Better things to do with my time...

[Morton]

I just spent two hours removing four bolts.

I love V8 clutch fans.

Surely I have better things to do with my time.




Having said and done that, I have no intention of putting the bastard back on. I'm going out to buy an electric fan today, and just wanted some informed opinions on these questions:

I want to use a good quality, high-flow electric fan in place of the clutch fan
1a) An always-on electric fan. Will this burn out the fan motor over time?
1b) Are any particular brands of fan recommended for sturdy always-on use?

I'm going to mount the electric fan onto the radiator, as a puller
2a) Bolting a fan into the fins, as has been done with my pusher fan and trans cooler on the outside of the condenser. Anybody think it's a bad idea for any reason? Assume I'm not stupid enough to crack a water core during installation.
2b) I want to use a large slimline fan, and then slip the original clutch fan shroud over the top in its original position. Can anybody see obvious shortfalls with this plan? I have been awake for over 30hrs, and can therefore not see obvious shortfalls when they are in my face.

I am stupid
3) So is there anything I have missed? (Assume I will buy a polarity-reversable or dedicated puller fan)


Love you guys, hugs and kisses in advance for awesome answers.

[Emackulation]

All I can add is that you don't want the fan on all the time, its noisy and will kill it prematurely.

[stocky]

dont people normally go with the au twin fans?

[VrWagz1]

Can i suggest you check out Project VN AERO This guy has done it with vt twin thermos. I'v been wanting to do this mod for a while as the sound of the fan spoils the sound of the engine. Let us know how you go.

[Morton]

All I can add is that you don't want the fan on all the time, its noisy and will kill it prematurely.

Pfffft

dont people normally go with the au twin fans?

Yeah, but they're expensive, ugly, and require modification to fit.

Can i suggest you check out Project VN AERO This guy has done it with vt twin thermos. I'v been wanting to do this mod for a while as the sound of the fan spoils the sound of the engine. Let us know how you go.

Had a look at that, interesting stuff Thanks mate!


I ended up buying a 14" Davies Craig, which I'll mount in the standard shroud, and see how I go with it being always-on. It's got a 2-year unconditional warranty, so if it dies within that time, I can just get another. And if it doesn't die, then I've done well, and will continue.

Not fussed about noise etc - I have no sound deadening.

[greenfoam]

You dont want them allways on, they will suck more power than the clutch fan

[Emackulation]

You dont want them allways on, they will suck more power than the clutch fan

The master has spoken, do as instructed Mortonjew

[fazz1977]

They do chew a bit of juice while on. My thermo fan almost never comes on unless I'm sitting in traffic and/or it's stinking hot.

The twin AU or twin VT (epic win) sounds like the go. There should be a spot for a relay so you can have it switched when the temp gets to a certain level, or add your own sensor.

[Cobez]

Bolt an air conditioner to the front of your car, spray it silver, and people will think it's an intercooler It's sick bruz

[Morton]

Well, the 14" thermo is installed, and fits perfectly within the space provided by the factory shroud. Quick test wire, and damn it's powerful.

Conclusion: I'm going to wire it up to a switch in the console similar to the one I ran on the VP. I'll simply control the fan on/off with my hand as needed It's better that way. Always-on when I need it, and off when not needed.

Cheers for the input guys, it's awesome to bounce ideas off people. Also, installing fan mounts inbetween a radiator and a condenser provides a similar experience to running your wrists along a cheese grater for half an hour. Good times.

edit: Cobez, go sit on a rake. You know exactly what I mean.

[greenfoam]

Morton just plug it into your aircon plug you twit set the temps you want
done

[Wagon_Wheel]

Dude your a girls dick!
The clutch fan isnt that hard to get on/off.... Ive done it about 4 times now.
You = FAIL.....
And whats this about not fitting twin thermo's because it requires modification?!
I am disapointed in you, i would have thought that would give you incentive to do so!!!
Cable ties FTW!!!

[Anthraxnz]

do the V8s have the same wiring system as the V6s which came out with thermofans? could you not just hook it up to the ECU? on my 3.8 exec i have an override switch which just earths a wire from the ECU.

[kniever]

hows the 14inch fan going? i had a 16inch davies craig fan on my old VQ and it wasnt bad most the time but the engine really heated up a few times which i did not like one bit (especially on hot days in traffic) so when i go put one in the calais im definately going au thermos.

[VrWagz1]

Like anthrax was saying, i know on my vr v8, it has the same setup as the v6 for the little thermo fan on the front. It is controlled via the ecu and permanently on with the a/c on. If you look up near the top of the radiator near the battery there is a plug there for the thermo fan that is used in the v6's but not the v8's. Dont quote me but i think it was orange and blue. It would be better to plug into that and put in an overide switch then to simply run it all day.
I do remember reading a few months back that somone did what you did and they were extremely un-happy with it. They were running a single 16" fan, and they found that it got very hot easyily and they ended up taking it out and putting the clutch fan back in.

Edit: found it here. A tale of fitting thermatic fan on a V8

[greenfoam]

do the V8s have the same wiring system as the V6s which came out with thermofans? could you not just hook it up to the ECU? on my 3.8 exec i have an override switch which just earths a wire from the ECU.

It's the aircon plug, Morton has no aircon so he can just use that

[AirStrike]

*SIGH* Morton don't make it hard on yourself, bite the bullet and buy some AU/BA/BF thermos. The mod's required are simply to trim the corners of the shroud to clear the radiator hoses, that's it.
Ahhh if only you were in Melbourne still, i've got my BA set here to sell with the shroud already trimmed.

[Emackulation]

*SIGH* Morton don't make it hard on yourself, bite the bullet and buy some AU/BA/BF thermos. The mod's required are simply to trim the corners of the shroud to clear the radiator hoses, that's it.
Ahhh if only you were in Melbourne still, i've got my BA set here to sell with the shroud already trimmed.

I would buy them...If I had a project car