You guys have preferences for a doing an electric fan setup on a mav with a 302 (no a/c)? Ya know, price vs function, stay away from "that" but look for "that" sorta thing? Thanks!
Electric. Lot of guys are using the 95 and earlier Taurus fans, I'm using a condenser fan from a 95 Grand Marquis. Some Escorts, Tempo, Topaz, Contour/Mystique(these have wiring issues but the fans are good), can be made to work as well. The Taurus is a good choice because there is a lot of support here for it as well as the fact that the motor is still available separately if needed.
Thanks guys! I was just gonna buy new... maybe I'll give a junkyard or two a call. Taurus' are everywhere
i run flex a lite electrics on pretty much everything here at the shop, and they work great. lots of different fits, not too pricey, and they move plenty of air. just installed one of the twin s types on a mean big block 74 ranchero. runs exactly where its supposed to all day long.
Most of the aftermarket fan controllers won't handle the current draw of the Taurus high speed setting. The hi speed should only be switched on as the low speed is switched off. A Voivo fan controller is a good choice. Several threads on here with good into.
Jsarnold, was curious, has anyone tried using separate relays for the controllers? I have a single speed fan with a manual override and temp sw for normal operation but I was considering a control unit instead. AppMaverick, You could run the low speed for all normal operations and the high speed on a manual switch override (with relays of course) so you wouldn't have to purchase a controller. The relays can be wired such that when one relay is energized, it breaks the circuit for the other. 93-96 Probes were wired this way using only 2 relays and I have installed several electric fans in Fox bodied Mustangs using a similar diagram for Hi-Lo operation using a temp sw and ac demand to operate the Lo relay.
Thanks for the help guys! Finally found some good threads on this and it looks like it can be a pretty involved upgrade with lots of options. I was kinda hoping for a fairly reasonable "drop-in n go" sorta thing, but I might just go mechanical flex fan to get the car on the road and then spend some real time on this upgrade later on (when I can drive haha). Jsarnold, I like the concept of the manual switch. I would probably want to do it so that it operated on its own with a controller but have the switch as an "override" sorta thing if I wanted it. I like fiddling, but there's only so many things I wanna have to fidgit with while driving.. Haha now that I think about it I probably like fiddling cuz that was the way to keep my previous cars running. Maybe that will change one day
Injectedmav, I'm not sure what you're asking. If you're keeping your single speed fan, what's wrong with your existing setup? I'm about to add another relay to get 2-speed operation. I bought an aftermarket single-speed controller before I learned about using the Volvo 2-speed controller and the need to turn the Taurus high speed on as the low speed is being turned off. Intended to use only the high speed until I learned that wouldn't work for long. I like the aftermarket controller features for AC on and adjustable temp so I'm keeping it for low speed. But, in hot weather with AC on, the low speed isn't sufficient so gotta add a hi speed circuit. Have parts on the way to add a relay for the high speed. I'll use a 210* switch and a 70 amp relay to feed the aftermarket controller in the off position (low speed) and run the high speed in the on position. It that something like what you're thinking about?
As mentioned in another thread, I use the Taurus 2-speed fan wired so that if the ignition key is ON (engine running) the fan runs on high when the thermostat calls for it, low speed when the key is off.
My controller runs 40A continuous rating. My Liberty fan draws around 23 amps. Works great. I have an led indicator for on and a manual override since I dont trust electronics.
I currently use a single speed unit, but it uses a fairly standard 3 bolt pancake motor. I was considering using a 2 speed motor so I could have the benefit of the higher speed since the blade design on this fan moves a considerable amount of air and is relatively flat against the radiator. My setup provides for the temp sw and ac input operation of the one speed with just a manual override in the event of a switch failure. I wanted to add the high speed to the manual override in the event of over temp and add a trinary switch to the high side on the ac in the event of high pressure similar to newer car controls. Essentially I want to run the single sensor instead of having to find another reliable place to mount an additional sensor for the higher speed and I thought some of the controllers used a single sensor that was actually a thermistor instead of a switch that incorporated the ability to control your temp set points. I like having the manual override for the same reason as Darren and I also use an LED indicator that lights when it's on whether switched or automatic. I don't fully trust electronics. I see these things leave people stranded on a daily basis. My question on the controllers was if the current load is burning them up, would it be possible(since I haven't seen the diagram for one in person) to use the fan output circuits for relay inputs so that high current didn't need to go thru the controller or is it just a single output, ie: power and/or ground? If that's the case, that would be the deciding factor on whether or not to use one, instead of going to the trouble of making a wiring harness with relay blocks and circuit breakers and having to add the additional switch.
That's what I did. My fan draws 40+ amps on high speed, my controller is rated for, IIRC 20 amps. The controller now energizes an 80 amp relay that in turn powers the fan.
