the fan clutch is still bad.

Maybe I'll fit it this summer. The alternator went out last week, so I can kill two birds with one stone.

[USSkoval]

I have a few questions.

Is the fan quieter due to the curved blades?

What is the purpose in moving the fan closer to the motor? Help out with clearance issues w/ V8?


Also, more airflow may not all come from the fan. If you would have installed the original fan with a new clutch, it too would move more air. The replacement clutches are generally tighter than the originals, and often do not free up very much after time.

[Arad68]

This link ( posted earlier) should answer some of your questions.

http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Par...iator-134.html

[gchemist]

Here is combined photo showing spacing in the shroud.


Yes, the new fan is quieter. It's also lighter. In the long run, a small improvement should be noted in performance and MPG. I hope to gain at least 1 MPG with recent changes. I've intalled a ram air hose, new magnaflow, fan and soon new screen/smoothed intake. I need a long trip to checkout it all out.

[68C15]

95* outside and 65* center vent? this is pretty close to ideal so don't be dissapointed if it doesn't get better. I would be more interested in what your temps are before and after the condenser prior to and after the fan change. seriously, I am curious for the sake of my customers.

[Arad68]

Upon further research, I have found that there are 4 types of this fan: The twelve blade 18" like Gchemist has put on his, An 11 blade, 9 blade and a ten blade. The twelve blade fan came on 4wd/AWD models w/ac.

The twelve blade is the best one.

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/se...part:Fan+Blade)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-01...Q5fAccessories

http://www.fordparts.com/Commerce/Ca...WLK+LH7viyyDAr

[67ChevyRedneck]

I went electric on mine

It freed up some ponies on my anemic 2.2L

[John Gilbert]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

I went electric on mine

It freed up some ponies on my anemic 2.2L

Well, its only been about ten-years ago since my fan clutch took a hike, but ever since I've had the largest electric fan Hayden makes sitting on a shelf in hopes of someday maybe installing it. I agree for a 2.2 the best way to go would be to eliminate the drag of a mechanical fan. Although, I have a theory that a free-wheeling mechanical fan does do some good, or I wouldn't have been able to drive my truck all-year long in the condition it is in.

I wish I still had access to a dyno, it would reveal any gains one way or the other.

[gchemist]

Okay, I've ran the fan for two days. I've noticed that max low temperature is reached faster. Today it reached 70 fairly quick even with 96+ outside. The Explorer clutch engages quickly at a light. As soon as it moves forward, it disengages. So far stop lights are not a problem. A/C temp stays the same. I see the needle edging below 70 while moving even at 45 MPH. If you read my initial post, I had incorrect temps. Temps so far are down from 80 to 70. That's a big change for daily outside temps being the same. I'll keep an eye on for a few more days. So far, I like the conversion.

[gchemist]

Okay, here is the scope on using a stock GM clutch on the Explorer fan. Physically it fits. Bolt sizes however are different. GM uses a much bigger bolt. To use the stock GM clutch, you have make the Explorer mount holes bigger. You must use some locktite or lock washers. You don't want the fan flying off! I did take some pictures. I'll post them after I down load them.

[John Gilbert]

Ah, that's what's known as the Killer Frisbee effect.

[Arad68]

Originally Posted by gchemist

Okay, here is the scope on using a stock GM clutch on the Explorer fan. Physically it fits. Bolt sizes however are different. GM uses a much bigger bolt. To use the stock GM clutch, you have make the Explorer mount holes bigger. You must use some locktite or lock washers. You don't want the fan flying off! I did take some pictures. I'll post them after I down load them.

I was curious because I am looking for a more efficient fan for my 68. The serpentine setup I have is reverse rotation like most, but it is from a 94 chevy truck, pre-single mount clutch to waterpump. It is mounted with 4 studs to the fan. The stock truck fan only has 5 or 6 blades and is a steel behemoth. The s-10 fan has 12 blades and is reverse rotation and is more effeicient than that fan. Its mount pattern to the clutch is the same.

Why do I have all of these questions? I scored a new aluminum edelbrock victor 94 Chevy waterpump to use on my 68, but I want a more effecient fan and was curious. It gets really hot here in the desert often with air temps on the street of 125 degrees or more. As a side note most official temps at any weather station are taken at 15 to 25 feet above the surface.

Thanks for checking!!!!

[gchemist]

Yea, my recommendation. Buy a fan and use the clutch until it fails. I bought a new one so it will as long as I own my Jimmy.

[gchemist]

Upgrade to the Explorer fan. You will not be disappointed!
Picture: GM clutch, Ford Explorer 4.0 clutch.



Pictured: GM clutch on the left, Ford Explorer clutch on the right.



After two weeks, I'm happy with the conversion. With temperatures 95+, the fan and A/C work great!