Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Horton Fan installation

[JohnMcIntyre]

I'm just about ready to install my Horton fan and was wondering if any other TDR members had some tips to make the swapout and installation relatively straight forward?

What's the best/cleanest way of removing the factory fan from the front of the engine?

Any hints or suggestions (hey, pics would be very nice before and after) , gratefully appreciated.



Cheers guys!!

 

[jcbrown]

Horton Install Wrench...

If you buy the recommended fan clutch wrench, be prepared to have the wrench machined wider by 0. 100". The wrench will not fit as is.



I redid the Horton factory harness so I could install a relay in the empty slot for the factory heated seats. It is a royal FPITA to access the back side of the fuse block. Used a screw driver and a stout wire to undo the plugs. "A" hand/fingers will NOT fit. Connectors were obtained from a junk Ram. Unavailable otherwise.

 

[Bill Stockard]

John Mc,



I have loosened and removed 2 factory fan hubs by using a BFH and a large punch on the outside flat of the nut--just remember that is a Left Hand Thread Nut before you get too rough on it. A couple of whacks should break it loose.



When installing the Horton hub, tighten the Horton nut as tight as you can by hand. The nut will tighten itself every time the clutch engages. If you decide to remove the Horton later you WILL need a wrench!!



Good Luck!!



Bill



BTW, How'd you get that big dooley Dodge and Lance all the way to Ireland? Teach it to swim??

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

Undocumented features.....

Hi James - I also received an email from you overnight (thanks to Rob Hansen). Nice to know about the "undocumented feature" of the Horton recommended fan clutch wrench. I hear what you say about access to the rear of the fuse block, but am not too clear about the relay installation for the factory heated seats though... Care to elaborate further please James?



One other thing, I have an exhaust brake and you mentioned before in your email about some degree of interaction between the Horton fan and the exhaust brake itself. please tell me more... ...

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

BFH and a large punch!!

Originally posted by Bill Stockard

BTW, How'd you get that big dooley Dodge and Lance all the way to Ireland? Teach it to swim?? [/B]

Hi Bill - appreciate the insight into factory fan removal. My major concern would be the potentially unsightly after effect if it takes more than a few attempts... . Did you see Jason's comments about resizing the Horton factory wrench and other good stuff?. I take it that the BFH equivalent, if carefully applied of course, may be equally as good... .



My truck and camper took a "cruise" out of New York at the end of April and arrived in reasonably good shape in Southampton about 12 days later. I used a shipping company that specialises in transporting cars and trucks back and forth across the pond every month, 12 months a year.



I personally know about three other CTDs in England, 2 x 12v and 2 x 24v but they are few and far between all the regular econoboxes on the road. Whilst I'm waiting for my UK title and registration to get sorted out by the local DMV, I'm still on my Montana tags and to date, I have still to be pulled over by the local traffic cops for a curiosity check... It's only a matter of time apparently.

 

[RBrush]

John



I used a 2" wrench to put my Horton on. The nut on mine measured 1. 992" so the 2 incher worked well. I also used a Sears strap wrench to hold the pully from turning, and also used a punch and hammer to smack the factory nut to loosten it up a bit. I'm assumeing the 12 and 24 valve fans are about the same, (mine is a 12 valver) but on mine, when I routed the wireing from the fan between the radiator and shroud, I made a rounded opening for the wire to pass through along with the "U" shaped bracket. This way the shroud sat fluch with the radiator and didn't look rediculous. Hope this helps a little.



Rich

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

Originally posted by RBrush

... when I routed the wireing from the fan between the radiator and shroud, I made a rounded opening for the wire to pass through along with the "U" shaped bracket

Thanks for the feedback Rich - do you have any pictures to illustrate here on the TDR, how it looks now please?

 

[jcbrown]

Heated Seats Relay...

John,



If you have leather seats, the heated setas relay is installed in your fuse block. You wouldn't be able to use that slot. It is avaliable when you have cloth seats. The wiring for accessories on my truck does not follow the wiring schematics. I make changes where and when I can.



James

 

[RBrush]

Horton Pictures

John,



I'm sorry, but I don't have any pictures of the installation. At first glance, it looks nearly OEM. With the exception of the bracket and black wire shielding comming up out of the shroud at the radiator. And unless your actually looking at the fan hub itself, you don't even notice that. I was very surprised just how rigid the shielding is once it is in place between the fan hub and the "U" bracket. It must be some tough stuff. Have a great day.



Rich

 

[jcbrown]

Originally posted by JohnMcIntyre

One other thing, I have an exhaust brake and you mentioned before in your email about some degree of interaction between the Horton fan and the exhaust brake itself. please tell me more... ...

Run a wire from your exhaust brake, using a diode, and connect to the Horton relay.

 

[Red360]

What is the common thread between the fan clutch and exhaust brake?

 

[jcbrown]

Common Thread...

Originally posted by Red360

What is the common thread between the fan clutch and exhaust brake?

... Extra Engine Braking!

 

[PCrable]

from the school of hard knocks...



Be very careful you have as much clearance as possible between the fan blades and the bracket that holds the control wire going up through the fan shroud. The wire coming from the fan hub can also experience fatigue over time and break... I had to split the loom open and fix the wire.



Also, you have one sensor that goes in one of the plugs in the top of the engine to watch the engine coolant temperature... the wires for mine went up and over the exhaust manifold... be careful the wire doesn't sag... . if it hits the manifold, it shorts the ECM and blows the fuse, making you really wonder why the truck died right in the middle of the road )



--Phil