ioTus

iTrader: (5)

Crappy pictures of my now dirty engine:







At its highest point, the fan stands out 4" from the radiator.

85RX7GS

iTrader: (1)

You guys have some really nice setups there I can't get over how good the fan looks AND the best part is that it blends in perfectly with everything in the engine bay, like it was designed to have this electric fan.

pillage6

Do you think that fan would keep a turbofb cool?

Rxmfn7

iTrader: (4)

Yes, people have been using these fans on Turbo FCs with good success, so I dont see why a turbo FB would be any different.

ioTus

iTrader: (5)

Yeah we have both had comments like "Wow you did that? It looks like a stock option!"

They are held on by 4 zip tie points, on the upper left conert we used 2 or 3 ties together to get allt he way around the thing, but only 4 holes drilled through the plastic fan.

This is a GREAT mod, takes load off the engine, si quieter, and cools the engine so much better than stock!

ioTus

iTrader: (5)

I am re-using this fan for my turbo FB when i get it in. I see no reason why this wouldnt work perfectly, especially with the two speed switch!!!

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, 4 inches is too deep for the PS/AC Pulley I have installed. That's what the Black Magic is, and I had to sell that monster hurricane generator (2800CFM)

I ended up with 2 x 12" inch fans, that put out 1500CFM each, so it should be more than fine, and at least I have some clearance now.

Thanks for measuring guys.

wagondriver69

A friend of mine and I just stripped down a n '89 Probe LX, 4cyl. We got a couple extra fans off of it, so is this the year of Ford Probe you guys think would work? Theyre no at big as the ones of the 3.0 Taurus' and such, would it just be best to find one of those?

ioTus

iTrader: (5)

If it fits, its big enough ;-)

REally, its just a judgement call. If you can fit it in, then its good enough! I got one that i thought looked good as well as was low profile and fit in propperly.

justrx8

now that we now what fan to get we need to how to get connected so it comes on when it hot and off when it cold

Tom

Would a an electric fan relay with thermostat work? Need somwhere to stick the Thermostat though..
This site has an example of a type of relay, but the thermostat on/off is not correct.

Tom

Sorry- forgot the site

http://www.painlessperformance.com/relays.htm

Anyway- this would be the general idea.
What does Ford use to power on/off the fans?

85RX7GS

iTrader: (1)

What I've noticed about the Ford fans is that they all have an identification sticker on the shroud. Mine says "BL". I remember looking at another smaller Ford fan with the code "AB" (I think) that may come close to fitting the smaller radiator. The "BL" fits perfectly, as if it were designed for the taller RX-7 radiator. It's also a two-speed fan.

I have a Flex-a-lite adjustable thermostat wired into the fan circuit so that if comes on as needed. I would be happy to post a picture of the entire setup, but I don't have access to a digital camera.

rotary emotions

I have a junkyard fan, controlled by thermo swith. The thermo-switch is simply installed in the waterpump thermostat housing. As in some older 13B's I believe. Works perfect. You can make it work constantly (no switch) but that will delay the warm-up. It's not a good idea, unless you live in a VERY hot area. Wiring up a system like this isn't to hard, so I don't see why you shouldn't use a thermo-switch.
For those feeling their junkyard fan should be big, but it doesn't fit behind the radiator, ever considered putting it in front? Several designs are available that can have the fan mounted both sides, push or pull air. Now, DON'T use a fan that has to go behind the rad, in front of it, of course. But you could switch polarity, and some allow the blades to be turned the otherway around. Plenty of possibilties!

Tom

I think Ford 2 speed fans are designed to run the 2nd speed hooked up to the High Pressure switch for A/C.. Extra air CFM under load/high temp. I asked a buddy who runs circle track and most of those guys run VW fans (apparently good cfm fans..They use a two wire sensor located at bottom radiator).

Metallic_rock

Here's my thoughts on the electric thermostat- they break. If you have a switch, and you know it's on, then you're good to go, or if you just have it wired in so that it comes on the second you start your car, then you're good too.

It's just one less thing you have to worry about breaking- lowers total cost, too.

Tom

I guess it's all a matter of preference. I kinda like the idea of having a 2 speed fan switching on/off at optimum temps. As far as things to go wrong, Murphy works against all things mechanical. Stock fan clutches go bad, belts break etc, etc...

rotary emotions

I must strongly disagree. ANYTHING can break. But that doesn't mean you can/should leave anything of.
First of all: having the fan on all time will cost you power, as the fan draws energy from the alternator, and therefor from the engine. An alternator under load eats a bit of power, just like a stock clutch type fan. So replacing the original fan with another crappy design is REAL stupid. Second: the warming up period is the hardest of all on your engine. By cooling cold water, you will obviously make this period longer, therefor making your engine last less long. Third: to obtain maximum power your car has to have the correct temperature, not too less, not too much. By NOT controling the fan, you're making the design WORSE then what Mazda built in the first place.
If you leave the thermoswitch out because it could break you can leave the thermostat out aswell. The result however would be higher fuel consumption, less power and an engine that will last less long.
Talking about a bad way to go...

Metallic_rock

I can see the problems if you took the stock thermostat out, because that is what actually causes coolant to be sent through the radiator, but I absolutely CAN NOT see your point about the electric fan staying on all the time being bad. The stock fan spins 100% of the time, just not quite as fast as the engine when the clutch is not engaged. My stock fan, once the engine is warm, stays engaged all the time. The stock thermostat starts sending coolant through the radiator at 180 degrees which is optimum temperature. There is a very minute amount being sent through the radiator at all times, however. By design, the thermostat will keep your engine at the proper temp whether you have the fan on all the time or not. Having an electric thermostat is just a redundant system that could fail, which would not allow any cooling air to go through the radiator at all. We all know the consequenses of that.

Having a switch inside to turn on the faster mode when you feel it's necessary (during hot weather, once your engine is fully warmed up) should be more than enough.

rotary emotions

A fan that is on all the time eats power, it's not that difficult to see, is it?
If you are so scared of the thermo-switch failing, why don't you bypass it with a switch inside, so if it fails you can turn it on by that one? Not that you'll need that one very often, but it might make you feel comfortable.

Metallic_rock

That's what I said at the bottom of my very last post.

I think we're on the same page, just looking at it from different directions.

ioTus

iTrader: (5)

A fan that is on all the time eats no more power than playing your radio would....

rotary emotions

I would doubt that, ioTus. What you do with the stock fan is replacing it because it eats power, right? Most of the time because of the fact that the clutch went bad and now is stuck. By replacing it with an E-fan, but having that on all the time, what would be your gain?
It's like driving with the lights on all day, it will influence your power and fuelconsumption too. Of course you wont loose tons of hp, but it does have influence.

FD Racer

I think it would be best to have both, a thermostat switch to turn the fan on, AND a regular switch.... preferably on a separate relay and power/fuse source to turn it on as well. You could even have one turn on the low speed and the other the second/third speed.
Having a system like this may be redundant, but redundancy systems are used most places where failure is not an option...take Helicopters for example. But since it's hard to compare a 1st gen to a helicopter, it really comes down to time, money, and preference.

FD Racer

A fan eats a lot more power than a radio. When have you ever seen an engine idle drop or surge from using the radio? Having the fan come on? Yes.