PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA
Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: pintoguy76 on May 22, 2014, 11:48:05 PM
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I am wanting to put an electric fan in my pinto. It is a 74 with a 91 mustang DIS 2.3 and is thus wired for an electric fan already. Currently i am using a direct drive flex fan which i believe is costing me mileage and power. In my attempt to get the car built the way i want it, I have some serious re-working planned (a posi unit in the rear end, 3.40 gears, rear disc brakes, ranger master cylinder, air conditioning, T5 transmission etc etc etc.) I would like to make this car my "trip car". Something to take on long trips... who needs a new car for that!?
An electric fan is a part of this reworking. I would like to hear what others have used in their pintos and see pics if possible. I found many fans at the pick your part yard the other day but most seemed too big. I am interested in some of those cheap red colored fans on amazon/ebay but I am afraid the quality and longevity will be low. Id like to use a factory fan if possible, but fear I am going to be told to use a universal hayden fan of some sort.
What size and CFM should i look at if I do go that route? The engine is stock, although i did buy a header and adjustable timing pulley from someone the other day that I might install soon as well.
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Pretty much nothing you can buy aftermarket will last as long as a factory cooling fan. They pull a big chunk of power, you will need a high amp alternator to go along with it if you don't already have it. It would be nice to get one of the two speed ones, that way you know it will run at varied power levels and you can wire in a high and low speed.
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Get the highest CFM you can for the fan size you plan to use.
One of the variable-speed PWM fan controllers would be ideal for weak electrical systems, but they're not cheap. Lincoln Mark VIII fans move insane amounts of air, but draw something like 40A on full power and spike at least 80A on startup. :o Taurus fans aren't much better.
If you want a high quality aftermarket fan, SPAL is pretty much the leading brand. Flex-A-Lite electric fans are generally just okay and parts-store Haydens are mediocre.
Another option is a thermostatic clutch fan. Very little drag under cruise conditions, lots of airflow when needed, and no burden on the electrical system.
You might check out the electric pusher fans that come on a lot of Mercedes-Benz cars. They are low profile and powerful. It might even be possible to flip the blade and wire it in reverse to be a puller.
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I'm running an electric fan off the computer triggered relay box that are both part of the '88 Turbo coupe wiring harness I used. The fan itself is a generic aftermarket. I have a '73 with the 2.3 Turbo so space is rather limited. Thus the fan is a pusher - without a shroud. I made my own brackets. Desiring to retain the factory hood latch, the fan is offset to the drivers side. I upgraded from the 17" to the 20" radiator.
In use it works very well. Cool down time from the fan triggering to turning off is comparable to that of the Turbo Coupe. If I have an issue it is that the blades are exposed. Something I hope to correct... someday.
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That's probably what I'll have to do with my '72/2.3T. I'm even considering using an air/water intercooler to save space. :P