If your considering doing an electric fan conversion, you should read the below thread and also George's OBS install to get ideas on how to go about it. Depending on your radiator, you may need one of these methods, or a modified method to get your fans to mount. In either case, these articles show what can be done. Many have said that electric fans cannot cool as well as the factory fan. Neither of these authors have as of yet encountered a situation they couldn't handle. If we do, or if you do a conversion and it doesn't work out, tell us about it!
The following thread has been cleaned up for inclusion in our tech library.
Electric Fans in an 83' F-250HD manual trans with no AC
Note: We lost the picture formatting when this was moved to the Tech Articles. Please click here for the main album which may make it easier to follow along.
I completed my electric fan conversion on the Moose Truck over the weekend. I used fans supplied by Darrin Tosh, and they were both out of mid 90's model Taurus sedans with 3.8L V-6's. They are 2 speed fans. My plan was to mount them up, and operate them in tandem in low speed mode, and then have a provision for high speed. It's necessary to run them both for if only one is running, it could draw air from the back side of the one that isn't. The Moose Truck is an 83, without Air Conditioning, so it has the more unusual extra wide, not so tall radiator. This puts me at a distinct advantage for this conversion, as the core is 16" high, which is the same diameter of the Taurus fans. Finally! An advantage to having this style rad! Let's get into the picture story.....
This shot shows the factory shroud and fan as it compares in size to the two Taurus fans. Note that in factory trim, the fan is already positioned to extend below the bottom of the radiator core by almost a full third.
In this shot, the fan is repositioned to more closely portray the way it actually sits in the shroud. Because of the 2" body lift, the fan is now way below the radiator, and there is a big gap at the top. Had I been having cooling issues, it would have been easy to see why. By this point, I'm pretty convinced that this is going to work out great.
Research on the Taurus fans suggested that they have a very hefty start up current, and draw upwards of 40 amps EACH. I knew the 70 amp factory alternator wouldn't be up to that, so I upgraded it to a Lestek 135 amp model. I redid the wiring at that time as well.
The Lestek barely fits. The hot wire on the back is closer to good grounds then I would like, but as long as the belt doesn't stretch, I should be good.
Looking down we see the amount of room with no fans at all.
Using the factory shroud as a guide, I then overlaid the electrics to see how they might fit. It looked like the best option was to trim them where they would meet in the center. By cutting them like a jigsaw puzzle, I could retain the mounting ears that were available.
A sawzall made quick work of the necessary trimming, and I removed a small corner from each unit. I cut a slot at the necessary spot so I could interlock them together. If I had taken my time, I could have used my milling machine to do the job perfectly, but it was hot, and time was short.
I grabbed some flat bar stock and came up with a couple of cross braces. I decided to weld these in the center and brace them at the end I planned to use as a support.
Knowing that I would be posting these pictures here, I felt it necessary to post an obligatory picture of the pair.
Here the completed assembly has been dropped in to test fit.
Better lighting.
This view shows how things look clearance wise.
The following thread has been cleaned up for inclusion in our tech library.
Electric Fans in an 83' F-250HD manual trans with no AC
Note: We lost the picture formatting when this was moved to the Tech Articles. Please click here for the main album which may make it easier to follow along.
I completed my electric fan conversion on the Moose Truck over the weekend. I used fans supplied by Darrin Tosh, and they were both out of mid 90's model Taurus sedans with 3.8L V-6's. They are 2 speed fans. My plan was to mount them up, and operate them in tandem in low speed mode, and then have a provision for high speed. It's necessary to run them both for if only one is running, it could draw air from the back side of the one that isn't. The Moose Truck is an 83, without Air Conditioning, so it has the more unusual extra wide, not so tall radiator. This puts me at a distinct advantage for this conversion, as the core is 16" high, which is the same diameter of the Taurus fans. Finally! An advantage to having this style rad! Let's get into the picture story.....
You must be registered for see images
This shot shows the factory shroud and fan as it compares in size to the two Taurus fans. Note that in factory trim, the fan is already positioned to extend below the bottom of the radiator core by almost a full third.
You must be registered for see images
In this shot, the fan is repositioned to more closely portray the way it actually sits in the shroud. Because of the 2" body lift, the fan is now way below the radiator, and there is a big gap at the top. Had I been having cooling issues, it would have been easy to see why. By this point, I'm pretty convinced that this is going to work out great.
You must be registered for see images
Research on the Taurus fans suggested that they have a very hefty start up current, and draw upwards of 40 amps EACH. I knew the 70 amp factory alternator wouldn't be up to that, so I upgraded it to a Lestek 135 amp model. I redid the wiring at that time as well.
You must be registered for see images
The Lestek barely fits. The hot wire on the back is closer to good grounds then I would like, but as long as the belt doesn't stretch, I should be good.
You must be registered for see images
Looking down we see the amount of room with no fans at all.
You must be registered for see images
Using the factory shroud as a guide, I then overlaid the electrics to see how they might fit. It looked like the best option was to trim them where they would meet in the center. By cutting them like a jigsaw puzzle, I could retain the mounting ears that were available.
You must be registered for see images
A sawzall made quick work of the necessary trimming, and I removed a small corner from each unit. I cut a slot at the necessary spot so I could interlock them together. If I had taken my time, I could have used my milling machine to do the job perfectly, but it was hot, and time was short.
You must be registered for see images
I grabbed some flat bar stock and came up with a couple of cross braces. I decided to weld these in the center and brace them at the end I planned to use as a support.
You must be registered for see images
Knowing that I would be posting these pictures here, I felt it necessary to post an obligatory picture of the pair.
You must be registered for see images
Here the completed assembly has been dropped in to test fit.
You must be registered for see images
Better lighting.
You must be registered for see images
This view shows how things look clearance wise.
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