cooling fan question

[aaronR]

anyone use a universal electric fan instead of a fan clutch.
the reason im wondering used fan clutch are like 30 dollars, and a universal electric fan is about the same price.

pics of your setup?
thanks

[jlevie]

You can replace the engine driven fan with an electric fan. To do that you need a fan rated for at least 1800cfm and you need to control the fan with a thermo switch that trips 2-3C above the thermostat rating. Since an 1800cfm fan will draw somewhere around 20A you'll also have to add a relay. Those parts (fan, thermo switch & relay) are readily available, but they'll cost roughly ten times what your used fan clutch will cost (~$300 total). Then there is the problem of coming up with a way to mount the fan. Through the radiator mounts are no good as they will in time wear holes in the radiator core.

[aaronR]

thx for the input. now that i think of it it would be way more economical in my position to just get a new clutch. plus i wouldn't want to screw around with fitting an electric fan into the shroud

[xLibelle]

I have removed the clutch fan and installed the lower temp switch and lower temp t-stat, thus currently relying on the stock aux fan and requirement that i avoid highway stop-and-go rush hour scenes in 100 degree heatwaves common in the south.

I Have not had any issues in 85 degree days of city traffic.

[jlevie]

I have removed the clutch fan and installed the lower temp switch and lower temp t-stat, thus currently relying on the stock aux fan and requirement that i avoid highway stop-and-go rush hour scenes in 100 degree heatwaves common in the south.

I Have not had any issues in 85 degree days of city traffic.

That arrangement will be fine if you don't have working A/C or don't ever use A/C. It will be at best marginal if you use A/C.

As an FYI, a lower temp thermostat won't make the engine run cooler. It only affects how soon the thermostat opens.

[Kingb]

I put in a cooler T stat and a aux fan from an A/C car but haven't hooked up the wiring yet. I will one day

[xLibelle]

As an FYI, a lower temp thermostat won't make the engine run cooler. It only affects how soon the thermostat opens.

Dont you mean that the lower temp thermostat wont make the radiator cool any better?
I know that lower temp Tstat is not a fix for anything... well, actually, i decided on it because my car has been constantly hot and always on the verge of overheat in the southern summer heat. Turned out that fresh coolant helped more than anything i think.

But yeah, the valve will open "sooner," at a lower temp. Thus allowing the radiator to do it's job "sooner" and that in turn lowers the engine's running temp.
I had the 80* with it always at the half mark and climbing up to 3/4 sitting in 100+ heat. Changed to 75* and its now at the 1/4 mark which i think is too low but then again, its hasn't been over 90* yet this year.

If i have this all wrong, please explain.