Electric fan swap Made easy

[collinsperformance]

I will pull this from a couple folders. This swap can be done to any make car/truck/buggy/RV or anywhere you like. I done this many times and never sorry of the results.
Parts list
1- Electric Fan-----Junk yard from any Ford Tarus with a 3.8 motor or any newer T-Bird or Mark 8
1 constant duty relay--This can be a junk yard as well look in van conversions or RVs or most any modified vehicle or New from any parts store.
1- Fan controler install kit. I get this new each time there are a few different types. I get the one that has a probe that inserts to the raditor.
1 - 30 amp Fuse and holde.
some misc crimp connectors and wire.

ok --to the swap.
disconnect the battery-----this is for safty reasons.
depending on vehicle you might or might not need to loosen the fan shroud. yu need to remove the 4 bolts holding the fan to the pulley. once the fan is removed remove the spacer if there is one. reinstall th 4 bolt into the pulley (you might need to get 4 new shorter bolts but make sure the pulley is rebolted to the water pump.
now get your new to you fan.
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/400215/thumbnail/newfan.jpg (http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/media/400215)
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/400216/thumbnail/newfan2.jpg (http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/media/400216)
this was the junk yard relay i got.
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/400217/thumbnail/newrelay.jpg (http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/media/400217)

[collinsperformance]

now you need to find a spot to mount the relay. close to the fan or the batter is best. I installed a power tap and i will pull puwer from it.
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/400218/thumbnail/newwiretakeoff.jpg (http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/media/400218)
now you need to mount the fan and shroud. you can make your own bracket or mount or they make thru the raditor zip ties these are nice. here are the misc parts and new relay i got to do my 502 motorhome.
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/544719/thumbnail/motorhome10.jpg (http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/media/544719)
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/544720/thumbnail/motorhome11.jpg (http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/media/544720)

[collinsperformance]

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/544738/thumbnail/motorhome28.jpg (http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/media/544738)
here is the fan in my motorhome. it goes right in. i like having the built in shroud.
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/544739/thumbnail/motorhome29.jpg (http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/media/544739)
now it is time to install the fan controler
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/400220/thumbnail/fancontroler.jpg (http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/media/400220)
now it is time to run some wires.
i rune a 12 awg wire from the power tap to a 30 amp fuse (i like to use Blade fuses). I then go from the fuse to the battery side (eather side but one of the large posts) or the relay. then the other side of the relay to the High power feed on the fan.
I then run a ground wire 12AWG from the fan ground to a frame ground.
this is the high power side of the electric fan now for the lower voltage side.
find an ignition hot wire. tap into it and run a 14 or 16AWG wire to the the fan controler the output from the fan controler to the smaller or signal input for the relay (eathere small pole will work). then the other small connector goes to a ground. now recheck all your connections and wires so all are clear of any moving parts. reconnect the battery.
start the car and see when the fan comes on and adjust as needed. i like mine to come on at almost 1/2 way up the temp scale and off almost 1/4 of the way down the temp scale.
i hope this goes as easy for you as it has for me each time. what a difference.......mike

[ct9a]

Is the single fan sufficient for the 5.7L 'Burb or should I look at doubling up (if space permits)?

[collinsperformance]

Research shows the Ford fan out performs any after market electric fan. One fam is more than enough for a 5.7. These fans have a High and Low connection on some motors i had the low was enough. I got the one on my 502 in my motor home and it never gets to 200 degrees even whm pulling the trailer with the bronco or a 30 fishing boat. the gauge never gets to the 1/2 way mark on the gauge going up the Grape vine pulling a trailer. these fans are great. now i have seen some people run duals and not have any issues but your alt better put out more then 65 amps or the battery will discharge.
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/544708/thumbnail/motorhome3.jpg (http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/media/544708)
Mike

[USMCRay]

I went to the U-pull-it yard this morning and picked up a fan off a Taurus. I installed it and I love the results. The only thing I didn't do was put a thermostat switch on it but it seems to keep it between 180 and 190 even when it is idling in 90 plus degrees. The only hard part was trying to find a place to get power when the ignition was on. This is probably one of the best and cheapest mods I have done.

[collinsperformance]

if you installed the constant duty relay you can pull a tap off the coil pack. the relay does not take any power to switch this is why it is the perfect part for this. You can run a second relay and use a toggle switch so you can use low or high as needed and take some of the load off the alt. in the off road world we have a switch for high and low and off if you were doing water crossings....these are the best working and best price fan i ever found.....mike

[Crawdaddy]

USMCRay, looks like you're gonna be helping me with my electric fan conversion then, seeing as you now have experience in the matter, and happen to be around the proverbial corner... :lol:

EDIT: Ray, do we have any decent junkyards over in Pearl River? Knipprs down here in Slidell sucks bad, poor quality, low selection, and high prices. :(

[USMCRay]

The fan I got has only one speed that I am aware of. Just a red and black wire. I used a regular relay from NAPA and I have yet to put a switch on it because I really don't plan on doing any deep water fording. I am thinking about getting a thermostat because I am afraid that when the weather starts to cool down, if it ever does, I might be running it too cool. Crawdaddy I go Barry's u-pull-it in Gulfport. They have a decent selection and it changes daily. There also is a yard around Hammond but I haven't had a chance to go there yet. They fan install was easy except trying to find an acc source under the hood which there are none so I had to route a wire to the fuse panel. All in all it took about 4 hours because it was hot as hell and I made sure it was all nice and neat and factory looking except for the little oval on it that says ford. I will try to find some pics of my install and put on here.

[USMCRay]

This is the relay that I used.http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d154/USMCRay1/0725081349.jpg

[USMCRay]

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d154/USMCRay1/0725081354.jpg

[ct9a]

if you installed the constant duty relay you can pull a tap off the coil pack. the relay does not take any power to switch this is why it is the perfect part for this. You can run a second relay and use a toggle switch so you can use low or high as needed and take some of the load off the alt. in the off road world we have a switch for high and low and off if you were doing water crossings....these are the best working and best price fan i ever found.....mike

Mike, for the electonically stupid (me), can you give more details how to wire up a second relay for the hi/low/off switch? Pretend like you're talking to a 5 year old :lol:

[Crawdaddy]

http://www.fullsizebronco.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40564&highlight=fan+swap

Here's a more in-depth install and thee should be diagrams and such there describing high-low speed switches, manual A/C override switches, and water crossing disable switches. You can do a lot with these fans to make them come on right when you want them and do exactly what you want... Pretty cool, I just gotta go find me one, or 2....

[collinsperformance]

you would run the "low" just like the "High" switch you just add a second solinod and connect to the other power wird on the fan. then wire the fan controller to a 2 pole switch one side high and the other low this way you can select the speed....mike

[USMCRay]

Yesterday I went to Autozone and purchased an electric thermostat kit and when I got home I relized it was the contrioller and all. So I decided to get rid of my rigging I did and just use all the stuff. I finally got the temp set and was real happy with its performance until today going down the highway stuck in bumper to bumper traffic. Damn temp pegged out and pulled over immediately. For some reason the fan was not coming on so I cut all that crap off and wired the fan straight to the fused wire from the battery. As soon as I found an auto parts store I bought a new relay and wired it the way I had it in the first place. I paid $35 for that BS kit and it stuck me beside the road. I pay $4 for just a relay and I am riding around with a smile on my face. Don't buy junk from autopart stores. Just go ahead and spend the extra dough and geet the good stuff. Painless wiring here I come!!!!

[collinsperformance]

the controler i had in the motorhome did a strange thing it would not turn on until i turned it down some and back up. i added a double pole switch and now i have a auto fan spot an off spot and a manual over ride spot. this worked fine....mike

[collinsperformance]

Just an update. we went out camping this last weekend. It feels so much better knowing I got full control of the fan if needed. I left the fan switch in the "Auto" position and not a single burp. it was good to know if the temp looked like it was going to go up i could over ride the controller....mike

[SEL777]

Good info here

[johnsstart]

I noticed towards the end of this post alot of problems how are the rigs holding up now ? I did this on a 95 sonoma but bought an aftermarket kit with everything including directions has worked fine. I did notice better response and the loos of that loud ass fan when it kicks on. I would recomend as a legit upgrade easy and on the cheaper side of modding.:great:

[THE STARGAZER]

Thanks for posting the article and all the great info and pictures on the electric fan.
I have been thinking about doing a electric fan install on my 97 Tahoe 2dr Z71.
Who would have thought a Ford part would work so well on a Chevy Truck. He-he
When I get time to do it I am sure I will use the information on here.

Thanks again, take care, John

[BlackBetty350]

i have a crate motor in my 88 and i have a flex fan that is ungodly loud i guess im going to find a tauras now. how much hp should i gain?

[Crawdaddy]

BlackBetty, I'm not thinking much, if any. Yes, you're pulling the strain off the main belt of spinning a mechanical fan. But, you're just transferring the load to the alternator, which then has to pull more mechanical power off the belt to generate the electrical current to support the fan. That being said, when I get the chance and the parts, I'm going to perform this mod myself, along with a hearty electrical system upgrade.

[Dr_Zero]

i have a crate motor in my 88 and i have a flex fan that is ungodly loud i guess im going to find a tauras now. how much hp should i gain?



LOL You dont like the way people stare when you take off from park like you are about to run them over cause the truck just roared at them or that it sounds like you have air boat under the hood at times :glasses:

I have the factory flex fan with a severe duty clutch fan and it does all the above LOL


Poor people just swivel their heads around like its coming for them :lol:

[BlackBetty350]

LOL You dont like the way people stare when you take off from park like you are about to run them over cause the truck just roared at them or that it sounds like you have air boat under the hood at times :glasses:

I have the factory flex fan with a severe duty clutch fan and it does all the above LOL


Poor people just swivel their heads around like its coming for them :lol:
Exactly, i just hate the sound. i was going to put a clutch fan to quiet it some cuz i didnt want to spend the 400 dollars for an electric fan setup. but this setup seems cheap and reliable.:great:

[jlh0324]

I used an efan off a grand marquis on my 03 silverado. Fits perfect and covers the whole radiator with the built in shroud. I have mine running all the time with just a relay and have had no problems. Been about an year now, but they do make ALOT of noise. Sounds cool to me. :great:

[TrailLeadr]

I had done this to my 'burb after the engine rebuild using Mike's original "how to". Best conversion I did for that old truck. The engine temp used to run just about 210, and with the electric fans on medium speed the engine temp was like 175.

My fan was from a ford Taurus I think. Not sure, the bone yard guy just brought it in and said this fits the measurements you gave me. I completely covers my radiator, and depending on how it's wired up it has multiple speeds. It's a dual fan unit, if anyone is wondering.

[skipray]

Good post.I'm moving back to Vegas in sept. or oct. I'm going to try this mod.
Can I leave the belt set-up alone?

[2ToNe04]

ls1 fans in camaros, are dual :)

and theyre better than one.

[SaCoke]

nice solution. I have mine on my clutch switch also, just because Im lazy and its easy for me to get to. Im not familiar with the lastest auto tranys. Is the neutral safety switch still in the cab or down under the jeep now?

[jerseymike68]

Thanks for these information