VOTE!! Electric Vs. Belt driven fan and water pump

[85_SS]

In canada? I have never had that problem, even in South Texas....maybe my cars just aren't hot-rodded enough.

sb

LOL We're not in igloo's all year round 😉 We regularly get into the 90's up here and humidity can be 100% in the summer. 80's are a normal summer day (not last summer though!). This was even with a brand new GM clutch on my fan that I still would have the temp slowly creep up (ie. when stuck in traffic near Niagara Falls tourist area).

For those looking at the Mark VIII, note that not all are 2-speed fans:

I wired mine up to use both speeds and also have an A/C high and manual high override if I want/need to. With this fan, you will find you probably will never need the high speed.

 

[DRIVEN]

Its why the automakers have switched to electrics in new cars.

Not necessarily true. The reason they use electric fans more often is packaging. All trucks are RWD and most still use clutch fans. Many RWD cars still use them too. The exception is when small frontal area, long nose, and hood slant don't allow room for a mechanical fan. That's why radiators have gotten wider and shorter over the years. Of course, FWD cars use electric fans for obvious reasons. For OE applications, generally speaking, cost is the dominant factor. Reliability through the warranty period is a close second.

 

[Oldstech]

The thermostatically controlled clutch fan is good but it has been proven that the electrics can & do take less power from your engine. Its why the automakers have switched to electrics in new cars. But we are generally talking 3 to 10 HP on a spike or peak and often no difference at all. Generally it takes a little bit of weight off the nose of your car but not much also generally it provides a little more room but very little. On the flip side it does take a good altenator, ground, and preferably a 40 amp fuse. I don't know about trendy but it probably does make your engine compartment look a little more upgraded or up to date. That said if I had a really big cooling load all the time like a truck used for pulling I would use a good clutch fan. For most of our uses the salvage yard mark VIII or similar is hard to beat.

Thanks you SIR!!! 100% agree. If you have a Good Coolling System that electric fan doesnt have to do much work. My electric fan only turns on for about 45 sec every 5 mins maybe and thats on a day in the high 80's. And it will drop my water temp from 185 to 170F. On a day in the 70's my fan doesnt even turn on unless I stay in the throttle. And if I was really worried about my alternator robbing power, I would take the belt off at track. But everyone that I have heard that has tried it (Thats has actually raced a track with time slips) said there was no difference in time and not worth the time.

 

[79loserbluebu]

I can't say that I've seen a mechanical fan used on a truck since S/T trucks. Haven't seen a fullsize with one in probably... 8-10 years at least. Someone should try and find a fan out of a new C/K truck. They pull a rediculous ammount of air through that radiator and if you are sitting next to one in traffic I guarantee you can hear the fan. I held up a shop rag to the grille and it sucked it right up.

 

[kyhunter89]

most LS trucks have belt driven fans. its a common swap is swap to the fans off a camaro.

 

[Oldstech]

most LS trucks have belt driven fans. its a common swap is swap to the fans off a camaro.

Not mine 06 GMC Sierra with a 5.3. Sorry I had too. But in your defense my cousin with a earlier model has a belt driven fan

 

[patmckinneyracing]

You guys running the Mark VIII and Thunderbird electric fans, how often do you guys use the high speed setting on your fans? I'm thinking about running one hard switch for the low speed setting and a second switch for the high setting.

 

[Oldstech]

You guys running the Mark VIII and Thunderbird electric fans, how often do you guys use the high speed setting on your fans? I'm thinking about running one hard switch for the low speed setting and a second switch for the high setting.

Im running a Mark VIII fan in my Cutlass. And Im just running it on high on a 75 amp relay. When then fan turns on it only on for about an min. And so far its only got in high 80's maybe low 90's and it will turn on while driving maybe every 5 mins. My Electric Temp Switch is set ON 185F/OFF 170F

 

[patmckinneyracing]

I'm considering a relay. I'm converting my SI charging system over to a CS 144 alternator. That way I don't have to worry about the fan draining too much power.

 

[85_SS]

I'm certain you could get away with just low speed if you wanted to - mine is wired to utilize both speeds if necessary, but will not go to high unless the A/C or override switch calls for it.