The new fan is coming right along. To my suprise, an electric fan from a Buick with a 3.8 FWD (about 1990) is almost a direct bolt in. I removed the stock fan and attacted the Buick fan and shroud right to the stock L shroud. The Buick comes stock with a two speed fan. I attached the slow speed wire, thru a relay, to a switched hot so the fan runs on low all the time. I plan to run the high speed setting any time the water temp gets too high or if the air conditioning is on. For what it's worth, I was suprised how clean the install came out (I am pickey of technical things)

The first thing I noticed is that the truck is far quieter. It appears to be faster but I have not done any testing yet. It is realy traction on a 30 MPH punch, even on clean concrete.

Does anyone know the stock thermostat setting. What temp does the water really run at if you have say a 180 deg stat? My guess is say 10 degrees over. I am thing You want to have the high speed fans turn on say 10 degrees over that normal temp. Any one have any experance at this?

I will take some photos when I get to work tomorrow.

 

Yes Please some pictures !

 

You might gain some insight on your water temp questions if you turn the decimal readout on. You could observe the ECT while driving and maybe know when flow starts/stops?

Dan

 

Andy,

I think you are in the right area when you say 10 degrees over the thermostat rating. Jim@JDM says his 170 runs 177. Here is a link to a test I did with the stock 180 and a Hypertech 160 stat. There was no pressure involved just a pot of water and a high temperature thermometer. It's at the bottom of the page.
http://home.midsouth.rr.com/lightningpage/stats.html

 

my sister's 89 le sabre is all done!!! She's contemplating buying a new car.....i'll be sure too talk her into it.

 

This fan is on lots of 3.8 FWD GM cars. I found three good ones in the GM FWD section of the junk yard. Take a 10mm socket with you along with wire cutters. Get as much of the stock wire harnice (about three feet) as you can.

Hope this helps

Andy

 

Nice find, Andy. And the install looks factory! I love it when smeone hits a homerun in the creativity department!

 

Sweeeet,

I like the way that looks. I have been contemplating this mod, but the funds were getting low. Maybe now I can swing this!!!

Thanks for sharing the find

 

Did you use the factory shroud or keep it in the shroud it came with. it is hard to tell on the engine photo.

Thanks

 

Both

The Gm shroud fits right inside the Ford shroud. I wish I had the camera at home when I mounted the two together. It was almost as though they were designed to do this

Andy

 

Looks good Andy

Can you take it all back apart and get some pics for us?

Mike

 

RoadRash

Get

2 30 amp relays
2 30 amp mini fuse holders
24 feet of #12 wire red
2 feet #12 wire black
12 1/4-20 nyloc huts/ 12 1/4" washers
1 fan with the wires
2 rolls of 1/2" wire wrap
I have the rest

And we can take pictures of YOUR truck

Andy

 

awhittle

I was at the junk yard this past weekend and saw about six of those fans, and was wondering if they would work, and it seems you have answered that question for me. The only other question I have is, since you have installed the electric fan does the temp gauge still read the same as before you changed fans?, and what type of thermostat if any did you use to regulate the fan.

Thanks for the information.

Larry.

I will be going back to the junk yard this weekend to pick up one of those fans.

 

I am running the the stock stat (180 that really runs about 190 I think). Right now I am running the fan on low speed all the time. I plan to run the fan on high speed if the air conditioning compressor is on. I have a digital infared thermometer at work but I have yet to do some testing. It has been around 45 degrees outside the last few days so the jurry is still out.

When you mount the fan it will be sideways with the white resistor up. You will have to trim one of the four wings back a little to get the GM shroud to sit straight in the Ford shroud. I used a big band saw to trim it but a sanding disk and about 30 seconds should do the trick. I used 5 1/4-20 bolts across the top and built a bracket to hold one of the lower corners.

Andy

 

awhittle

Thanks for the information, as far as wiring goes, I assume there are three wires, one for the ground, and one for low and high speed?

Larry.