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

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Old Dec 5, 2001 | 07:33 PM
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Keaponlaffen's Avatar
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Electric Fan Gurus

I stole a fan off a Chevy sprint (12"), well, OK I got it from the shop teacher at my school for free. It works, but I don't know how I should hook it up. Any suggestions? I was thinking a switch, but I'd probably forget to turn it on and burn up my car I have no idea how to hook it up thermostatically...

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Jeff
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Old Dec 5, 2001 | 10:19 PM
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I strongly doubt that fan would be powerful enough. If I were you, I'd get a good fan or don't bother. It's just asking for trouble.
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Old Dec 5, 2001 | 10:24 PM
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From: Behind a workbench, repairing FC Electronics.
Summit or Jegs ro somewhere sells an adjustable thermal switch. Just clamp taht baby to your radiator or engine and hook itup. You're golden. Set it to around 180 Deg F.
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Old Dec 5, 2001 | 10:31 PM
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Originally posted by SilverRocket
I strongly doubt that fan would be powerful enough. If I were you, I'd get a good fan or don't bother. It's just asking for trouble.
Felix Wankel says he got a fan from a Chevy Celebrity that works well. Celebs have wither a 2.8 or a 3.1 transverse V6 if I remember correctly, so the fan on that sprint should do something if it was from a V6. I would not trust it if it was from a 4 banger.
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Old Dec 5, 2001 | 11:11 PM
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Hmmmm alright, I thought Sprints were 4 bangers. Shows what I know about American cars lol.

I remember hearing bad **** about this kind of thing back when I was looking into my fan. I ended up with a Black Magic and it's decent. I suppose it may depend on what kind of weather and driving you're doing. I talked to some people who found even the Black Magic to be inadequate for summer slow-traffic driving.

Good luck and let us know if it works!
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Old Dec 6, 2001 | 12:02 AM
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It's from a.... get this.... 3-banger, yes 3-cylinders of whopping power.

But, it is very powerful, and all it has to do is cool the car at idle (not moving) right? 'Cause when I'm moving, it's pushing air through from the front.

The other thing is that my clutch fan is almost toast (It freewheels), so I want to get rid of it (plus the fact that it looks ugly and clutters up the engine bay.

I think it should have enough power to work. I hooked it up to the charger at 12V and it really pulled air. I don't know... if it works, it works, if it doesn't keep my car cool enough, I'll scrap it and put a different one on (when I have money in the spring).

Jeff

Edit:

Forgot one thing. My temperature guage works well, so I'll keep a close eye on it. If the car heats up too much, I'll shut her off and take her home right away. Plus, we don't get extremely hot summers here (less than 35 degrees celcius), and traffic is never heavy (only 82,000 people live here), I'll almost always be moving (fast at that).

Last edited by Keaponlaffen; Dec 6, 2001 at 12:07 AM.
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Old Dec 6, 2001 | 12:10 AM
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I think it'd be alright if its a 12".... Just watch your temp gauge really close once you get it installed.
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Old Dec 6, 2001 | 12:29 AM
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Cool, I'll try it, but like you said, I'll watch the temp guage. If it shoots too high, I'll pull the electric out and put the clutch fan back in. hehehe.... free mods to my car... improving looks and engine bay. Now, to get the wiring problems figured out... Somehow I don't think both sets of signal lights in the rear are supposed to come on when I signal right or left only and only one goes on in the front, and I don't think all the lights on my car except headligths and reverse lights are supposed to come on when I hit the brakes... oh, and I don't think the signal and brake lights are supposed to come on in the back when the car is in reverse... heh wiring diagrams, here I come...

I did have a problem with the headlight motors, as they wouldn't operate, but the lights would go on. Then I jiggled the fusible link panel... is this related?

Jeff
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Old Dec 6, 2001 | 01:27 AM
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I got a 89 TII that runs flat 14's and the fan i use is the spal 16" that flows 2300 CFM.......I LIVE IN TX. the summer temps here get to triple digits....(farenheit for you cannucks) and it seems to do a good job. it once got a little warm and i got a new thermostat and that was the end of that problem.

As for setting the sensor go with on @185 and off @184 depends on your car and driving environment. Just keep it below 200 degrees. It's not recommended to go above that often.

The 4 runners also have awesome fans. 93 on. if you're going the cheap route go with the biggest fan you can fit. good luck.
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Old Dec 6, 2001 | 04:30 PM
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Originally posted by Pele


Felix Wankel says he got a fan from a Chevy Celebrity that works well. Celebs have wither a 2.8 or a 3.1 transverse V6 if I remember correctly, so the fan on that sprint should do something if it was from a V6. I would not trust it if it was from a 4 banger.
Heavy-duty cooling Chevy Clebrities buick centurys olds cieras an pontiac 6000's had a monster 240-watt fan.

these all had 2.8 or 3.1 v6 motors, or all 2.5 4-bangers with A/C have the fans.

All sprints including turbo are 3-cyl.
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