Which is better to use on a 1969 Firebird? It has a 400. I have been told that the electric fan is not the way to go but have also been told the manual fan is not. Please help!
I have just finished installing a Mark VIII or Ford Probe 3.8 electric fan in my 69 Firebird. It is a 2 speed fan that moves a TON of air and the shroud fits the radiator almost perfectly. I am still finishing up the wiring, but it should work as better than the original clutch fan.
hey, now! Enough cursing! That was the first time she had been run for more than 5 minutes since being rebuilt!!! Timing was a little off, too. That was with the original clutch fan, and no lower baffle or masticated fillers....that Bjorn is always "preaching" about!
The shroud itself needed no trimming, however, it had a couple plastic mounting tabs that were about 5 inches longer than the shroud that had to be cut off. I guess I could've left them on, buit they would've looked stupid. I used a universal Hayden fan install kit....came with 4 plastic zip locks and 4 foam pads. Worked like a charm.
I'll definitely keep ya posted! I'll try to remember to take some pics this weekend and post them.
Update.....finished running the power wire to the relays Saturday. Fired her up in the garage...nose in so no wind. It was 80+ degrees outside and she ran up to 190. Fan kicked on about 180 and she never went over 190. I let her idle for about 20-25 minutes with an occasional pop of the throttle. She stayed rock solid at 190. I drove about a half mile from my house and back, under different loads and she stayed solidly at 190.
No masticated fillers installed, no valence, and thus no lower baffle.
Drew, would you mind posting what all you did as well as the parts and parts numbers? fan- from what year ford( yuk) probe? relay- is it form the same car (probe)? what about tempeture switch? does it come with the fan? and where did you place it? on rad. or on hose?
The fan I used was out of a 96 3.8 Liter Ford Probe, same fan in the aerostar van and lincoln mark VIII as well as the Taurus of around the same year. I actually bought it off ebay. I used a drimmel to trim the plastic mounting brackets off as they extended past the edge of the shroud and were of no use.
I then used a universal Hayden electric fan mount kit (plastic) and a Hayden electric thermostat. The cheapest one at Pep Boys which didn't come with Relays and had the widest range of adjustability. The shroud has a place at the bottom where the factory sensor was, I simply mounted the thermostat probe against the radiator in that same area. I used 2 30 am relays from Radio Shack
I'll look and get the web addresses of the articles I used for reference and get part numbers tonight.
Okay, actually, I used 3 websites as sources for information on making the swap.
The first http://www.s-seriesforum.com/how-to-e-fan.html was most usefull for wiring the relays and fan. The wiring diagram was easy to follow. I simply wired the high speed side of the fan, so it only blows one speed. This website also lists the part numbers for the relays. You don't need the diode listed in the parts list. And tha hayden adjustable thermostat I used was a different part number, but any adjustable electric thermostat switch should work.
Apparently, this is a popular upgrade for supercharged mustangs. The fans can be found in late 80s, early 90s Taurus wagons and sedans, Probes, or Cougars with the 3.8 Liter V6. They are 2 speed fans with integral shroud and low profile electric motor with the "hurricane" shaped fan blades.
Since the fan has 2 speeds it has 2 power wires and 1 ground wire running to the back of the motor. I rocommend getting as much of the wiring harness with the fan as possible. The installed mine I have the 2 30 am relays mounted and grounded on the radiator core support between the washer fluid bottle bracket and the radiator. You need to find a switched poer source either under the dash or in the engine harness. I used a test light to find a wire under the dash that is only powered when the key is on....this keeps the fan from running when the key is off and QUICKLY draining the battery. (Additional note - you may want to install a toggle switch on the switched wire so you can turn the fan off while starting the car while it's hot. When the car has been run and is still hot if you turn the key on the fan comes on....I am planning to install an override switch.)
The 12 Volt power wires is straight from the positive battery terminal. Be sure to install a fuse!!! I bought a 10 guage waterproof blade style fuse holder at radio shack when I bought the relays. A 30 amp fuse has been sufficient thus far.
Let me know if you have any questions or need clarification after visiting the above websites.
Drew, It all sounds very cool(no pun intended) but I can only get the second link up from your post. Are the others still active addresses or is my comp just messing with me again?
![[Linked Image from hosting.photobucket.com]](https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/ss328/alvey_john/john-alvey-1968-Firebird-oct2012-2.jpg)
, hopefully it wont throw up this time..... 
