Alternative to the Taurus fan

Hey - I've been figuring out my electric fan setup and searching the web for options ( i know about the write up for the VOLVO controller but I am still considering other options).

What I have found is that the mid '90s VOLVO fan uses the same motor as the 3.8L taurus fan. I am pretty sure this is the case for all models in this period but don't take it for fact . The cool part is that the VOLVO fan and motor assembly bolts to the VOLVO shroud with mounting points along the perimeter of the fan ... Sooo, for those that might want to, can make there own custom schroud or whatever and bolt this fan right up for a clean installation. I point this out, because, it appears that the taurus motor is kind of integrated with the shroud and to install in another shroud you need to cut out part of the shroud and use that to mount. Hopefully someone can confirm this as I have not put my hands on a Taurus fan assembly and can't tell from the pictures I've seen.

Also I assume ( but don't know yet) if you get the complete harness for the VOLVO controller, or at least the harness section that connects to the fan, you'll have a clean factory connection from the controller to the fan ... if your going with the VOLVO controller.

I hope I haven't misinformed as I just discovered this last night and figured I'd share.

If anybody has gone this route please chime in to confirm, add to, or debunk what I have stated.

Here is one on ebay so you can see what I am talking about:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/130714385914?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Thanks,
Jamie

 

"I point this out, because, it appears that the taurus motor is kind of integrated with the shroud and to install in another shroud you need to cut out part of the shroud and use that to mount."

there is no need to install it into another shroud...you use the Taurus fan shroud...
it bolts to where the stock fan shroud mounted...
that is a good idea for the custom shroud ...

 

My question is: what is the depth of that fan frm face to rear of motor housing. My Flex-a-Lite #118 is 3.187 deep, mounted on the face of my Champion rad w/ .187 flat stock supports, I had to mount offset to pass side of the water pump pulley to make it work. Otherwise, it was to close to the pulley bolts.

 

don't know the depth distance but maybe you can see the gap in this pic. you can get the A/C belt between the fan motor and pulley bolts...

 

I don't know how deep the VOLVO motor/fan assembly is. For the Taurus fan and shroud assembly, the writeups say to install it upside down for clearance. You can see from the pic Frank posted, the fan/motor is offset.

The whole point of the VOLVO fan option is having a cleaner install with easy mounting IF doing a custom shroud. You can offset the fan to whatever the best location is for your setup.

You get the same power as the taurus fan and a good price advantage over an aftermarket "universal" fan. I've seen (on the WWW) where a taurus fan was installed in a metal shroud but the guy had to chop MOST of the shroud off and leave some behind to mount the fan to the shroud which was a cool idea, but then I discovered this option which would be even better.

I'm also thinking if somebody reads this ... when they go junkyarding for a VOLVO controller ... they might just grab the fan that their staring at

 

I might try a VOLVO fan. I couldn't get the Taurus fan out in the junkyard. Couldn't fit my hands in between the motor and the fan with tools. And I have better sources for VOLVO parts than Taurus parts.

Thanks for the tip. It will be quite awhile before I get to it though. At least a month.

 

Taurus fan is 4-13/16" deep. After you cut the shroud flat to fit flat to radiator. The Taurus shroud covers about 98.7% of the radiator.

 

more of a trim than a cut...

 

At almost 5" deep that fan wud most definetly need to be offset. From the angle of Franks photo it's hard to tell how much offest is needed. I had made a shroud for my AM fan and it is nowhere near 4-13/16 deep; offset to the pass side of the car I still cud'nt get it to clear the wp pulley bolts. Maybe I will try it agn. I still have the shroud. I figure it totals 4". I did'nt take a pic w/the fan attached to the shroud. My original plan was to mount the fan on hard mounts and ditch the plastic screws that I originally mounted the fan. I got tired of havin to remove the rad, evertime I want to removed the fan. "Condenser blks access to plastic screws".
Anyway, Im sure adding a shroud to the fan wud improve effiency of setup. In mid 90+ temps I may see my gauge go to 230 when idling for long periods "train crossings and the like", w/ AC on. Im not really worried abt it, just don't like seeing the gauge there to long. I don't want to totally change the setup unless absolutely necessary.

Do u still have that setup w/ ur LS setup?

 

I use the Taurus fan, and I have about 3/4" between the fan and the pulley bolts. The fan is about 1" offset to the passenger side, but that is just because of the shroud bolts being where they are, after trimming to flatten it out and make it fit.

 

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Do u mean it's 1" offset to pass side of the wp pulley?
Question: When the fan comes on w/ ur windows rolled down can u feel the heat from the fan when the car is not in motion?

 

Yes, passenger side of the pulley, about 1" to the side of center. I haven't given any thought or felt any difference when the fan comes on. If I don't use the air, it doesn't come on that much. BTW, will you make it to the Roundup, or is the knee keeping you home?

 

The reason I asked abt feeling the heat! I can feel the heat vry well when my fan comes on w/ the windows and the car is motionless. That's in hot weather of course, just abt hot enough to have the ac on. If I roll the windows up I can't feel the heat. I suppose w/ the 2 spds on the Taraus fans if ur fan is in low mode it might not be noticeable. I wud assume on high it wud be. But then, on high in most cases, the windows are probably in the closed mode. With my single spd unit, when it comes on it's running high.

knee keeping you home: Yes. I relucantly canceled my reservations today.
I decided I am going to have the ortho surgery "outpatient". My leg has shown great improvment today but I want to get this done asap. I have been walkin arnd w/ this loose body movin arnd in my knee for decades. Time to get it out. Also, I figure if I had any car problems in this severe heat , not being able to walk vry well wud be unwise/liability.
Taking all that into consideration, I decided, hope for next year.
Thanks for asking.