Thermo fan for VK

[craigvk]

Saw this auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....m=190031567658

Has anyone installed this or a similar setup in their VK? I am interested in these but not sure if it's worth it.

I am guessing the way it would be hooked up is you run the smaller fans wiring to the existing air con wiring so when the air con is on, that fan will switch on and off when the compressor does?
With the larger one I assume that it would be connected to a thermostat switch on the manifold or whatever and would switch on the fan when the temperature is reached? What rated temperature switch would you need?

Thanks.

[craigvk]

And what would you do with the old fan? Just remove it and let the pulley run without the fan?

[bradcad]

I ran a similar davis craig setup on the VL with 2 10" fans (from memory)

they were powered through a 30 amp relay each, and switched on via a davis craig variable thermostat, available at Supercheap I believe. The idea was to set the temp so the fans only stayed on for a short time (say 20 seconds) and cut out, therefore not draining the electrical system.

[bradcad]

yes to the second

[bradcad]

thinking about it a mate had an XY stroker with 2 fans off an el with a similar variable switch setup

[Goon]

Theres more VT twins on ebay mate, keep looking ive seen a set for 165 new or 185 new even 154 at one stage.

[craigvk]

Thanks Goon. I was just using that link as an example, not buying anything yet.

[Wrayza]

One warning:
You will need to trim the 4 bolts that previously attached the clutch fan to the water pump, to avoid them threading to far and locking the water pump.

And as for a thermostat switch, I really back the kit that jaycar sells for thermofans. If your confident with a soldering iron its the go. Shits on all the others for functionality and price ($35).

You can set the engage temperature and also how many degrees the temperature has to fall below that point for it to disengage.

[craigvk]

Which kit are you referring to? This one?:
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView...Max=&SUBCATID=

Yes Jaycar have some pretty good SC kits listed.

[Dan355]

One warning:
You will need to trim the 4 bolts that previously attached the clutch fan to the water pump, to avoid them threading to far and locking the water pump.

I had no trouble with mine.............must of been pretty close.

[atrail308]

when i fitted a thermo on my old VH, i used fan/pulley bolts off an old red motor with the mechanical fan, not the clutch fan, they're a different length...

[craigvk]

Or just get new dang bolts!

[Wrayza]

Slim: Yep, thats the kit, I must have got it a bit cheaper on the trade card.

Not sure why my bolts caused problems, but they did beleive me. I learnt one thing from it, my starter has enough torque to crank the engine over and smoke up the belts on the water pump!

[Dan355]

Slim: Yep, thats the kit, I must have got it a bit cheaper on the trade card.

Not sure why my bolts caused problems, but they did beleive me. I learnt one thing from it, my starter has enough torque to crank the engine over and smoke up the belts on the water pump!

Fark you serious? LMAO Sorry mate we've all done shit like that.

[craigvk]

Slim: Yep, thats the kit, I must have got it a bit cheaper on the trade card.

Not sure why my bolts caused problems, but they did beleive me. I learnt one thing from it, my starter has enough torque to crank the engine over and smoke up the belts on the water pump!

Thanks for telling me about the kit I've been making them since I was 16, so I look forward to checking it out. It looks like a pretty good kit. Thanks.

I will also remember about the bolts when I go about installing one. I hope to do it maybe after Christmas. Thanks mate.

[philbio]

Sorry to dig up an old thread but google and the forum search function have not turned up much.

I have a VK 202 Auto and want to fit a set of thermo fans, so far the possible candidates are:

1) VT Commodore Series Fans
2) Ford AU Series Fans
3) Ford EL Series Fans
3) Ford Mondeo Series Fans

Has anyone FITTED any of these fans with success?

Regards

Phil

[commsirac]

If its a vk, the radiator is a vertical pass one? The au and vt twin fans will be two wide for the radiator.....ie possibly will not fit, the mondeo ones are narrower.
Have to ask.......why are you going to the trouble?

[philbio]

If its a vk, the radiator is a vertical pass one? The au and vt twin fans will be two wide for the radiator.....ie possibly will not fit, the mondeo ones are narrower.
Have to ask.......why are you going to the trouble?

The radiator is horizontal cross flow not vertical.

Have you fitted any of these setups?

I am tired of the hairdryer sound of the fan, also it needs replacing, I already have the jaycar thermo controller.

[commsirac]

Have you fitted any of these setups?

I am tired of the hairdryer sound of the fan, also it needs replacing, I already have the jaycar thermo controller.

No, but ive fitted single au ford fans on to older holdens.
I take it your fan is a clutch drive, since it needs replacing?

[Cane_It]

have fitted Mondeo ones with success... its an easy fit up

[philbio]

have fitted Mondeo ones with success... its an easy fit up

Great, thanks for the info, did it matter what year the Mondeo was and what was the cooling performance like?

[Cane_It]

Great, thanks for the info, did it matter what year the Mondeo was and what was the cooling performance like?

was from a mondeo made sometime after 2000, will easily cool a 308, you just need to set the on - off temp switch correctly so that the fans come on about switch off about 5'c above your thermostat temp eg

run a 180'F thermostat (82'c)
have the switch trigger the fans on at 92'c and off at say 85'c

if you google "temperature switches" theres an excellent thread in the toyota forums about it all

use good quality heavy wire and a single 30A relay for each fan.
let the switch operate the fans by triggering the relays instead of acting on the power circuit 12V otherwise you may burn the switch out. ie run the relay earths to the temp switch.

there's also a handy clip on the top of the fan shroud which you should leave on as it clips over the radiator lip allowing the fans to hang, mount it up with some trans cooler plastic mounting straps.

AU is too wide in early commodores, and the EL-EF will fit with a little work.
I know of a VK stroker in Brisbane that runs well with the mondeos without drama and considering Qld's weather thats pretty good.

[Cane_It]

you'll find that engine temp is more stable with correctly set thermos....

[philbio]

AU is too wide in early commodores, and the EL-EF will fit with a little work.
I know of a VK stroker in Brisbane that runs well with the mondeos without drama and considering Qld's weather thats pretty good.

Fantastic news, I have the temperature control all sorted. I may take a crack at the EL-EF setup (side by side configuration) but I thought they were wider than the AU set (staggered/offset configuration)? Also being a 6 cyl the radiator has hose outlets on the opposite sides.

Edit: I got some dimensions from a wrecker over the phone and it does seem that the EL is 695mm wide which should just make it. The edge of the fans will overhang the radiator but it should still fit, the only issue I can see is that I will have to disconnect my trans cooler lines and go for a VT cooler on the front.

[Cane_It]

Fantastic news, I have the temperature control all sorted. I may take a crack at the EL-EF setup (side by side configuration) but I thought they were wider than the AU set (staggered/offset configuration)? Also being a 6 cyl the radiator has hose outlets on the opposite sides.

Edit: I got some dimensions from a wrecker over the phone and it does seem that the EL is 695mm wide which should just make it. The edge of the fans will overhang the radiator but it should still fit, the only issue I can see is that I will have to disconnect my trans cooler lines and go for a VT cooler on the front.

be careful and make sure you do your own measurements in the yard rather than forking out $$ and then getting it home to find that they're a bastard to fit, you also need to ensure that the shroud doesnt have any "air leaks" when fitted up to the radiator. you want them to pull cold air through the radiator, not hot air from in the engine bay through any gaps in the shroud,

also when you extrat them from the donor car, take as much of the wire to them as you can, it\ll help when you go to wire em up.

BTW where are you based?