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Electric vs mechanical cooling fan

Electric vs mechanical cooling fan
J

jbaker4341

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Location
Noblesville, Indiana
Vehicle(s)
1981 CJ7
I have a 1981 CJ7 with a V8 350. The fan is belt driven and located between the engine and radiator. I'm thinking of upgrading to an electric fan/aluminum radiator. I would relocate the fan to the front of the radiator to help keep the motor cooler while at slow speeds or sitting in traffic. Has anyone converted to electric fans and how did it work for you?
 
Are you having heating issues now?
Ele fans are noisy, and you may well have to go to a higher amp altenator.
I would keep the OEM setup and mount a pusher ele fan inside the grill.
I did this and handy to have in the Mojave at times.

LG
 
Not really a problem overheating. Sitting still in the summer I’ll get up around 200. I like your idea of keeping the motor fan and adding an electric for back up. What kind of fan did you get and did you have to change alternators?
 
jbaker4341 said:
I have a 1981 CJ7 with a V8 350. The fan is belt driven and located between the engine and radiator. I'm thinking of upgrading to an electric fan/aluminum radiator. I would relocate the fan to the front of the radiator to help keep the motor cooler while at slow speeds or sitting in traffic. Has anyone converted to electric fans and how did it work for you?
Click to expand...

I did both...first the fan, then the Al radiator. The fan helped quite a bit, the radiator, not as much as I had hoped, particularly since it was oversize.

That said, I'm not running a shroud, which I've heard will make a big difference...have one on the way.

Used the factory fan(s) from a '99 Ford Contour (one assembly, two sets of blades)...fit like a glove...with a FlexALite controller.

Wired in hot all the time...should have wired to the key. It does draw down quite a bit, but I don't have high output Alternator yet...also on the way...need it for winch anyway.
 
A pusher fan is good idea put it on a switch and run it when you need it. I use a puller Spal 16" electric as my only fan, keeps things cool enough for me.
 
Have a thermostat on my ele. fan.
Comes on at 215* and is off at 200*.
Sure helps in cut'n down on vapor lock issues. ;)
I can also turn the fan on from the cab at any time.
LG
 
Mine comes on @ 185° an runs most of the time, however on a cooler day it will cycle. I too have an override switch on the dash.
 
RiverandSand said:
Mine comes on @ 185° an runs most of the time, however on a cooler day it will cycle. I too have an override switch on the dash.
Click to expand...

Is this a secondary fan?
What temp t'stat are you run'n?
185* is kinda low........:confused:
LG
 
Lumpy Grits said:
Is this a secondary fan?
What temp t'stat are you run'n?
185* is kinda low........:confused:
LG
Click to expand...

Primary fan, 180° t-stat. I have considered getting a better fan controller but I had this one laying around, and it had the same amperage rating for the Spal fan.
 
Your 180* t'stat is not full open till about 195*.
No reason you cant set it for 195-200*.
Your engine will like it better........
LG
 
Okay so I have a V8 350 TBI in my 81 CJ7 , currently has radiator w/shroud, mechanical fan running off motor. originally it had a 185 degree thermostat but the temperature gauge only read around 160-170. It's in the 60-70's outside temp currently. I bought a 195 degree thermostat and a new temp sensor. I took the jeep out tonight with outside temps in low 60's and all I can get is around 175-180 sitting and as soon as I get moving I'm around 165ish. Shouldn't the jeep run at 195 no matter what with the 195 degree thermostat?
 
Your temp sender and gauge, are not matched to each other.
LG
 
How do you know if a temp sensor and gauge is matched together? Not clear on what you mean by that. Shouldn’t the senor send a signal to any gauge as long as the sensor is working. Could it be the gauge isn’t working correctly? I put a new sensor in so I assume it’s good.
 
So after looking at my set up I realized my fan doesn’t have a clutch. It’s bolted directly to my water pump and runs non stop. Could that be causing the engine to run cool?
 
The kit I listed has all you need-Did you read any of the information? :confused:
It's a mechanical gauge...........;)
You can not mix gauge components, and expect any kind of accuracy.
LG
 
I was running a 355 TBI with a flex lite fan pulling and an aluminum radiator. Since it is primarily an off road rig I do not run a thermostat. Everything worked well. If it was a highway rig I would put the thermostat back in. Get a fan in the 3000 cfm or above range.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
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