Electric Cooling Fans

[RWWinslow]

Has anyone converted to electric cooling fans? (Provided air flow over the radiator and A/C coil is sufficient, there are a number of potential advantages - I have done several of these changes on high horsepower gas rigs without any problems. )

 

[DieselBuzz]

Juice fans

I was thinking of doing the switch myself. I have had my stock fan off for about a year. Rarely does the temp run beyond the two center marks of the temperature guage. I got caught in stop and go traffic through Boston last summer and thought I was going to blow my head gasket by the temp guage. Luckily nothing happened, but I sure would like to have an electric fan with a cab switch just in case.

 

[JLEONARD]

A 2nd gen friend at work is doing this conversion on his 96 2500 auto. He is using a dual fan set-up he got from a boneyard.

Right now he is still in the part gathering stage.

His handle is vssman if you want to pm him about it.

Jay

 

[dpuckett]

QUESTION.....

Why are you going to an electric fan? Is your fan clutch stuck in the ON position? Or do you just have too much time on your hands, and too much spare change? If that is the case, please contribute to the Get Daniel Outta The Darned Swamp Charity.



Daniel

 

[jlast]

Well i suggest looking at a stock ford tauras fan and doing that conversion. I just got done putting one on my other project and so far i love it. Search the web for info on the tauras fan install, hot rods, mustangs, jeeps, everyone is using them. CHEAP and pull more CFM then most if not close to all aftermarket fans. Two speeds also.



BTW $13 for the fan with fuse local PNP, $1 for my relays and holders PNP, about $2 worth the wire, $2 for my switches, and like $15 for a screw in adjustable temp switch. About 3 or 4 hrs to wire and mount everything. about 5 mins to actually pull the tauras fan out, about 30 seconds to pull relays.



I will be placing one on my dodge when i get some time to, it is to easy not to free HP and not listen to the mechanical run almost all the time.



I do have some fan information if needed and pics and such, email me.

 

[phillips5]

I have been runing my 90 with out a fan for years now. I know what you are talking about long trafic stop and go. When I pull haevy long distance I take the fan with me just in case. When in stop and go trafic remember we have a key switch.

 

[JLEONARD]

A 2nd gen friend at work is doing this conversion on his 96 2500 auto. He is using a dual fan set-up he got from a boneyard.

An update... . he has had the fan unit installed for a week and a half and it has been working well so far.

Right now it is set up with only a manual switch... we discussed how to control it properly... . we're thinking a thermal switch in the cooling system to run one fan when needed, and run the second fan everytime the A/C is on.



Jay

 

[Daniel John]

Has anyone actually put a ford taurus fan on a intercooled truck? I went to a junk yard today and did some measuring. I just don't see how it would fit in there. I've been wanting to put in an electric fan, but I haven't been able to find anything this enough to fit in-between the radiator and motor.

 

[michigandon]

I'm going to attempt to use a 3300CFM Zirgo electric fan(biggest one I could find!) in the conversion project in my sig. This will be with a custom-made PRC aluminum radiator and a Ford Flowerjoke intercooler. The water jacket sensor switch is set to turn the fan on at 200 degrees, and shut it off at 185. I have no idea whether or not this will all work, but I DO know that there was no room for the OEM clutch fan to successfully fit in the front of this project. Besides, the orignal fan/fan clutch ass'y got all bent up when the donor truck was wrecked.



I'll let you guys know how well it all works/doesn't work once I get it all put together and running.



Don

 

[jlast]

dan john, i have four toreass fans here, and need to make a few measurements, but i am dang sure they one would fit, maybe even two? maybe not two.



3300 zirgo fan sounds expensive! lol



What is too hot on the cummins? thinking 200 is too much?

 

[michigandon]

The Zirgo fan was $89 on eBay, brand new.



That's approximately HALF of what they want for the exact same thing on Zirgos' own website!

 

[Daniel John]

jlast, I was referring to the distance between the radiator and the stud for the stock clutch. I measured about 3. 5" at best. Let me know if the taurus fan fits. I'd love to give it a try.

 

[DPinkston]

I have been runing my 90 with out a fan for years now. I know what you are talking about long trafic stop and go. When I pull haevy long distance I take the fan with me just in case. When in stop and go trafic remember we have a key switch.

I am new to the diesel thing (not counting farm tractors). So you say you do not have any fan at all? If so this is intriguing. I am considering doing a Ford-Cummins swap and it appears I will either have to set the transmission back about 3 inches or delete the stock mechanical fan. If you can run without any fan, I should be able to run a small electric fan or two with the big honkin' radiator that is on the Ford diesels and be just fine. That is preferable to doing driveline mods.

Danny

 

[JLEONARD]

Yes, an elecrtic fan will work just fine.

My son just got his S-10 Cummins conversion running... he has a dual electric fan mounted in front of the radiator due to lack of space. It seems to work fine so far. It is set to come on with a thermal switch.

Plus my second gen friend has been running his all summer with the dual electric fan set-up. One is set to run off the thermal switch and he tied the second into his A/C so it's on whenever the A/C runs.

Jay

 

[DPinkston]

My truck had a 460 in it. I was talking to Roger at FordCummins yesterday and he said the 460 radiator should be just fine for up to 300hp. I have a diesel radiator and rad support laying around anyway so I'll probably slip that in for cheap insurance. At present I don't have any plans to do any major HP upgrades but never say never! Not having to set the transmission back would save me from trying to find a competent shop to modify the driveshafts, and it would give me more clearance from the HVAC box, which I read in another post can be close to the turbo exhaust. You guys a motherlode of info!

Thanks.

Danny

 

[NIsaacs]

I am not a "fan", of running a Cummins Diesel, with no fan or an electric. Yes they will work if you run empty or live in flat cooler climate. The diesel also idle's cooler for the most part than a gas motor. However for hot country, mountain climbs and for towing, I would not recommend it. I figure horse power lost, driving a good mecanical fan, is horsepower well spent





"NICK"

 

[phillips5]

Yes no fan . only trouble was pulling camper to Gatlinberg got into stop and go traffic. Had to run the heater wife and baby was not happy. Found a parking lot to drive round and round to get it colled down. An electric fan would have solved hole problem.

 

[michigandon]

1st gen drivetrain installed in a 12,000-some-odd-lbs class A motorhome with a custom 28"x19" aluminum radiator and a 3300CFM Zirgo electric fan: as long as the vehicle is in motion... even if it's only 10MPH... the coolant temps never go over 180 degrees, the fan is set to come on at 205 degrees and NEVER operates unless stopped in traffic for more than 10-15 minutes.



Don