To electric fan? or not?

[Lee H]

I tried electric fans several times, from camero/fireburd LT1s to purpose built radiator/shroud/fan for my truck. All had problems from heat build up and various speeds to relay/controller failures. My 72 with a 383 & 350THM with a high stall converter, mid 90's 1500 serpentine system, stock style radiator, and stock shroud (with a small carve out to expose the fan blades properly), with Vintage Air running most of the time, temps in summer exceed 100 for several months, Derale trans cooler, mostly in town driving with some freeway. Stays mainly in the mid to high 180s, creeps to mid 190s in the summer months. Serpentine system all stock except for fan which is Derale 18 inch fan part number 1791. 12 years and about 30K mies with no issues. Good luck, Lee.

[Kalums]

Originally Posted by Lee H

I tried electric fans several times, from camero/fireburd LT1s to purpose built radiator/shroud/fan for my truck. All had problems from heat build up and various speeds to relay/controller failures. My 72 with a 383 & 350THM with a high stall converter, mid 90's 1500 serpentine system, stock style radiator, and stock shroud (with a small carve out to expose the fan blades properly), with Vintage Air running most of the time, temps in summer exceed 100 for several months, Derale trans cooler, mostly in town driving with some freeway. Stays mainly in the mid to high 180s, creeps to mid 190s in the summer months. Serpentine system all stock except for fan which is Derale 18 inch fan part number 1791. 12 years and about 30K mies with no issues. Good luck, Lee.

So... If I ever get my truck back from transmission jail, the plan so far is take out the spacer completely on the manual fan (no clutch) and and put a pusher electric fan on the transmission cooler, possibly re-route/move the trans-cooler on some sort of standoff-bracket away from the radiator and see how that goes... *Shrugs*

[MARKDTN]

Originally Posted by Kalums

So far, most of my reading has been about single speed fans and I'm really not getting much about if I'm going to need a large single fan or 2 smaller fans for the rad and a pusher for the condenser + the trans-cooler... That is possibly 4 fans I need to figure out how to mount and supply electricity for... (yipes)

You do not need 4 fans for a stock 350. A puller setup on the radiator should do all you need. The C4 Corvette fans for example come in single (84-89) and dual (90-96) styles. Both styles are single speed. Both styles have plenty of cooling for a stock 350. Same kind of thing on the IROC fans. As far as power, you already have a big alternator. Come direct off the battery with power to the controller or add an additional relay so it won't run unless the ignition is on. Supply a good ground-maybe to the engine block. The most important thing for a fan shroud or electric fan setup is that it must cover the whole core of the radiator. If you don't like junkyard fans, there are some available from Spal and others that would do that. There are wiring schemes for the Volvo relay that would make fan(s) come on for A/C and/or transmission temp.

See post 8 of below:
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...iring-question

This shows it set up with a relay so fans do not run with ignition off. If you wanted to always run fans with A/C on then add a relay to ground the high speed fan (#2 on Volvo relay) with a/c on. If you wanted to turn fans on for high trans temp, add an open/closed temperature switch like a dash lamp switch to ground the #2 if it went over a set value of whatever switch you buy. This can also be used with dual single speed fans by using 1 of the outputs for each fan. On low you get power to #1 and with high you get power to #1 and #2 outputs.

[Kalums]

Originally Posted by MARKDTN

You do not need 4 fans for a stock 350. A puller setup on the radiator should do all you need. The C4 Corvette fans for example come in single (84-89) and dual (90-96) styles. Both styles are single speed. Both styles have plenty of cooling for a stock 350. Same kind of thing on the IROC fans. As far as power, you already have a big alternator. Come direct off the battery with power to the controller or add an additional relay so it won't run unless the ignition is on. Supply a good ground-maybe to the engine block. The most important thing for a fan shroud or electric fan setup is that it must cover the whole core of the radiator. If you don't like junkyard fans, there are some available from Spal and others that would do that. There are wiring schemes for the Volvo relay that would make fan(s) come on for A/C and/or transmission temp.

Excellent information, I'm not particularly "brand loyal" so far whatever I do put in won't be no name scamazon/fleabay... And will be brushless with relay(s)

[MARKDTN]

The photo is of 2000 Contour/Cougar dual 2-speed fans on a '69 Mustang radiator. C10 radiator cores are about the same height but are about 4" wider so if you used that you would need to make your mounting system cover that 2" on each side. I like using OEM fans because the motors are available at any auto parts store if one goes out. This one went across the country with no issues and used the BMW switch/Volvo relay. After the photo I squared it up better and sealed that small open area at the bottom.

[PbFut]

On tranny cooler location. I placed the cooler flat offset away from cab floor. Exhaust allowed and was out of the way. Use a puller to get air moving across the plates with a tstat helps get up to temp before fan trips on. Not the most efficient but keeps heat out of ac condensor and radiator. Assuming electric system is up to the task of 3 fans.

[MS66]

Originally Posted by Lee H

I tried electric fans several times, from camero/fireburd LT1s to purpose built radiator/shroud/fan for my truck. All had problems from heat build up and various speeds to relay/controller failures. My 72 with a 383 & 350THM with a high stall converter, mid 90's 1500 serpentine system, stock style radiator, and stock shroud (with a small carve out to expose the fan blades properly), with Vintage Air running most of the time, temps in summer exceed 100 for several months, Derale trans cooler, mostly in town driving with some freeway. Stays mainly in the mid to high 180s, creeps to mid 190s in the summer months. Serpentine system all stock except for fan which is Derale 18 inch fan part number 1791. 12 years and about 30K mies with no issues. Good luck, Lee.

Good show. Always liked to stay with a mechanical factory style set up, exactly what I'm doing on a non air '68 with original 250. 18" standard rotation fan blade on a severe duty 2799 fan clutch('84 6.2 parts truck donor), inside a factory '72 fan shroud. Should pull plenty air with ac blowing cold.

[franken]

Clutch fan. Simple and cheap. Done.
Electric fans. Loop back and ask the internet with no troubleshooting, what's wrong or why don't my fans cool.
Hmm...

[Richard]

Installed an 800w 19" fan in my truck. Used by the OEM's in newer vehicles. It is a PWM fan and will be controlled by the Camaro ecm. Yet to see how it works, but I do not expect any problems. See people running dual fans and setting different turn on points. This just recycles under hood hot air from the unpowered fan and reduces flow through the rad. Also not sealing the shroud or even blocking off a large portion of the rad with a flat plate? There are several factors that need to be considered.

[RichardJ]

>>The C4 Corvette fans for example come in single (84-89) and dual (90-96) styles.<<

The "single (84-89)" was standard, but there was an optional "Auxiliary" pusher fan on the front of the radiator. I believe it was available as an option, but was standard on the vehicles with the Z51 suspension option.

[Kalums]

Just got the truck back from the shop Friday, drove it home and 8-10 mins at EVERY FRIGGIN red light on the way *facepalm* never overheated but it was starting to creep up the longer I sat at the lights. I'm going to eliminate the spacer tomorrow (if I can figure out how to not die of heat stroke) and see if proper placement helps... I like cheap and I already have the mechanical/non-clutch fan (not really a point in a clutch here, too dang hot 10 months out of the year AND I doubt I have room) Need to see how it works out.

[Kalums]

Originally Posted by Lee H

I tried electric fans several times, from camero/fireburd LT1s to purpose built radiator/shroud/fan for my truck. All had problems from heat build up and various speeds to relay/controller failures. My 72 with a 383 & 350THM with a high stall converter, mid 90's 1500 serpentine system, stock style radiator, and stock shroud (with a small carve out to expose the fan blades properly), with Vintage Air running most of the time, temps in summer exceed 100 for several months, Derale trans cooler, mostly in town driving with some freeway. Stays mainly in the mid to high 180s, creeps to mid 190s in the summer months. Serpentine system all stock except for fan which is Derale 18 inch fan part number 1791. 12 years and about 30K mies with no issues. Good luck, Lee.

This is almost exactly like mine (except you have a beefier engine) after looking at my shroud earlier this weekend I may need to trim my shroud for it to fit correctly and have the fan "peek" out the back.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by Kalums

Just got the truck back from the shop Friday, drove it home and 8-10 mins at EVERY FRIGGIN red light on the way *facepalm* never overheated but it was starting to creep up the longer I sat at the lights. I'm going to eliminate the spacer tomorrow (if I can figure out how to not die of heat stroke) and see if proper placement helps... I like cheap and I already have the mechanical/non-clutch fan (not really a point in a clutch here, too dang hot 10 months out of the year AND I doubt I have room) Need to see how it works out.

If you have room for the clutch, I'd recommend using one. It will only engage when required, and it'll make less noise when not needed. I don't recall if you've posted pix, but post some if you didn't.

[MS66]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

If you have room for the clutch, I'd recommend using one. It will only engage when required, and it'll make less noise when not needed. I don't recall if you've posted pix, but post some if you didn't.

You're right. I'm saying this same thing, use a fan clutch when possible. You won't be disappointed. Especially the less noise part!

[Kalums]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

If you have room for the clutch, I'd recommend using one. It will only engage when required, and it'll make less noise when not needed. I don't recall if you've posted pix, but post some if you didn't.

Honestly I have maybe an 1-1.5" between the shroud and the pullies, I was going to try to eliminate the spacer because the fan is inside the shroud and from what I've learned here it needs to peek out the back(engine side) of the shroud about 3/4 of an inch. I will try to get some pictures tomorrow 👍

[Kalums]

Originally Posted by MS66

You're right. I'm saying this same thing, use a fan clutch when possible. You won't be disappointed. Especially the less noise part!

Noise is the least of my worries, can't hear half the time anyway *laughs* but I don't disagree with you if I had room I probably would, but I doubt I do the serpentine system moved every thing towards the Radiator anywhere from 4 to 6 inches and I'm thinking a combo of trimming the shroud and losing the spacer (it is only 3/4") will give me the proper clearance/set-back for the fan to peek out of the shroud, but I also have to worry about how close the fan gets to the pullies and belt too.

[MS66]

Originally Posted by Kalums

Noise is the least of my worries, can't hear half the time anyway *laughs* but I don't disagree with you if I had room I probably would, but I doubt I do the serpentine system moved every thing towards the Radiator anywhere from 4 to 6 inches and I'm thinking a combo of trimming the shroud and losing the spacer (it is only 3/4") will give me the proper clearance/set-back for the fan to peek out of the shroud, but I also have to worry about how close the fan gets to the pullies and belt too.

Haha, somehow I knew you were going to say that as soon as I posted it because I can't hear nearly like I used to either.
100% agree with the sound part being the least of any worries when you're chasing overheating Gremlins. Personally can't stand the noise electric fans make but they do work well in certain applications.
I forgot you had serpentine system pushing everything out that far towards the radiator. If you can't remove the spacer, trimming the shroud may be in order. We'll take a look at the pics when you get some. Good fortune.

[Accelo]

I did the dual Stall fans. Set up with two speeds, making it easier with two computer-generated turn-on points (LS). Both come on full speed whenever the air is on. Both fans on slow speed at 165 deg and both on high speed at 180 deg. The system has been foolproof so far.

[Extended Power]

Originally Posted by franken

Clutch fan. Simple and cheap. Done.
Electric fans. Loop back and ask the internet with no troubleshooting, what's wrong or why don't my fans cool.
Hmm...

Absolutely no room for anything but electric fans in my case...let alone having a clutch in front of it yet.

So...mechanical fans/clutch fans are NOT always the go-to answer.

[suburban99]

My k10 is a 6.0LS and I used ford Windstar fans on my stock radiator. They were very budget friendly at the local wrecking yard. Controlled by the ECM.
The fans don't come on unless i am going thru a drive thru.