1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Cheap Electric Fans???? DO They exist?

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Old 03-04-03, 07:09 PM
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Cheap Electric Fans???? DO They exist?

I'm really in need of an electric fan, because i hate the stock fan with a passion, it causes too much drag, there's too much noise from it upon revving, and overall, i just dont like it.

I see that people always pimp the Black Magic fan, however, this fan costs like $200 if i'm not mistaken.... and other electric fans are not cheap, all in the $100 range.

i heard something about the electric fan from a fiero being a perfect fit, but i dont know where i heard that if if it's correct.

basically, my question, is there any way to do this on the cheap tip? And if anyone wants to donate/sell for a low price, a Electric fan to me, that would be okay too
Old 03-04-03, 07:16 PM
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check the 2nd gen forum for more information about the fiero fan. It sounds like a great cheap way of getting a electric fan which i hope to do also.
Old 03-04-03, 07:40 PM
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its also in the archieves;-)
Old 03-04-03, 07:46 PM
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They exist, summitracing.com

mr. gasket fans have the same specs as a black magic fan, things to make you go HUMMM
Old 03-04-03, 08:18 PM
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what size should i be looking at?
Old 03-04-03, 08:51 PM
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biggest you can fit

I got 2, 1 for my radiator , 1 for my oil cooler
Old 03-04-03, 10:14 PM
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For the ghetto rigged, I looked at a fiero fan, and a Taurus 3.8L fan and ended up with the fiero fan. The fiero factory shroud covers 99% of the radiator and 80% of the oil cooler. Has proven a success so far, but I definitely recommend a proper thermostat kit. When I first did mine, I had it set up by switch only. I have almost overheated a couple of times due to failure to turn it on, and have killed a battery once by not turning it off. Electric fan thermostat kit from autozone, and all has been well since.
Old 03-04-03, 11:02 PM
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Too bad this wasn't sooner. I sold mine on E-bay for $57 USD. It was a good fan too.
Old 03-04-03, 11:45 PM
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every time im at the wreaks i always check out the mid 80's mitsubish magna fans. they seem like they would be a good fit and it had dule fans. one small and one big one.... i might measure it up next im there..

i am also what electric without the price tag.. proformance on a budget
Old 03-05-03, 12:54 AM
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if u wanna go cheap, juss get one from the junkyard. black magic ones r nice though. they have a temp sensor so that itll go on and off whenever needed.
Old 03-05-03, 06:09 AM
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Just so you know, Fiero fans fit very well on the larger 83-85 radiators but will not fit the shorter 79-82 radiators.
Old 03-05-03, 08:22 AM
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you can find kits for thermostatically controlled fans at most auto-parts stores. you just have to look through the catalog they order from- it'll be on the same page as the electric fans.

as far as a good source for a fan, junkyard, definitely junk yard. i'm using the ac condensor fan from an 88 civic, it's small, doesn't suck up much voltage, and never lets my car get over half way up on the guage (a big fan isn't exactly needed- i took one of a world challenge gt viper, and it just made the coolant too cool, and drained the battery if the head lights were on.

another nice fan is the ac fan or the main fan off a miata, the fit under the stock radiator shrouding with out having to cut it up- i'm actually using small holes drilled in the stock shrouding to hold my fan, it keeps it from touching the radiator, and potentially rubbing a hole in the core.

any of these fans can be had for $20

what ever you do, DO NOT USE THE HANGERS THAT POKE THRU THE RADIATOR!!!! they can and will rip through your radiator when you hit bumps, pot holes or anything else that jolts the car. i've seen it a hundred times on various customer cars. make brackets that bolt to the sides of the radiator, or make it bolt to the stock shroud.

as far as a source for power, i'm using the power widow circuit that isn't being used in my car- it's hot even if you don't have power windows.
Old 03-05-03, 09:50 AM
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Originally posted by inittab
Just so you know, Fiero fans fit very well on the larger 83-85 radiators but will not fit the shorter 79-82 radiators.
It covers the radiator, and most all of the oil cooler on my 80, as stated above, so it can be used on the earlier cars. But you do have to make a clearance cut in the shroud for the lower piping on the radiator that I forgot to mention. It didn't interfere with the fan, just the shroud. Nothing a dremel and some lovin' didn't fix.

Last edited by JDuncan; 03-05-03 at 09:54 AM.
Old 03-05-03, 11:37 AM
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I am using an electric fan I purchased from advanced auto.. I attached it to the existing radiator shroud. it perfectly fill the hole that contained the mechanical fan blade so it also services the oil cooler.
Old 03-05-03, 01:46 PM
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do electric fans have an actual, quantifiable advantage? I mean, does it really affect the car's power or economy?
Old 03-05-03, 02:06 PM
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Anyone know anything about the one they sell in victoria britis? Does it work well with the automatic thermostat??
Old 03-05-03, 09:28 PM
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thorin: I don't know how much hp it frees up, but its gotta be a few cause it made enough of a difference for me to feel it. Fuel economy seems around the same, might be a little higher, but I would be hard pressed to say for sure.
ioTus: everything I've read about the VB fan is that its a pos, I wouldn't waste my time with it.
Old 03-05-03, 11:41 PM
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really?

Originally posted by thorage327

what ever you do, DO NOT USE THE HANGERS THAT POKE THRU THE RADIATOR!!!! they can and will rip through your radiator when you hit bumps, pot holes or anything else that jolts the car. i've seen it a hundred times on various customer cars. make brackets that bolt to the sides of the radiator, or make it bolt to the stock shroud.

So I got a Howe 19.5" by 22" 1.5" thick aluminum crossflow radiator with a SummitRacing 14" electric radiator with the *gasp* fan hangers that thread thru the radiator fins. This car is only driven on the road race track, it will be a race car soon. Should I worry about the fan mount hangers? I don't want to loose this radiator, or the motor, they cost a pretty penny. I did put some washers in front and behind the radiator hangers too.

Later,
-bp-
Old 03-06-03, 04:24 AM
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Yea I would stay away from hangers thru the core. Especially if there are other options of mounting the fan.

Scott
Old 03-06-03, 08:35 AM
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if it makes any difference his "customer cars" are generally road race vehicles these days, not ricers with street cars.
Old 03-06-03, 10:59 AM
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The fan that I bought from advanced auto was supposed to be mounted thru the radiator fins, but i drilled 1/8" holes in the shroud and zipped the fastener thru there. Has been in place for a year and a half, no problems... Will post pic later.
Old 03-06-03, 11:08 AM
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can someone give me the dimensions of the "large" and "small" radiators?

since my car is kind of a frankenstien when it comes to motor/trans/body/cooling system, i'm not sure which one i have.
Old 03-06-03, 12:02 PM
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Originally posted by jutny
can someone give me the dimensions of the "large" and "small" radiators?

since my car is kind of a frankenstien when it comes to motor/trans/body/cooling system, i'm not sure which one i have.
If you have an oil cooler under your radiator OR if there is room for one then it's the small one.
Old 03-06-03, 12:34 PM
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yeah, that dosent help

i've never seen the oil cooler/radiator combo, so i dont know what i'm looking for in terms of room.
Old 03-06-03, 02:53 PM
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The larger radiator is about 19 inches tall (from tank to tank).




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