Cooling fans

[1979C20]

My clutch fan is giving out, so I figured I'd upgrade. I'm looking around on craigslist for electric fans. What size fan would be sufficent to cool my truck? I found a 16in fan for 25 dollars. I figured if I were to get it and put it between my grill and the radiator and psh the air through it that it would work out pretty well. I'm just not sure if its big enough. What do you guys think?

[Da67goatman]

I have a 16in on mine, no shroud and it worked fine, pulled a 6k lb trailer in summer heat and had no problems.  Make sure you put it on some sort of thermostat switch or you will fry the fan driving with it on.  Too much air flow spins the fan and over heats the motor causing nasty underhood fire ask me how I know. lol

[1979C20]

okay, cool. I was planning on picking up a fan on craigslist for cheap, then going to O'reillys and getting a thermostatic control for it. Thanks for the help, Hopefully I can get a fan on it in the next week or so. Free up some ponies and some MPG buy getting rid of the clutch fan.

[1980c10]

I have exactly what you are describing, I bought the wiring and adjustable thermostat kit from oriellys the fan is a 16" 8 blade i bought everything new for not too much over 100. The truck has never cooled better. The best part is when people ask me how it cools without a fan and I say "I never tried it without a fan" I can post some pics if needed.

[1979C20]

Well, The one on craigslist is gone. But i'm looking around on Ebay and I found a few things that I might be interested in, but I dont know if I should trust it. What do you guys think?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/High-Performance-Dual-11-Electric-Radiator-Cooling-Fans-w-Integrated-Shroud-/390395782645?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item5ae566e5f5

http://www.ebay.com/itm/96-97-98-99-00-01-02-03-Malibu-Cutlass-GM-Dual-Electric-Fan-3100-3-1-Liter-V-6-/200715299500?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item2ebb906aac

I'm really considering this one.......
http://www.ebay.com/itm/16-S-Blade-High-CFM-Performance-Electric-Universal-Thermo-Fan-Radiator-Cooling-/330694733519?hash=item4cfef12ecf&item=330694733519&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr

And here's the last one.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Electric-Cooling-Fan-16-/300670276311?hash=item46015852d7&item=300670276311&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr

[Bitzer!]

Sorry to jump in guys, what is the diameter of the top hose where you'd insert the fan sensor?

Or is there another way you can control the fan rather than just an on/off switch?

Cheers
Andy

[1979C20]

You would have to buy a thermostatic controller, or an Adjustable thermostatic controller. The adjustable one you can set to whichever degree you want your fans to come on and the standard is preset at a temp. You can either use a probe in the radiator, or you can thread in a temp sensor into your engine block.

[Bitzer!]

Hi, I'm not that clever with these things. The reason I wondered about the pipe diameter is I'm looking at this!

Item number: 140568220277 It's on UK eBay if it helps!

Andy

[1979C20]

That one should work. The radiator hose is 1.5in ID(inner diameter) which equals 38mm. I didn't know they made a thermostat sensor that goes in line with the hose. Thats pretty cool.

[Bitzer!]

I remembered these from my motorsport days, could someone do the link a little better than I can! May be easier, I'm sure you could get them over there or have it imported!!

Deffo 38mm inside diameter for the top hose??

Cheers all

Andy

[1979C20]

From what I could find online, yes you need a 38mm. But, maybe someone else can pitch in and verify?

[Bitzer!]

Cheers fella, found a few minutes after work to cut through the hose and get the tape measure on it just to make sure!

Deffo top hose ID 38mm, fan and kit ordered.

16"fan & thermostat on way, cost around $130

Sorry for the thread hijack.

Andy

[1979C20]

Hey, dont worry about it. It was the right subject to post under, and I didnt know about that type of thermostat so no worries.

[beastie_3]

I used this for my fans. I put the sending unit in the intake manifold next to the radiator hose. Just like a transmission temp gauge, you want to know what the hot fluid temp is.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/DER-16749/

[Bitzer!]

Cheers Beastie,
All I wanted was was an easy install to fire up the fan. I didn't want to wire it permenantly or off a switch in the cab, I'd forget to turn it on!

Andy