Installed electric fans today!

[70C10Toejam]

Or "How to get Chevy, Nissan and Ford to work together"

It took way too long, but I finally got my Altima fans installed today. Worked from the FAQ thread by Jackal2K9 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=50085

Fans with the upper mounting bracket I make from 3/16 flat steel (was a cross-brace from a stationary battery string).


My lower support brackets. 2 inch aluminum "couplings", drilled out the top to 3/8" to fit the pins on the bottom of the fans. Just flattened a couple angle brackets to mount them to the bottom of the rad. support with 1/4" bolts.


This is just my old headlight relay setup.


Here is the new relay setup. The Nissan relays are all interchangeable in the holders so I added my headlights to them. Modified my power junction with the insulated stand-off. Found a nice plastic box at work for the breakers too.


The '84 El Camino thermostat housing that just happened to fit the mid '80's mid-sized Chevy fan switch and a late '80's-early '90's Tempo/Topaz fan switch. The Ford switch turns on at 200* and the Chevy at 224*. I have since found some other options, including a singe VW one with 2 switches.

[70C10Toejam]

And the final picture of it all running, except the fans...hadn't warmed up that far yet.

The new water pump pulley is finally in use, given to me by Husker a couple years ago, but the fan clutch wouldn't match up. Was primer when I got it.

[oldblue1968chevy]

how much extra hp does that free up looks nice good job!

[70C10Toejam]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

how much extra hp does that free up looks nice good job!

Thanks. Tried to make it look somewhat neat.

On here I've seen either 10-15hp or 10-15%, forget which one though. I wouldn't guarantee either of those numbers though

Also, running the factory 63 Amp alt. and at idle with low fans running, it still holds 14.1 volts. With lights on, it does drop to 12.8-13.0, enough to not actually drain the battery, but not enough to truly run the system. Have not forced the high speed on to see if it handles it at idle. Plan on doing the internal regulator swap to a 94 amp, hopefully later than sooner.

So far so good on keeping it cool, but only 67* out today.

[oldblue1968chevy]

Got a parts list compiled?

[70C10Toejam]

That's to come, gotta catch up a bit with all the things I wasn't doing while doing all the tedious wiring/soldering.

[68GMCCustom]

I have dual electric fans, plus a stereo amp, front driving lamps, etc... and a 94amp alternator, and when everything is on you may wish it were bigger.

will be soon for me though, as I am swapping everything over to the new '08 LY6 6.0L motor...which is like 150amps. Maybe that will be enough!

[Husker]

Chad,
Cool write up, been think of doing something like this to my 70 GMC4x4, swapped to electric on my Jeep CJ and I can feel the extra power.
Glad to see all is well, stop by if you ever get through here again.
Need more pics of your truck
Ron

[70C10Toejam]

Time for the parts list:

Fans--'93-'97 Altima though Infinity uses the same ones with the pins on the bottom.

Thermostat housing--'84 El Camino

Low-speed switch--'84-'92 Tempo/Topaz (BWDautomotive.com's cross reference says to '94, but the 93/4's I saw no longer had that switch. (At least in the same location.) Opens at 200-210*F
BWD part #tfs14
Napa part #fs103

High-speed switch--'82-'88 midsize GM cars, too many to list.
BWD part #tfs1
Napa part #fs110

Most parts stores can cross ref. the BWD part number. Found O'Reilly's site will show the compatibility including the specific engine. Very useful to find where to get the connector.

I found the switches I used by doing a non-vehicle specific search onhttp://www.napaonline.comfor "coolant fan switch". You get about 400 switches, then checked the details for them looking at the temp. they turn on at and the threads. But not all had that info. Then I went to http://www.bwdautomotive.com and used the catalog/e-catalog then the cross reference tab. The results then give the vehicles, but only make/model/year.

I have since found another switch from a '85-6 Mustang, Cougar and T-bird with the 2.3L Turbo and another GM one, lost that number right now, but it looks just like the high-speed one. Both of these turn on at 204* instead of 200*. To use the second GM one would only take a 1/2 to 3/8 bushing.

[70C10Toejam]

Originally Posted by 68GMCCustom

I have dual electric fans, plus a stereo amp, front driving lamps, etc... and a 94amp alternator, and when everything is on you may wish it were bigger.

will be soon for me though, as I am swapping everything over to the new '08 LY6 6.0L motor...which is like 150amps. Maybe that will be enough!

You can never have enough electric power.

[70C10Toejam]

Originally Posted by Husker

Chad,
Cool write up, been think of doing something like this to my 70 GMC4x4, swapped to electric on my Jeep CJ and I can feel the extra power.
Glad to see all is well, stop by if you ever get through here again.
Need more pics of your truck
Ron

Thanks, and...Go for it!

The pics may have to wait though.

[68GMCCustom]

Originally Posted by 70C10Toejam

You can never have enough electric power.

...ya I know....I've been looking at a 200amp alternator.