VS V8 - Clutch Fan vs Thermo Fan

[crumpledoor#1]

I have a 97 VS BT1 V8. It originally had a Clutch fan but when i replaced the fan with a 16" Thermo fan. The Thermo fun seems to run for too often. The car generally never goes over a half on the temp gauge and will run between a quarter and the half mark. Through fan runs too much to keep it below a half. On hotter days it will stay around half but the fan runs constantly. I am thinking of putting the clutch fan back on. Should I? And yes i am now aware that twin smaller thermos would have been better.

[BlackVXGTS]

The clutch fan is normally adequate for a standard V8. It may be marginal if you do a lot of stop-start driving in hot weather with the A/C on or if you have modifications that restrict the coolant capacity such as a grout filled block.

[NickVR]

If you have just put the fan on with no shroud then that would the reason the fan runs so much. It's a common mistake/conception that people have that taking off the shroud and/or putting just the fan itself on the radiator will make it run cooler. This is why the EF/EL or AU thermo fans work so effectively because of the shroud design and together with the fans themselves. Make a shroud to cover the outside edge of where the fan isn't covering and you'll find it will be much more effective. Although the other problem maybe that the fan may not push as much air (volume measured in cfm) as the original and that's why the fan is constantly working to try and keep the temps down. Not sure what the cfm of the original fan pushes out but someone maybe able to shed some light on that one. Although it has been said the EF/EL or AU fans push 3000cfm (combined).

[crumpledoor#1]

I did put the original shroud back on. knew it was better to put it back on. trying to work out how i can have both. might have to shift the air con condenser. anyone done this before.

[NickVR]

The original shroud may not be good enough for it and not forming enough of a seal around the fan. Or the fan may not flow enough air to keep the car cool and has to work for twice as long (I'm leaning towards this one). What brand of fan is it? Because the most effective single fans are SPAL ones which flow the same amount as the EF/EL/AU Fans. If you have the original fan I'd put that back on seeing as your still running the factory shroud there is no point of thermos. The only reason people put thermos on the V8's is so it looks neater (only reason I did it).

[crumpledoor#1]

I have seen guys run them without the shroud, I was just concerned it was necessary. The shroud is fitting perfectly and the fan is flush against the radiator.

[NickVR]

Well this would all lead to the fan not being very efficient/not flowing enough to keep it cool. For now I would chuck the original fan back on if you are concerned about the operating temp.

[GTS69]

hey mate find your self some au/el falcon fans i run them on my GTS and no issues at all i have mine kicking in lower than the normal they kick in at 88 and shut off at 80 and there not running all the time or for that matter for all that long when they do kick in car never sees over quarter on the temp gauge

[crumpledoor#1]

What was the cost of the ford fans??

[VrWagz1]

I've read this a few times, and as you found out the single 16" dosnt work very well. Yes put the clutch fan back on, or go to a twin thermo setup. The last thing you want is a cooked 5ltr

[mischa]

What was the cost of the ford fans??

Pick n Payless want $70 for a set so I wouldn't pay any more than that. I'm after some to but I'm waiting for sone cheap ones on ebay cause I font feel like pulling them out of a car

[crumpledoor#1]

OK, so I finally got 5 minutes to put the old clutch fan back on. What a difference it made. Car now runs the coolest it ever has. Will save the $ put the old 16" on ebay and go buy myself some twin Ford jobbies.