Re: [ihc] Electric Engine Fans

[Tom Mandera <tsm1@xxxxxxxxx>]

Allan Ericson wrote:
> The fan Tom has on his vehicle draws a tremendous amount of power. Most of
> them don't pull anywhere near that much. On an 800, you just don't need that
> big of an electric fan. The one you want will be about 80 bucks at any parts
> store.
On the flip side, I've also heard the fan I'm using, while drawing 
30-40amps running, is near the top of the pile as far as ability to do 
what the fan is supposed to do - move air.

Most of the aftermarket fans fail to even come close.

My fan was $25 (IIRC) from the junkyard.. and there's plenty more where 
it came from. :)


> 63 amps is about one horsepower. You use the fan when you are delivering
> mail, and you shut it off when you hit the highway on the way home. If you
> want, you can hook up a controller for about 100 bucks that will turn it on
> and off by engine temperature.
I think my fan controller was $40-$50.  There was also the 50amp circuit 
breaker, and the two 30amp relays in parallel to provide juice to the fan.

I'm relatively happy with the setup with a stock 392.  At 100+F ambient 
temps, I only had to stop and let it cool once, which was during the 
climb over Independence into Leadville, pulling a trailer.

This fan did NOT go too well with my 406cid 9+:1 392.. at all.  Partly 
because it was still getting broken in, partly because it just makes 
more power.

Originally, the only reason I installed the electric fan was because 
deep shrouds for the 74/75 trucks are hard to come by (I do have *one*), 
and the assortment of mixed n' matched motor/tranny mounts in my 
Travelette won't let me run the shroud right now anyhow.  The Taurus fan 
was an experiment of sorts, and a necessity at the same time.

I'm leaning towards putting the clutch fan and shroud back on when I 
finally change out the tranny mount n' such and get the right assortment 
of 74-75 correct parts in.

I'm also thinking I do want to keep a smaller electric fan in place, 
though.  I've found it useful for cooling the engine during fuel stops.

I realize we're principally talking about a 196, which this fan should 
have no problems with.. but for anyone thinking of a built 392.. think 
hard. :D

-Tom