Electric Cooling Fan Install...

[WHAMMYBAR66]

Hey guys,
THought I would toss some pics of my cooling fan install your way. Just remember the Blazer is a daily driver, and it has been cold here.. with more snow and sloppy roads than in the last 20 years !

I ordered my fan controller from http://www.dccontrol.com/fancontrol.htm . It cost me $88.95 including shipping. Here is what I got ;





Everything looked great. The only thing I wondered about was the fact that the relays are sitting in eboxy, not a socket - so you can't change a relay if is goes bad. But the designer may have a good reason for this..

THis controller is designed for a 3.8L two speed taurus fan. I initially mounted the controller to the shroud, thinking I would save wire and keep things less cluttered (always a challenge for me ;-)). But I thought I would be better off keeping it away from the heat of a radiator. So I moved it to the inner fender.





Mounting the fan to the radiator worked out well as you can see it lines right up with the support. 3 screws hold it to the top radiator brace. I will add conduit later this spring when things warm up outside. !!




THe temp sensor pushes into the radiator between the cores and works really great. It was very easy to install.

So far it is working great ! I will fab a lower bracket this spring when I add a serp belt set-up.

and MAN !! flash photos make my truck look like ass !! It really isn't that dirty in real life... or am I just used to it ?? LOL !!

[vtblazer]

So does it run the fan at two speeds still?

Kicks it on high only when needed?

Great easy 'how too', thanks for posting.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by vtblazer

So does it run the fan at two speeds still?

Kicks it on high only when needed?

Great easy 'how too', thanks for posting.

I'd like to know also. I have the same fan for my C-10 and haven't ordered the relay kit yet.

[Hottrucks]

very Kool
what year taurus?? I'm getting ready to move into my engine bay to clean somethings up this looks like a simple mod that will free up a couple ponies too!!

Thanx
Jeff

[WHAMMYBAR66]

Originally Posted by Hottrucks

very Kool
what year taurus?? I'm getting ready to move into my engine bay to clean somethings up this looks like a simple mod that will free up a couple ponies too!!

Thanx
Jeff

Any 90's taurus with a 3.8 L engine. They are in salvage yards all over.. and man they move the air when on high...

[Hottrucks]

Do you think the fan will move enough air to keep it kool??

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Hottrucks

Do you think the fan will move enough air to keep it kool??

Those fans have been a popular choice for quite a while for v-8's. Should be just fine. I've powered mine up and it moves a lot of air.

[vtblazer]

Originally Posted by Hottrucks

Do you think the fan will move enough air to keep it kool??

Having a shroud would be more efficient but as for the fan, it'll move enough CFM's for sure.

[WHAMMYBAR66]

Originally Posted by Hottrucks

Do you think the fan will move enough air to keep it kool??

Dude, of that I am totally sure!! Since your cooling fan is most necessary when sitting still, your factory, belt driven fan is spinning its slowest when sitting at idle, trying like crazy to pull enough air to cool the engine. The 3.8L fan sounds like an airplane and moves a TON of air!! Even if you compare off idle performance like reving up your engine, the high speed of this fan is at least comparable. Now, I don't think it pulls as much as a new flex fan with alot of blades when the engine is reved up.. I remember my new flex fan would blow dust off the parking lot when I snapped the throttle.. but again.. we are after idle performance to keep the engine cool and this fan is the winner hands down...

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by vtblazer

So does it run the fan at two speeds still?

Kicks it on high only when needed?

Great easy 'how too', thanks for posting.

From the link he posted:

Our 2sp controller will control all of the two speed Ford cooling fans, including the 3.8L Taurus fan correctly, the low speed circuit is calibrated to turn the fan on low at 185F, but is adjustable over a wide range of temperatures. The high speed circuit turns the fan on high at 10 degrees higher in temperature while disabling the low speed circuit

It says the temperature is adjustable... how? The kit I have now has a little adustable switch, I don't see that in the pics. Is that what the little screw on the blue box is for?

Also, what size fuses did you use for your connections?

I have this fan in my S-10 and the kit I have now only operates the low speed fan, and it turns out this isn't good enough for A/C on in traffic when it's 90 or above out, which is most of the summer, I really need the high speed, but my S-10 has a 195 thermostat, I don't want the fan running while going down the highway too.

[vtblazer]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

From the link he posted:

Thanks, hadn't gone there yet.

Sounds like a great mod to do for sure.

[WHAMMYBAR66]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

From the link he posted:



It says the temperature is adjustable... how? The kit I have now has a little adustable switch, I don't see that in the pics. Is that what the little screw on the blue box is for?

Also, what size fuses did you use for your connections?

I have this fan in my S-10 and the kit I have now only operates the low speed fan, and it turns out this isn't good enough for A/C on in traffic when it's 90 or above out, which is most of the summer, I really need the high speed, but my S-10 has a 195 thermostat, I don't want the fan running while going down the highway too.

You are correct. The little blue box has an adjustment screw on it... and it works too.. as I played with it on its first couple of test runs. You would be able to dial it right in.

I put an inline 30 amp fuse and I am hoping that will be enough. So far, it has been fine for the week I have driven it and it has run quite often in Drive thrus and such. I suppose that it may draw a little more when summer gets here and things get really hot, but I think it will be fine. I can always step it up if need be.

[WHAMMYBAR66]

Originally Posted by vtblazer

So does it run the fan at two speeds still?

Kicks it on high only when needed?

Great easy 'how too', thanks for posting.

Yes !! It only uses high when the radiator requires more air to keep up.

[cjaj70]

Does anyone have the thickness of these fans? We have clearance issues on our bb serpentine setup.

[WHAMMYBAR66]

Originally Posted by cjaj70

Does anyone have the thickness of these fans? We have clearance issues on our bb serpentine setup.

THis is not a super-thin set up.. more like a super econo set up..

I just went out and tried to get you a measurement... as it is mounted now from the radiator core to the back of the motor is about 5.5 inches.. that is not exact, but close..

[cjaj70]

Originally Posted by WHAMMYBAR66

THis is not a super-thin set up.. more like a super econo set up..

I just went out and tried to get you a measurement... as it is mounted now from the radiator core to the back of the motor is about 5.5 inches.. that is not exact, but close..

I really appreciate it, that gives us an idea.

[jbristo67]

Originally Posted by cjaj70

Does anyone have the thickness of these fans? We have clearance issues on our bb serpentine setup.

I have the same problem as you do and this is how i am going to solve it http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT The reason I am using 10 inch is because I will prob split them and move them to the outside of the radiator so my water pump pully wont be in the way in the middle

[Hottrucks]

the most important part of cooling is the shroud....I wouldn't split them up...the taurus fan is a better fit pulling air though 90% of the rad another reason for the 2 speed fan is if you ( like I have) is A/C you need to pull air across the core in traffic when you need the A/C the most..the kit I did on my buddies truck had a seperate wire for vechicals that turned it on when the A/C was turned on...I think the kits with thermostats are probably best..they work and are pretty simple to hook up and come with all the right size wires and what not..Also they are adjustable for on and off temps

[vtblazer]

When I did my electric fan install I devised a way to keep using the stock shroud, the first round I used a small block shrough but later I went to using a big block shroud for clearence. (pics)

Also I'm a believer that maintaining a full shroud is 'very' important to the overall performance.

I did a very/very simple manual two speed set up with relays, IIRC is was 4amps on low & 10.4amps running on high.

The wires to the switch had such low amp draw that the meter wouldn't even read anything.

This set up worked extremely well in my off-road/rock crawler truck but I would want something automatic in a daily driver for sure.

[Hottrucks]

what fan did you use....??

[67ChevyRedneck]

Thanks!

And yes, these fans pull some serious air... the only reason I haven't hooked up the high speed in my S-10 is because they also draw serious amps too!!! I've read the high speed can draw up to 50amps on start-up. S-10 4bangers are finiky with heat, it's easy to overheat one, which is why I really need the high speed. It's great to finally find a kit that adresses the high speed fan "problem." Most people only run the low speed or high speed only. I'll have to order this when I get my taxes back, then I can use the kit in my S-10 to hook up the "Jeep" fan I got for my 67

[WHAMMYBAR66]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Thanks!

And yes, these fans pull some serious air... the only reason I haven't hooked up the high speed in my S-10 is because they also draw serious amps too!!! I've read the high speed can draw up to 50amps on start-up. S-10 4bangers are finiky with heat, it's easy to overheat one, which is why I really need the high speed. It's great to finally find a kit that adresses the high speed fan "problem." Most people only run the low speed or high speed only. I'll have to order this when I get my taxes back, then I can use the kit in my S-10 to hook up the "Jeep" fan I got for my 67

I wanted to shoot you my thoughts and observations for you to mull over.

I am certain that these fans pull the most amps when they are very first starting to spin. When testing my fan to make sure it was a working unit (it was used after all) I could tell a big difference in what it pulled from a dead stop, high versus low. I even thought to myself that the high side was gonna need a bigger fuse! However, the way this is set up, high only comes on after low is already running and spinning the motor. THis definatley lowers the amp spike to what at this point has been less than 30 amps. (been on a couple of weeks and no blown fuses). I wish I had an inductive pick up for my Fluke meter, I would like to know amp draw at speed on these fans.. maybe I can borrow one ! I realize there may be certain times that the engine is hot already and I start it, possibly resulting in a high speed start... but I wired mine to run even with the key off and the odds are low..
Time will tell when summer gets here and puts a real world strain on the system. SOmeone may have already tested this sytem out and they mave have some real numbers.. If it only spikes around 50 on initial run-up, I will just up my fuse size...
Take this as food for thought for your upcoming fan project.. not really dead on factual instructions.. I really like discussing these types of things..

Good luck on your truck and keep us posted !

[Hottrucks]

almost all the fans I have seen run a relay to handle the power draw

what happens if you wire both together???

[tdkosta]

Thanks for the info, I've been wanting to switch to an efan. I went to the boneyard today and found one out of a '94 Taurus with a 3.8 for $30.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by tdkosta

Thanks for the info, I've been wanting to switch to an efan. I went to the boneyard today and found one out of a '94 Taurus with a 3.8 for $30.

That's about what I paid for mine, I think mine was a 93 or 94 as well. It's been on my S-10 for almost 2 years now. Great fan.