Keep direct drive fan, or not?

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hobbes

hobbes

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i have a 1975 2F with no oil cooler. Getting it back on the road. The direct drive radiator fan is cracked/brittle, and I could use a new water pump and thermostat. I live in a hot environment. Dreams include power steering and, some day, even a/c (pipe dream). Have a new OEM radiator I'd rather not lose to the old fan so I need to do something soon. (Complicating matters, I'm not suite how much life the 2F has left as a cylinder was locked. Runs fine with good compression now. So parts I could move to a newer 2F should the need arise win extra points.)

So do I keep the direct drive or move to the vc water pump and fan? Does the direct drive cool better? Or is the viscous coupler fan setup just as good? I believe the vc fan is quieter. If I go vc, do I need a new fan shroud. Or is the old 1974 shroud I have good enough? No ability to fab right now.

Also, if I'm replacing the thermostat housing, can I just go to the 4 bolt one and new upper hose? Any reason not to? Sounds like they seal easier. Mine's fairly pitted internally.

Water Pump ANSWERS (Sticky or FAQ?)
4 blade Radiator fan upgrade HELP! : )
Length of water pump AND clutch?

Thermostat Housings

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I'd do to a fan clutch myself if it's possible, which I am sure it is.

My only cruiser without a fan clutch is my 64 fj45.....it does certainly cool well....maybe to well.
 
I switched over to electric with a kill switch inside. That way when I do deep water I can shut off the fan. I also like it off during start up in Winter, gets me heat faster.
 
Switch to the VC setup.

I would not go straight electric..
 
Let me see if I can get a parts list together and bounce it off you guys.

Anyone know the answer off the top of their head if I can put a new thermostat housing on an older 2F?
 
Direct drive all the way.

BTW, you probably know this, but that's a 74 Kali-spec air cleaner.
 
Definitely not going electric fan. More looking for "the best remaining OEM cooling system recipe for a 2F going from the water pump to the fan, to include the thermostat and housing". Think we are down to a couple water pumps and three or so fan options.

So direct drive for better cooling, Mark?

No, I didn't know I had a Kali air cleaner. Makes sense, I bought the 40 in Yuma back in the mid 90s. Based on everything else, I'm guessing that means it's the least desirable of my options. It keeps with the reoccurring theme...:doh:
 
I've never had cooling issues with a 2F and either the direct drive or a VC fan in Las Vegas. I'd bet the direct drive only cools better when the VC has failed..
 
If at full lock the vc and direct cool the same, I'd think I'd be better off with that. But that assumes it all fits on my setup. I've only got a couple bananas to work with.
 
You get what you pay for . Clutch drive parts are all over the net for cheap . Direct drive not so much so.

I can set you up with a system, but I don't sell direct drive pulleys and spacers by themselves any more.

Best

Mark
 
I'm hopping in on this thread. I asked this question a different way a week ago and didn't this good of a responce.

I have a 1982 FJ43 with a direct drive fan and was planning to change over to a vc fan set up. Thinking that this was far better than direct drive? Why would Toyota make the change if it wasn't a better system. Is a vc fan quieter?

Then Mark you say to stay with direct drive? Why?




devo
 
I don't think a vc can cool any better than direct drive. A vc probably allows slightly faster warmup so less emissions, slightly better fuel mileage, and quieter operation when not locked. But all that might, or might not, be worth the effort. I know new OEM parts are disappearing, if not already gone, on some things like the pulley. In my case, I need a new fan and probably water pump. So the question is do I do it now, or just stick with what I have. I'm on the fence. Just replacing the plastic fan would be much cheaper. But I hate to do that, then lose the water pump....
 
My '78 40 has had another 2F swapped in by a PO and apparently the truck it came from was a direct drive year. I have often wondered what I would gain by going to the VC fan setup and if it were worth it. The direct drive fan does it's job just fine so I have been hesitant to fiddle with it. It's pretty low on my list of priorities, but if somebody could legitimately sell me on the benefits of VC I might be willing to switch.
 
@Racer65 was nice enough to put together and post some research on the thermostat housings. The 4 bolt lowers are unobtainium. As is the desirable 1979-80 setup (good for power steering). A shame since the 4 bolts appear to seal better.

For part numbers see the top of this thread: Thermostat Housings

Trupar.com lists has having the 79 part numbers for Toyota forklifts, but I'm guessing a call to them will prove they don't.
 
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hobbes said:
I don't think a vc can cool any better than direct drive. A vc probably allows slightly faster warmup so less emissions, slightly better fuel mileage, and quieter operation when not locked. But all that might, or might not, be worth the effort. I know new OEM parts are disappearing, if not already gone, on some things like the pulley. In my case, I need a new fan and probably water pump. So the question is do I do it now, or just stick with what I have. I'm on the fence. Just replacing the plastic fan would be much cheaper. But I hate to do that, then lose the water pump....
Click to expand...

As long as the fan blades are essentially the same, it can't cool any better. And everything else you quoted is correct. VC has it's benefits, but they are minimal. Personally, I would leave it stock. if you are concerned that the water pump is gonna fail, then replace the pump (or just buy another one to keep on hand while you can). It's fairly easy to replace a water pump..

Keep what you got and be happy.

roadstr6 said:
My '78 40 has had another 2F swapped in by a PO and apparently the truck it came from was a direct drive year. I have often wondered what I would gain by going to the VC fan setup and if it were worth it. The direct drive fan does it's job just fine so I have been hesitant to fiddle with it. It's pretty low on my list of priorities, but if somebody could legitimately sell me on the benefits of VC I might be willing to switch.
Click to expand...

Low on the list of "must do's" is a good place. You are looking at a solution to a negligible problem.


BTW, I HAVE killed some fan blades through deep water. My stock 79 40 blades went buhbye on the con in 2000 crossing the springs into camp. I installed this in the radiator to keep it safe.
new_20rad_20grd_20cut_1024x1024.jpeg

12-13010 Radiator Guard, black for Early Bronco
 
This is all very interesting. I really expected the conversation to swing towards a vc set up.
General consensus is to leave leave well enough alone. I have the parts to swap over but now I'll leave it be.

The thing about my 43 is that it has only a single belt crank pulley. If I wanted to add PS I would have to change the crank pulley anyway.

On the 40's you guys are describing, do you have harmonic balancers on your crank? Mine does not.
Is it worth changing to a HB crank pulley or leave that alone also?


devo
 
I ran into a clearance issue when I went to the VC fan, I am now going back to the direct drive when I am done with my rebuild. There was only about 1/2 inch of space between my radiator and fan when everything was in place.


but then again maybe I just used the wrong combo of parts,:meh:
 
devo said:
This is all very interesting. I really expected the conversation to swing towards a vc set up.
General consensus is to leave leave well enough alone. I have the parts to swap over but now I'll leave it be.

The thing about my 43 is that it has only a single belt crank pulley. If I wanted to add PS I would have to change the crank pulley anyway.

On the 40's you guys are describing, do you have harmonic balancers on your crank? Mine does not.
Is it worth changing to a HB crank pulley or leave that alone also?


devo
Click to expand...

Bob

I think you are mistaken. All the HBs from '63 on have had a balancer with the pulley. World-market single groove HBs are common. Even our Kanuck brethren got 2Fs with them.

You should acquire a dual groove HB. I happen to know a shop that has some, along with the NLA locktabs.;)
 
Yeah, after pricing things out and looking at what's available it's probably easiest to stay with what I have and just replace the fan with another six bladed fan. If the pump goes, so be it.
 
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