Electric Engine Fan on FJ60?

Anyone have any experience with electric engine/radiator fans on FJ60/62's?

Interested in what kind can be used?
How well it works?
If installation went as per kit or required modifications?
If the fan assembly covered the entire radiator or part?

Reason I asked: Interested in electric fan for a variety of reasons (HP/engine loss with OEM, open up space...). Realize OEM is good to go, but I like to try new things. Bought a Flex-a-lite Black Magic fan (part #165) as a replacement following my wreck (OEM fan was in shreads). The Black Magic fan shroud does not cover the entire radiator (about 3" gap on both sides) and will not mount up with the standard mounting kit (requires minor modifications).

Would like some opinions prior to modifying to mount.

Thanks, Gordo

BTW, I realize the OEM fan only draws power when it engages, and works great, but I think it adds up to a considerable amount of engine loss to run the fan. I can feel when mine turns on... I normally need to press the accellerator more to maintain speed when it kicks on. This at a time when the engine is normally stuggling to begin with (up hills, chugging through sand...).

Two things to keep in mind, though...
1- You're really not saving a lot of power, 'cause the alternator will increase output to compensate fort the drain in the battery, dragging hp off, though I don't know if one loss (mech. fan vs alt drag) is greater than the other.

2- I f going electric, the stuff is the Taurus twin setup, way more capacity than the Black Magic and cheaper.

I played with this same set up for about 4 months. I purchased it from man-a-fre who said it would bolt right up to my 60 (wrong) and then they said they wouldn't take it back because it was electrical. Ok enough about that crap :-X. I used mine with a Man-a-Fre aluiminum radiator (the last thing I will purchase from them) I had to modify the the radiator by drilling holes to match the mounting brackets ( I was orginally going to modify the fan but this was the best way for me). I used longer bolts purchased at pepboys. The mounting wasn't bad. I put in a new waterpump at the same time, along with thermostat and temp sensor. The fan doesn't cover the entire radiator I tried a couple of different placements suggested by my local radiator specialist. I always had inconsistant results-never overheated but never ran cooler than the sock set up. I'm in AZ and it does get hot and this unit just never stacked up to the orginal set up. I did meet some people running these with sucsess but all of them are in mini's I mean 40's one with a V8. I think most of the problems came from the size of the fan-just didn't cover enough realestate although everyone I talked to said it should work (Man-a-Fre). I ended up purchasing a new fan clutch and fan along with stock in TUMs antacids for the months of heartburn. Problem was solved instantly...ran like a top... I little louder and lost a couple of horses but rock solid. I just didn't trust the black magic setup. One of the biggest issue came when the engine got hot it wouldn't cool down just sat their I had the thremastat on the fan set to kick on right about the time the termastat on the cruiser opened. I played with this within 10 degrees using a laser temp senser. Just couldn't get it to dial in.
It is for sale if anyone wants to play with one.

O forgot to add I had to purchase a MeanGreen alternater to keep the yellow top charged to run that fan at full throtle I was able to check this with my buddies RPM gun for his model airplane.

Thanks folks,

Just the info I was looking for. Will see how Summit Racing is for returns and buy an new stock fan.

Gordo

Briwarde,
Don;t you just hate Man-A-Fudge. I was installing my motor back in the FJ-62 after a year and a half rebuild and I realize that the black magic fan that I bought from Man-A-Fudge didn;t cover the whole radiator, and the brackets they supplied needed modification to mount to the radiator. They claimed it was for an FJ-62 but it obviously wasn't. Those guys will say anything to make a buck! I have returned many things to them because I bitched their ear off. It sucks that I even have to deal with it, but I guess I should have checked it right after I bought it. I was thinking of measuring the radiator and buying an electric fan accordingly and make my own mounts. We'll see how it goes.
Andrew

Ditto on the MAF comments,

I have had great support from Spectre, Cool Cruisers, TPI4x4 and JT's (ranked in order of listing).

Gordo

Summit was cool on the return, minor drawback for shipping to return ($18). Back to OEM for me!

Howdy all,

I had same problem as Briwarde w/ Man-A-Fart alu. radiator a 6 years ago. Same responce too . Hate 'em.

All the other vendors mentioned in post above have been great.

I was just about to purchase a Perma-Cool 16" electric fan for my 62 - it will fit inside the stock shroud - but thinknig maybe not... Looks like it will fit on the front side of the AC radiator as a "pusher" for those slow climbs in the AZ heat! I'd sandwich a sheetmetal mesh grill between the fan and radiator just in case those blades flexed inward at all.

Any thoughts on this?

Hey there,

I'm interested in this Taurus fan you mentioned, but can not seem to find info on it. Is Taurus the manufacturer?

Thanks!

Rollin'in'Zona said:

Hey there,

I'm interested in this Taurus fan you mentioned, but can not seem to find info on it. Is Taurus the manufacturer?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

FORD Taurus

electric fan...

LandCruiserPhil said:

FORD Taurus

Click to expand...

Yeah, that's kinda what I figured after searching for "Taurus fans" via Google...

I'm assuming you have this setup?

Two questions:

1) Any suggestions on where / how would I get one?

2) How was the installation?

Thanks!

I think there is a good tech article on this site on installing the Ford Taurus fan.

I still think the mechanical fan would push more air AND it won't drain your battery.

Ive had really good luck with Flex-a-Lite.

I like electric engine fans.

On really hard core rigs you NEED one because you NEED to be able to turn your fan OFF then crossing water.



TB