Adding a modern electric fan?

[ChallengerHK]

I was walking around the junkyard yesterday and I saw a dual electric fan from an Intrepid. The thought crossed my mind that such a unit could be added to my car. Are there any good reasons to not do this?

[miketyler]

as an auxiliary fan, perhaps but not as a primary. Others (including myself) have tried this and have had varying degrees of success.

The prevailing comments were that the factory setup puts out the max CFM and few electric fans can match it. However, if your car is tuned right and cooling system is working properly you may be able to pull it off. Also electric fans will spike load your electrical system at startup. If you are running the lower output alternator, you may see lights dim for a second when it first kicks on.


I'm sure my old posts are still around on this using the nice fitting Mercury Mystique/Contour dual fan setup.  I ultimately went back to OEM belt driven fan and shroud but have a new pusher style fan to install on the front side for high temp and AC use.  If you do it, post up your experience. I would be interested to see how this goes for you. 

[ChallengerHK]

Thanks for the info, Mike.

[Chryco Psycho]

I have become not a fan of electrics [ pun intended ] , a good clutch fan & shroud will cool far more effciently

[ChallengerHK]

Back when I was getting the car back on the road, circa 2002-2003, I could not find the correct radiator anywhere. I had the small radiator with the car originally, and it had wings on each side that bolted to the core support (sounds like a tampon commercial). Anyway, I had assumed that the correct 340 radiator would bolt into the same hole without the "wings", but I couldn't find a radiator to fit these specs. I got one shipped to me that was supposed to be correct for a 340, but it was too wide for my core support. Being in a hurry, I installed it, but it's off-center. The right side is sitting one the frame rail, and I had to drill some holes in the core support on that side. Given that, I don't think there's any way for me to fit a shroud on it.

Do you think I should center it (drilling four more holes)? Or is there a different core support for the 340 radiator?

[miketyler]

My car is an original 340 AC car and shipped wth the 26" radiator. I think there were only two sizes in the ebody, the 22" and the 26" for BB or AC applications right?

The 26" width was the finned core measured from edge of side to edge of side. So sounds like you have a 26" core support but need an original 26" radiator? I wouldnt have thought they would be that hard to find but not sure?


If you decide to try electric, I have a large single OEM fan from a Taurus. It and the Mercury Mk4 (or 5) are the two strongest CFM OEM fans around and are very poplular with the Mustang crowd. The pusher I bought is a SPAL. I hope to put it on someday.         

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I absolutely would recommend using a Ford Taurus 2speed fan as a primary. I use it on my Ford Ranger (came with a clutch). Running a/c, traffic, and in Florida summers, it moves a TON of air. Now, you will need some stout wiring and some good relays (recommend a circuit breaker). I currently am strictly running a Chevy HHR electric fan on my 'Cuda with no problems. Taurus fan would be my second choice.

As mentioned the 2nd speed on the Taurus fan will definitely flow plenty of air if it is shrouded to the radiator properly. I paid $15 for the fan in my Ranger from the junkyard. Snagged some MONSTER 70a relays and connectors from either the same, or another ford (don't recall). Picked up a 40a circuit breaker from a local hobby/electronics shop. Dead reliable for a good year and a half of daily driving.

Don't skimp on the wiring (10ga), circuit protection, or the relays...it will be good to ya. Oh and you may wanna pickup a 90a or 120a Denso alternator while you're at the junkyard and retrofit it. (have a how to on my site for a sb w/o a/c)

[ChallengerHK]

I absolutely would recommend using a Ford Taurus 2speed fan as a primary.

Will any Taurus have this, or is it an SHO / V8 thing only?

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I didn't pull mine out of anything special, just make sure it is a three wire fan. (low, high, and ground)

[Chryco Psycho]

the clutch fan without the shourd may still  be efficient enough

[ChallengerHK]

I'm not going to jump into anything yet, CP. But, the next time I'm up at my favorite junkyard I'll look around the Tauruses and if I can pick something up cheap-cheap, I will.