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Electric vs mechanical fans?

gr8dain said:
Interesting. The only thing I saw was a difference for offset radiator cap. Hmmmm
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The OEM non-clutch fan has a smaller OD compared to the OEM clutch fan. The non-clutch fan has four blades, clutch fan has 7 blades IIRC.

The non-clutch fan uses the 3 core radiator, clutch fan uses the 2 core radiator. If you use a 3 core radiator with the clutch fan there is not enough clearance.

Previous owner of my '85 Spring Special had a 3 core radiator installed with the clutch fan. It worked on road, no way I would drive this off road. I swapped in a 2 core radiator and fan shroud.

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Does anyone know the proper part # for Oem 4-blade non-clutch fan shroud?
I know it did not come with a shroud from factory but it would be nice to have one
Thanks
 
This went to mechanical stuff, but I really love the look of this... I'd not seen it. I really wanted to go variable frequency, to run the fans less than full bore (which moves crazy air) but this looks like it could be interesting.
83CJ-8 said:
On my Contour fan, the flex-a-shit controller never worked correctly. When I called them about the warranty I was told "Not covered, sorry about your luck. I wired in a switch and relay for manual on & off.

I will be swapping out to the https://www.dakotadigital.com/index...od/prd1207.htm] Dakota Digital Fan Controller at some point once I finish out my housing box
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With the Contour fans, wiring the two separately is the key. If you tried to control both of them with a single relay/controller, you're asking for trouble. I've done this by running two relays using the same sender feed to trigger them, which puts them both on/off at the same time and I need to fix that (why I like the dakota customs controller).

I also wired up jumpers wires to turn the fans on constantly easily, but not on a switch (which will be part of the new controller install along with a kill switch.)

This kind of setup is what's needed with the contour fans, whether you do it with a controller/sender running two relays at the same temp or some kind of deal where they have different temp ranges. Putting a switch on the ground feed to 85 (or the constant 12v feed to 86) is your kill switch and putting a straight ground feed to 85 is your constant on/controller bypass.

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bigwalton said:
This went to mechanical stuff, but I really love the look of this... I'd not seen it. I really wanted to go variable frequency, to run the fans less than full bore (which moves crazy air) but this looks like it could be interesting.


With the Contour fans, wiring the two separately is the key. If you tried to control both of them with a single relay/controller, you're asking for trouble. I've done this by running two relays using the same sender feed to trigger them, which puts them both on/off at the same time and I need to fix that (why I like the dakota customs controller).

I also wired up jumpers wires to turn the fans on constantly easily, but not on a switch (which will be part of the new controller install along with a kill switch.)

This kind of setup is what's needed with the contour fans, whether you do it with a controller/sender running two relays at the same temp or some kind of deal where they have different temp ranges. Putting a switch on the ground feed to 85 (or the constant 12v feed to 86) is your kill switch and putting a straight ground feed to 85 is your constant on/controller bypass.

View attachment 110920
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Didn't someone on here find a 3 core shroud/fan/controller package that was decent but not crazy expensive?
 
I have the dakota digital on both my cj8 (single fan) and my work truck (2 fans). They work very well. Have the work truck set up so one fan comes on at 205 deg the other comes on at 215 deg. Only time both come on is on with a/c (controller turns both on for a/c) and maybe half a dozen times on the major freeway going up a grade in 90 deg weather. Like the ability that if one fan goes out I have the other to get home. I have the 2 relays, spal heavy duty 12 inch fans (3600 cfm total). I did try to put a switch to ground the fans (in case the control unit or sending unit fails), controller didn't like it, when I stitched the switch to ground the fans, fans ran great. When I switched the fans off the controller had a trouble code come up and wouldn't work. If I remember right I had to disconnect/reconnect the battery to get the controller to work. Only other thing I would like to take the time to figure out is to be able to with a/c on, have the fans work like they do without a/c on (one fan comes on, 2nd only comes on when temp hits something like 215 deg instead of both on continually. Engine can temp can drop a little too low on cooler days (but a black truck can still use the a/c). Also if I remember right some of the spal fans won't work with a controller that controls the speed of the fan. I'm thinking when I checked into the fans I have, there was some problems with a variable controller.
 
When I did mine I went with a Lincoln Navigator fan, custom aluminum shroud and a Autocoolguy controller. It's awesome, PWM so there's virtually no fan noise unless it ramps way up. There's also no big inrush current when it comes on. I wired mine with a off/auto/on switch.

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www.autocoolguy.com www.autocoolguy.com
 
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