Running Electric Fans -vs- Stock Clutch Fan. Yes or No?

[KingSpence]

To start things off, it's a 1984 BJ60 with a 3B-T non-intercooled running 10psi. SOA, 37''s, 4.88's. I've got the whole front end off the truck right now to replace my rusty rad support, and I've been debating running a pair of 12/10in. electric fans in place of the stock clutch fan. I will be keeping the factory shroud on the truck. I don't know if I will see any sort of power increase, it's not my main concern; I'm more just worried about efficiency. Each electric fan is 1400cfm each, so 1400cfm over total coverage right?

What do you all think?

Thanks
Spencer

 

[Elbert]

I would keep factory OEM fan and fan clutch setup. Dual fan setup from V-6 ford contour is an almost perfect match...at least to a 60 radiator if you are looking for options.

I don't' think you'll gain anything by going to the electric fans..except potential more issues. Factory cooling is near impossible to beat.

here is one of the threads dealing with this subject.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/292452-radiator-fans-wars-electric-vs-mechanical-both.html

For aftermarket electric fans I think SPAL brand is the best, other than that the Ford Lincoln Mark VIII fan rocks and so does the V-6 ford contour setup. I've been waiting for someone to run a new gm pickup model radiator 1/2 ton version and use the GM OEM dual fan setup.

Even all of that...I say stick with the Toyota OEM setup....think about this way....how long as it worked without issue and how hard is it to maintain etc?

 

[Wile E Coyote]

I don't see the factory shroud jiving with that fan setup. IMHO, You'll need to fab up a shroud that hugs those fans as well as covers all of the core, otherwise their efficiency goes down unacceptably.
Also, what's the output of the alt on your 3B?

 

[cruiserpilot]

Check the initial amp draw on the fans. Typically you can throw the factory shroud when you mount up the electric fans. Electric fans need to run after engine shutdown, so you want to think about that too.
I've never heard of issues with the OEM Toyota clutch fan, so I also am wondering why you'd want the extra cost and electrical upkeep issues. I'd say where you live, that clutch fan isn't working all that hard for several months of the year either.

 

[KingSpence]

It's got a new Toyota 55amp 12v alternator. I had the fans sitting around in the garage, and they fit nice, that's the only reason why. Also, the engine mounts are pretty soft on this truck, so if I ever drop the clutch aggressively or I accelerate from a stop aggressively the stock fan will strike the shroud.

 

[torfab]

I would stick with the fan clutch, mechanical is always better IMHO. If you lose your alternator you will run out of juice and overheat, but if you have a clutch fan you can keep running for a long time.

More reliable, especially since you have a diesel, you will never notice the power difference

 

[1911]

In my experience, fan clutches are more reliable than electric fans.

 

[KingSpence]

I would stick with the fan clutch, mechanical is always better IMHO. If you lose your alternator you will run out of juice and overheat, but if you have a clutch fan you can keep running for a long time.

More reliable, especially since you have a diesel, you will never notice the power difference

That's the deal breaker right there. Clutch fan is back on the truck.

That's a good looking front end on such a rusty old beat up Cruiser.

 

[wengejor]

just plain more reliability and better performance when driving under load in the desert with the stock setup.

 

[boots4]

An advantage to electric fans on a diesel is that the engine can warm up to operating temps sooner in the winter with less need to block off the radiator. In fact my e. fan hardly ever comes on during the winter. I've been happy with my fans so far, had some controller issues but that's another topic. Since the mechanical is working for you I'd be inclined to stick with that. Shrouding is important regardless of how it's powered.

 

[SNLC]

Just an FYI.....

Here is the Taurus fan on an FJ62 radiator. It fits very nice.

 

[Tapage]

Almost perfect fit my patrol friend ..

 

[elripster]

I have had bad luck with E-fans. The relays can fail, the fans can fail, etc... They take a lot of current at start up. A 55A alt will give up 7-10 amps just to run it and as much as 40 or more to start it.

If you want your stock fan to cycle less, one inexpensive way is to go to a 165 degree thermostat. The radiator will be cooler and the fan won't stay on as long when the t-stat opens.

 

[Elbert]

Are you running that on a sotck 60 with a 2F? How much room between the fan motor and the water pump pulley?

Wonder if the crown vic fan is about the same size?

how does it work in the summer with the a/c going?

Just an FYI.....

Here is the Taurus fan on an FJ62 radiator. It fits very nice.

 

[SNLC]

Are you running that on a sotck 60 with a 2F? How much room between the fan motor and the water pump pulley?

Wonder if the crown vic fan is about the same size?

how does it work in the summer with the a/c going?

I am not....I sold it to a local FJ60 buddy when I decided to keep my mechanical and fab a good shroud.

My FJ60 buddy modified it a little so the shroud covers the whole rad. He has it on a switch (I think) and it is a 2-speed fan. He has it in his 5.3 v8 FJ60 along with the FJ62 rad pictured. He has reported zero problems with it and it has been in his truck since about August last year. He had a black magic and didn't like it.

I bought the Tauras fan from Napa, iirc it was about $200 brand new as you see it in the picture.

So, sorry but I can say how it fits with the stock engine. However, my buddy has very little room in front of his engine which is one reason he went with the Tauras fan. It is very low profile.

 

[Elbert]

I am not....I sold it to a local FJ60 buddy when I decided to keep my mechanical and fab a good shroud.

My FJ60 buddy modified it a little so the shroud covers the whole rad. He has it on a switch (I think) and it is a 2-speed fan. He has it in his 5.3 v8 FJ60 along with the FJ62 rad pictured. He has reported zero problems with it and it has been in his truck since about August last year. He had a black magic and didn't like it.

I bought the Tauras fan from Napa, iirc it was about $200 brand new as you see it in the picture.

So, sorry but I can say how it fits with the stock engine. However, my buddy has very little room in front of his engine which is one reason he went with the Tauras fan. It is very low profile.

ok was just wondering on that question. I have a 5.7 and the stock GM radiator fan assembly just barely fits (at inital look I thought it would not work, but the fan clutch screws down on the water pump pulley a good distance.

Looks like a good fan setup... I like the "big dog" spal 16 inch hp fan but the electrical motor sticks out a good ways from the fan shroud...its an awesome performer. I had a setup like that initally on my 60 right after I did my engine swap, but I was having some other issues and decided to change...never really explored the capability, but I've used a dual spal 16 inch setup on a GM V-8 pickup...you could watch the temp needle drop as soon as the fans kicked on an ran for a min or twoo...really impressive. Heavy use of electrical power and quite noisy, but I think thats the nature of the beast with any of these cooling fans that really work well.

on these heavy 4wd trucks I think as I stated and some folks agree...the mechanical fan setup is best...no matter if toyota or a GM from a swap.

 

[elripster]

One benefit i did see was faster warm ups buit with an e fan malfunction blowing an hg on my 3.q0 4runneeto it wasnte worthi t.

 

[Daniel Calu]

i really dont see a oem fan being a big deal - super reliable using oem relays. seems like the big 3 wouldnt use them if there wasnt some benifit.

 

[lcwizard]

I only use electric on motors that don't have an option for mechanical. I just finished a Corvette LS1 conversion in a 40. The motor has
no provision for mechanical. I'm using a Ron Davis dual pass aluminum 28 x 19 with dual 14" spals. They draw 55~60 amps. between the two.
The 12s draw about 50 a pair but Ron Davis and Spal both agreed the 12s might be small for slow , tedious 4 wheeling in the Az summer.
The alternator on the vette is rated at 100 amps at idle. I doubt the 60 alternator would put out 35 at idle

 

[morganism]

I thought electric fans were better for water crossings, have a hard cut switch...?