I’ve combed the forum for info on e-fans for 1st Gen and most of the posts are over 10 years old. Most people recommend a ‘90’s Taurus or MR-2 fan and an upgrade to a 70 amp. alternator. Have any of you installed any used, more efficient e-fans?
Ive just replaced the stock 55amp alternator and voltage regulator and want to see if I can get away with a solution that doesn’t have me replacing the alternator again. FYI, I plan on installing a thermo switch and relay kit so it’s a trouble free installation. Any thoughts about what fan to install?

 

How To Properly Install An Electric Fan

 

What,if anything is wrong with your stock fan/clutch? If it is operating correctly,leave it in place,it's very well designed and works much better than a lot of electric fans.

Regarding your 55 amp alternator,it is barely able to cope with original electrical equipment on the car,an electric fan(s) are a big power consumer-especially on startup. You would need to install a larger amp alternator.

Take into account any other aftermarket accessories you have on car or are planning. An alternator of at least 70 amps and realistically closer to 90 amps would be a better choice for the upgrade that leaves a little reserve in electrical system. You would also need to upgrade the alternator output wire and fuse it and you'll need to run a dual sheave alternator pulley to run dual belts on alternator. A single drive belt will slip under the load of a higher output alternator,long term the slipping belt will cook the grease out of the drive bearing in the alternator,attempting to run belt tighter to avoid slippage will prematurely wear out front e shaft bearings.

 

Thanks for your thoughts. I need to replace the fan clutch because the bearing is shot. Since the fan clutch has been NLA for some time now, I’m not overly optimistic of finding a used one in good condition.

 

Place a want to buy in 1st gen classifieds,may get lucky and find someone selling what you need for your SA . Another route is to convert to FB fan/clutch/adapter. Any 81-85 will work,clutch still available new. N249-15-210B is part # and best price currently is $226.53 at mazdabestpartsonline.com. About 33% off list price. You could place a want to buy ad in classifieds for fan/clutch/adapter for 81-85 FB and bolt the complete assembly on and go. A proper electric fan conversion when all done would cost more than the fan clutch. The original Mazda fan/clutch is much simpler and it works.

 

This! All you read about are Efan issues.

There was a good thread from a while back that showed the various S1, S2, S3/-SE clutch fan hardware.

So the 84-85 will bolt up to my S2 1982 FB... I thought there was a spacer to consider? The water pump flange is all the same. My original fan clutch seems to stay engaged more than is necessary. It isn't locked and still passes the 'spin freely with cold engine' test, but basically roars like a jet engine just driving around town when it isn't event that hot. I can see at some point it was refilled and sealed with a philips screw. I tried a used one from Ebay and that didn't seem any better, it made other funny noises.

Local dealer price on that... up in Canada.. is $511. wow.

 

Good advice here, and the damn Mazda Fan clutches won't get any cheaper. They'll just disappear
So, bit the bullet & I bought the suggested one here:
N249-15-210B is part # and best price currently is $226.53 at mazdabestpartsonline.com.

thanks for info SEforme!
Stu A
80GS (original fan clutch !)
AZ

 

I have covered my bases and put an ad in the wanted to buy section. I did see the posting about comparing the different types of fans through the years but the photos are no longer available. Using an FB fan clutch on an SA intrigues me. Has anyone done this? What is the adapter I’m looking for? Or, is it just a matter of getting an FB pulley?

 

Any ideas about making this fit on an SA?
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...an+clutch,6812

 

Basically Mazda did it, same water pump, same pulley, different adaptor and different fan clutch. the fan changes, but i think stays the same diameter all the way to the end of the FC (380mm off the top).

the fan adaptor is pretty simple, someone should make on that lets you use an easily available fan clutch, the BMW ones come to mind, Mazda stopped using mechanical fans in the 90's but BMW used them up to like now.

for an E fan i'm looking at the 2001 Mustang fan, its RF-166, same size radiator core as the FC and it bolts on the side like these cars do, most newer stuff uses the top and bottom. RF-166 is $130 new also

 

Thats a good idea. The BMW fans look like they thread onto a male threaded post. Would need an adapter that went from 4 bolt flange to that thread.

The Mazda OEM price (for me in $CAD) is pretty crazy. I know we are lucky to have most parts pretty inexpensive for these cars... but $500 CAD for the fan clutch is 1/7 of what my entire car cost. 15% haha.

I haven't seen any feedback on the forum about the GMB part... but for $60 it is almost just worth trying.

 

Not trying to spend your money but certain the Mazda part will work more accurately controlling fan function/engine temperature with less noise than aftermarket one. For your SA,you need to get FB fan/clutch/adapter. It will all bolt to your water pump pulley.

 

It won't fit. It is (I have been told by a rotary expert/mechanic) mis-labeled. It is for an FC RX7 (maybe).
I bought this from Rockauto to use in my SA. Mount head is too long (so fan sticks out too much), but worse, none of the mount points match up!!
WRONG PART.

Stu A
80GS
AZ

 

it does look like the FC part. 4 holes to hold the fan clutch to the pulley, and 4 more to hold the pulley to the water pump

 

dumb question but do you even need a new fan?

 

Yes, the bearing is shot and this clutch cannot be taken apart for servicing.

 

Stu, I see you used the part from MazdaBestPartsOnline.com. N249-15-210B It appears to be for a 1984 car. What did you have to do to get it fit?

Neil
79GS

 

When swapping a carbed 13B into a 12A engine bay.... what needs to be changed to keep the fan the correct distance from radiator? Is it just the adapter piece or is the clutch itself a different dimension? I know the clutches are different part # but the GSL-SE clutch is NLA. Carbed 12A and EFI 13B have different radiator cap and fan clutches. I assume the EFI likes it a little warmer, so as long as I use a carbed 12A cap and fan clutch I think I'll be okay. But how to make it fit?

 

Just swap all your 12A stuff over. I'm using a 12A fan clutch out of my stash on my SE,dimensionally the same and calibration is very close to original 13B part. Works nearly identical to original part before it failed. I've installed 12A fan clutches on a handful of SE engines over period of many years with no issues.

 

Thanks GSLSEforme. But since the motor is 20mm longer, will it put the fan too close to the radiator? Do I need a shorter spacer/adapter between the fan and water pump pulley?

 

If you're using stock radiator and shroud it'll be ok.

 

i want to say that the GSL-SE spacer is shorter, but its been a long time, and the 13B does fit with the 12A stuff. instead of the fan being halfway in the shroud, its all the way in

 

GSL-SE, thank you. I'll see how it fits up and if I have to I'll get a different spacer. I've been rebuilding suspension and brakes for past 6 months (slowly - still working full time) and motor swap is next on the list.
TheEdge, sorry to steal your thread. I love this forum much more than any other car/cycle/shooting forums I belong to, because of the friendly info/tech sharing RX-7 guys have. Much better than the Subaru & WRX forum guys.

Thanks RX7club.com.

 

Working under car today and "POW" saw the answer I was looking for.

On 12A the fan is 20mm back from lip of shroud (bottom side). I used the pocket caliper and everything! Early 4-port 13B should put it right in there perfectly. Mazda, for the win!

*On top it's about 7mm sticking out of shroud..
** Edit- at closest point the 12A fan is about 55mm away from radiator (stock S3 cars). If 13B block with 12A cooling parts moves everything 20mm forward, it should all still clear by 30-35 mm.

Again, Mazda for the win.

 

Am told by my Mazda Mech that with an FB fan plate (goes btw w/pump pulley and fan assy) it will allow -210B clutch to bolt right in. I believe even the fan bolt holes of SA fan match right up to use, so you don't have to source an FB fan. BUT - also told FB fan is quieter, so may go with that.
All that said, new fan has not arrived to so actual install

Stu A
80GS
AZ