2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.
Sponsored by:

wondering about the electric fan conversion on my '91 TII

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-23-03, 10:37 PM
  #1  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
T2felix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: granbury texas
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Question wondering about the electric fan conversion on my '91 TII

hey guys, i was wondering if it is good or would be better to trade my belt driven fan for two electric ones mounted on the inside of the radiator. let me know what you guys think.......thanks
Old 05-23-03, 10:46 PM
  #2  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
T2felix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: granbury texas
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
hey guys, anyone knowledgable on this one???
Old 05-23-03, 10:48 PM
  #3  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
T2felix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: granbury texas
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
whistle while i wait, i whistle while i wait...
Old 05-23-03, 10:49 PM
  #4  
In Full Autist Cosplay

iTrader: (1)
 
Black13B's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Alberta
Posts: 2,330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
inside the rad?

zah?

definately ditch the clutchfan.. they stink once the miles start piling on the motor..

i got a SINGLE fan mounted outside the rad facing the pulleys, it mounted up nicely..

its from an 88 grand am (2.0L OHC 4cyl)

my car runs MUCH cooler than it did with the e-fan.. just make sure when you wire it up that its drawing air through the rad into the engine bay, not blowing it out the front of the car..
Old 05-23-03, 10:50 PM
  #5  
In Full Autist Cosplay

iTrader: (1)
 
Black13B's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Alberta
Posts: 2,330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
btw.. the forums dont move THAT quickly..

you should bump threads if there is no activity after a day, not after 10 mins man. just a thought..
Old 05-23-03, 10:51 PM
  #6  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
T2felix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: granbury texas
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
right, i want it to pull air instead of push air right. and does yours run manually with a switch or did you make it automaticly come on and off
Old 05-23-03, 10:56 PM
  #7  
In Full Autist Cosplay

iTrader: (1)
 
Black13B's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Alberta
Posts: 2,330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i COULD set mine up to a temperature sensor (as Amur_ has done)

but currently i have hardwired it to the battery leading to a switch under the dash, so.. i turn it on and off manually, and if i like, i can keep the fan running with the car off incase its a really hot day and i want to keep the airflow going through the engine bay..
Old 05-23-03, 10:59 PM
  #8  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
T2felix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: granbury texas
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
do you have a single or double fan set-up? and how do you like the electric as apposed to the e-fan as you put it. and i am sorry about the posting so much. dont mean to step on any toes.......again i apologize
Old 05-23-03, 11:05 PM
  #9  
In Full Autist Cosplay

iTrader: (1)
 
Black13B's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Alberta
Posts: 2,330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
haha its ok if you keep posting, just dont post after you just posted like "im waiting".. dont do that until the next day instead of 10 minutes later dude

e-fan = electric-fan

it had a clutch fan, but the e-fan is much better. i have a single fan (and might i add it doesnt even cover the entire rad.. it doesnt really need to.. it does the trick ) its singlehandedly the most beneficial mod i have done so far.. the car runs much cooler

my only complaint is that i leave it on most of the time, and my stupid *** stock alternator barely puts out enough amps to keep up with everything at night (markerlights, headlights, wipers, radio, and now electric fan)

but thats just for my situation

definately do the e-fan mod. you wont regret it.
Old 05-23-03, 11:23 PM
  #10  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
T2felix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: granbury texas
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
cool man, thanks for the advice
Old 05-23-03, 11:36 PM
  #11  
In Full Autist Cosplay

iTrader: (1)
 
Black13B's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Alberta
Posts: 2,330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
no prob man
Old 05-23-03, 11:37 PM
  #12  
In Full Autist Cosplay

iTrader: (1)
 
Black13B's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Alberta
Posts: 2,330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
btw - i have never seen anyone with a dual fan setup.. everyone i've spoken with has benefited greatly from a single e-fan setup..

so when you do yours, i wouldn't imagine that a second fan is required.
Old 05-23-03, 11:41 PM
  #13  
Rotary Enthusiast

 
Trav's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Kansas
Posts: 1,273
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
From what I've seen, 2 fans gets pretty expensive and is not as effective (not as much CFM) as a larger single. Assuming you're talking about 2 smaller duals...

just go w/ a decent 14"-16" single mounted as a puller.
Old 05-23-03, 11:49 PM
  #14  
In Full Autist Cosplay

iTrader: (1)
 
Black13B's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Alberta
Posts: 2,330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
if anyone goes hunting for a junkyard e-fan, keep in mind GM's 2.0 OHC e-fans..

the plastic tabs that pop in place on the gm body perfectly hug the rad if you turn the fan vertically..
Old 05-23-03, 11:59 PM
  #15  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
T2felix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: granbury texas
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i saw on a website somewhere where they bought a new radiator and mounted a dual fan setup on theirs. dont remember the size if the fans but it fir pretty well. but i will take you guys advice on the large single electric puller....thanks again for all the help
Old 05-24-03, 01:17 AM
  #16  
3rd gen junkie

 
FCdemon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: san diego
Posts: 604
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have a used black magic e-fan for sale.. $50 + shipping if anyone wants it, PM me
Old 05-24-03, 08:52 AM
  #17  
Rotary Freak

 
Fingers's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Posts: 2,788
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Buddy, DIBS DIBS DIBS! you got pm
Old 05-24-03, 10:59 AM
  #18  
In Full Autist Cosplay

iTrader: (1)
 
Black13B's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Alberta
Posts: 2,330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
DIBS DIBS DIBS
haha
Old 05-24-03, 11:07 AM
  #19  
Senior Member

 
ra ra rotory's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: "You take my car, I take your knee caps"
Posts: 724
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Im in the process of putting a ferio fan in my car..... i got it for 10 bucks at the yard with 2 extra motors. Im wiring it so that it it comes on when my key is turned on... I wouldent trust myself using a switch, i would be affraid to forget.
Old 05-24-03, 11:12 AM
  #20  
In Full Autist Cosplay

iTrader: (1)
 
Black13B's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Alberta
Posts: 2,330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
how are you going to wire it to the key?

ive seen someone who did that using a plug that has 12v going through it in the engine bay when the key comes on.. guess what! the harness he connected to it melted..

how are you gonna do it?

try getting a temperature switch and hardwire it to the battery..

that would mean whenever the temp of the coolant reaches (whatever you want) it will close the switch and turn on the fan.. and the fan will continue to run after the car is off until the coolant temp gets back down..
Old 05-24-03, 10:34 PM
  #21  
I'm a boost creep...

 
NZConvertible's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 15,608
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
It should be noted that the stock fan pulls more air than any electric fan. As long as the clutch is working OK, they'll always cool better and don't put any load on the already weak charging system.

If you do go electric, you should always fit a single fan. The radiator's ~17" high, so you can fit a single 16" fan. It's ~22" wide so you could fit two 10" fans. However a 16" fan pulls quite a bit more air than two 10" ones and covers more of the radiator's surface too.

As for wiring it, the only way to do it is to wire it directly from the battery via a fuse and relay, with the relay operated by an adjustable temp switch. Don't wire it direct to the ignition (the wiring is not rated for that), don't wire it to run all the time (totally pointless) and don't use a manual switch (one day you will forget). Do it the right way and you shouldn't have any problems.

Note that S4 owners should consider upgrading to the higher-current S5 alternator, and make sure the battery's in good shape. Electric fans draw a lot of current.

Last edited by NZConvertible; 05-24-03 at 10:37 PM.
Old 05-24-03, 11:01 PM
  #22  
Dub'N

iTrader: (5)
 
nitroracer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: san diego
Posts: 819
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
yes i did to wire it to a switch and over heated it lots.. dont trust ur self.after i saw i did something stupid to the car i wired it straight to the ignition with a fuse, so i didnt melt wires. now that the engine finaly went after all that im am almost done with the gtu-t. oh ya and i had the fiero fan. works great, 5 star for it.
Old 05-25-03, 02:54 AM
  #23  
I'm a boost creep...

 
NZConvertible's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 15,608
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Originally posted by nitroracer
i wired it straight to the ignition with a fuse, so i didnt melt wires.
That's still far from ideal. You're now running the fan all the time and puuting a huge strain on the charging system and battery. Most of the time the fan isn't even required, which is why mechanical fans have thermoclutches and electric fans should have thermoswitches. One of the main advantages of an electric fan is removing the parasitic drag of the clutch fan. But running an electric fan all the time means you're pulling power from the engine all the time, so it's worse than having the stock fan!

Also, electric fans should never be wired direct to the ignition, becuase they draw too much current. They should always be fed by the battery via a relay. You really should rewire your entire set-up.
Old 05-25-03, 09:02 AM
  #24  
Like Ghandi with a gun

 
Kenteth's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Rapid City, SD
Posts: 4,584
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have mine relayed to he ignition so as not to burn up any harnesses. Glad to jot up a diagram for you if you want. Total cost in parts is about $5.00. Thats to switch it to the ignition safely, otherwise theres good temp switches with sensors that go for about $30.00. Glad to help, let me know.
Old 05-26-03, 06:19 AM
  #25  
I'm a boost creep...

 
NZConvertible's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 15,608
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
I've seen photos of your wiring. It scared me...

Fans should always run through relays. Anything else is asking for trouble later. There are no circuits in the stock wiring that have the spare capacity to safely run the ~15A that a big fan draws.


Quick Reply: wondering about the electric fan conversion on my '91 TII



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:41 PM.