Electric Fan

[mrace240sx]

Has anyone out there bought and installed an electric fan? Ive been considering getting one for some extra horses and was wondering if anyone had any info on them. Im pretty sure me and a buddy could do the install, im wondering who makes them for an S14, which one is best, roundabout pricing, difficulty to install etc etc.

If anyone has any information Id love to learn something about them.

[Archangel]

wish I could help you, but I don't have a clue.
Thats one of those mods that not alot of people have done so it may be a little hard to find out more info, but good luck.

But if you find anything out, I'd be interested as well.
Post any info you find in this thread for me, if you could.  Thanks.

[whateverjames]

the dificulty, if you can call it that! is not hard at all. and the price for the fan is about 80.  i'm about half way done on the fan install (the mechanical fan is out, but only the stock electric fan) i noticed a difference in low end power.

[chickenmanq]

I put in an electric fan about a year ago.  It's made about the biggest difference so far.  It's an Emperial fan, available at Autozone.  Flex-a-lites cost too much.  Thing hasn't let me down except for the thermostatic control.  Have gone mud bogging in my truck, and that craps up the connections.  If you have a 240sx as opposed to the 2.4 pickup, you won't have a problem.  Anyway, all it is is a matter of taking the thing apart and cleaning the contacts.  All told, it cost 96 bucks for thermostatic control and the fan.  Don't mount it through the radiator like the fan makers suggest.  Secure it to the front clip or outer radiator structure.  I've got some pics on the website.  http://dana.ucc.nau.edu/~mka

[LanceS13]

looks like it's been pretty well covered, but here's another source anyway
<a href="http://www.240sx.org/links/installs/efans/index.html" target='_blank'>http://www.240sx.org/links/installs/efans/index.html</a>

[nismo270r]

Hey Lance...That's not an aftermarket electric fan install...That's just Rob the Chef's rewire of the factory S14 electric fan. &nbsp;It still works, but I don't think you'll pull the cooloing power of an aftermarket fan with the stock one.

[drifterx]

chicken: do u have a problem with the fan not cooling enough?

[LanceS13]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from nismo270r on 8:48 am on Nov. 2, 2001
Hey Lance...That's not an aftermarket electric fan install...That's just Rob the Chef's rewire of the factory S14 electric fan. It still works, but I don't think you'll pull the cooloing power of an aftermarket fan with the stock one.
</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
oops...I had that article bookmarked and forgot exactly what it contained. &nbsp;I would think it would be of some help, though...if anything, that wiring diagram.

[anthony240]

If you live in a hot place, like Socal or the midwest, I suggest not taking the mechanical fan off. Or if you have an older car.

An electric fan will provide some cooling, but it will not match the cooling effect of the mechanical fan. And the horses it will free up is little, say around 2hp or less.

So if you have a car that's around less than 8 years old or under 100k, I'd say it's safe to replace that fan.

I took my crank fan off, but I never replaced it with an electric. I have one (Permacool) but I don't think I need it. I've been on long drives, and I have had no signs of overheating, and I've had it off since June of this year.

[whateverjames]

i'd say the removal of the fan helped low to mid range torque more than horsepower. my car won't get warm if i'm moving, it stays at normal, but since i don't have the electric fan upgrade, if i sit in bumper to bumper traffic for 20 minutes it will get a little warm. the reason i took mine off is because it was cold and the fan wouldn't have made a difference, THEN the #### weather warms up, so it looks like i'm either installing an electric fan or putting back on the mechanical fan this weekend.

[chickenmanq]

The thermostatic control takes care of possible overheating. &nbsp;It's best to have a direct switch to the fan, in case the thermostat goes out, as mine has, but only from mudding. &nbsp;I'm in Flagstaff, so the weather doesn't get much over 100. &nbsp;Even so, I haven't had any problem with cooling the engine. &nbsp;Get the biggest fan you can fit. &nbsp;Mine's a 16&quot;. &nbsp;I don't know if PHX or other hot areas will require constant running of the fan. &nbsp;The reason it's made such a difference in my car, is unless its sitting in traffic, it's not on. &nbsp;Ambient air is enough to cool the engine. &nbsp;Therefore, I get rid of substantial parasitic hp in normal driving. &nbsp;I would mark where the normal heavy-ass clutch fan keeps the temp with a piece of electrical tape or duct tape or something, and install the electric. &nbsp;If you can't keep it from running most of the time, just stick with the clutch fan. &nbsp;I will say it dramatically improves rev quickness, and low-end power, though. &nbsp;Check out the website for more. &nbsp;http://dana.ucc.nau.edu/~mka

[drifterx]

=( i am in boston
sometimes &nbsp;it gets really hot in the summer well into the 90s and sometimes hits over 100.....at other times we are in the low single numbers or below.... with windchill of like 30 below 0
Boston sucks.....
i wanna get an electrical fan..... i must think of other ways which allows me to do this....
advice?

[chickenmanq]

What do you mean other ways? &nbsp;You can hook one up no problem. &nbsp;Or am I missing something?

[drifterx]

i am scared of overheating..........
also i noticed it is very hot under the hood of a 240sx
why is that?
also i heard ppl complain of overheating with a pully....
i plan on putting 1 on.........

[chickenmanq]

Are you talking about an underdrive pulley? &nbsp;I wouldn't even mess with those if you use the car for normal driving. &nbsp;Just my opinion. &nbsp;Anything that slows down the alternator leaves stereo and adequate voltage behind. &nbsp;

I wouldn't put on an electric fan with an underdrive pulley. &nbsp;The main reason being the fan has to work hardest and often only comes on when the car is idling. &nbsp;At idle speed, of course, the alternator is going to be running pathetically slow due to the ud pulley. &nbsp;

I don't know how hot it gets under your hood. &nbsp;Mine is drafty as ####, but it's a truck. &nbsp;I would say hook it up anyway, and see if it can cool. &nbsp;If not, take it back (save the receipt). &nbsp;

However, hook up a switch that bypasses the thermostatic control. &nbsp;I don't know if you're as anal as I am when it comes to monitoring engine temp. &nbsp;My temp guage never goes past roughly a quarter on the scale. &nbsp;It's also the only guage besides the tach I put in. &nbsp;

It's the same temp as with the clutch fan. &nbsp;In the summer, it gets a little hotter, the winter, a little colder. &nbsp;Just normal.

[transient]

Personally if I was to connect an electric fan, it would be to the 12volt switched wire, so that when ever the car was running, the fan would be as well. I figure... if you're replacing a fan that runs all the time, you should probably put one in that runs all the time.

[rabbit23]

i don't know where everyone got their info on the UD pulley, but i can tell you i am running a 2x300 ppi amp and a 100x4 ppi amp with no 2nd battery. i have had the asp pulley for over 6months and have had no problems with anything electrical. my car is a daily driver. i do agree with transient about replacing a constant running fan with another constant one.

[chickenmanq]

How much smaller is the pulley you're running? &nbsp;I haven't had personal experience with them. &nbsp;Sorry if I'm misleading people. &nbsp;Just heard a lot of guys say they were wary about it because of the alt. turning to slow. &nbsp;

The only thing about the fan running, is you don't get a horsepower gain. &nbsp;Even though it's electric, your alternator still has to work about as hard to turn the electric fan, as the clutch fan would take when connected to the idler pulley.

The 2.4 is aluminum, and it sheds heat pretty well in normal driving. &nbsp;Therefore, let natural air cool it off until you're sitting in traffic and it needs the electric fan to kick on for extra cooling. &nbsp;The parasitic hp loss is dramatically cut when you don't have to have a fan running.

[whateverjames]

really? i thought they had iron blocks and alluminum heads...

[S13Grl]

I second that opinion, I always thought that was so.

[chickenmanq]

Sorry, shoulda clarified. &nbsp;Yeah, you're right, it is iron block, alum head. &nbsp;My point is that is still is a decent heat shedding design. &nbsp;Mine has to idle for 15 minutes on colder days from operating temp, to where the fan kicks in. &nbsp;It stays nice and cool.

As far as I know, a properly sized electric fan should have no problem cooling. Every front engine, front wheel drive car uses electric fans. Also, and im not sure if theres a kit specific to your application, but there are generic electric fan kits that you can purchase that come with a thermostat built in, so that when your car reaches a certain temp, it turns itself on. Also, you could put in a manual switch just for backup purposes. You would have to do some research on fan size, but it shouldn't be hard to do.

(Edited by BuzzCLick at 3:43 am on Nov. 6, 2001)

[drifterx]

Pully question: is a pully lighter so it works better or is it small?
can someone give me a basic concept?

also... right now i know i am running too many amps.... cuz i have 2 amps running, 1 1600W and 1 400W... plus i have a cell phone charger, extra interior lighting, and a radar detector...
i got a cap (1.00 farad) for amps but i have yet to install it... what can i do?
if i get a pully will i charge less amps?
does electrical fans change speeds? like does it run faster when it is hotter?
i like the idea of it always running.... maybe i should hook it up to a rely on the accessory wire, so when the keys are in then it will move the fan... but also like the idea of a constant fan cooling by a switch...

tell me what i should do... i am going to keep my sound system in, plan on adding a pully and i also want an electrical fan...
(ofcourse the system goes when i am racing)

[transient]

Drifter, it's actually both lighter and smaller. Many people don't like the fact that they aren't harmonically balanced too.

[drifterx]

i know it isnt harmonically balanced but i got over that part and will take the chance... worst case is, i save up money and get either JE Pistons or SR20DET (depends do i want NA or turbo)
now can anyone tell me if i will have a problem?
thanks

[chickenmanq]

If you wanted a little bit more in-depth pulley info, this is from www.ptuning.com. &nbsp;Unorthodox has a site too. &nbsp;www.unorthodoxracing.com

Unorthodox Racing Ultra Street lightened underdrive pulleys are CNC-machined from lightweight 6061-T6 aluminum billet. Premium 6061-T6 aluminum billet ensures the consistency of the material's strength and balance. Tolerances are held to within .001&quot;, and numerous machining steps are used to ensure the lightest possible design. In addition to fit, finish is just as important and each piece is representative of this.

Power Gains
Unorthodox Racing pulleys can provide gains of 5 to 12 HP and 4 to 8 ft.-lbs. on normally aspirated engines and 8 to 16 HP and 8 to 18 ft.-lbs. on forced induction engines. These are average gains. Gains as high as 37 HP and 45 ft.-lbs. have been realized on modified forced induction engines. These gains are obtained in two ways. First, and most important, is the weight loss. An average of 2.7 HP is gained from every pound lost off the crank shaft. 85% of our gains are from weight loss. The rest of the gains are from underdriving, which accounts for about 15% of the total gains. Unorthodox Racing does not push underdriving for two main reasons. Our main reason is to keep charging systems, air conditioning, power steering, and water pumps moving fast enough for every day driving. Second, not much horsepower is gained from extreme underdriving. All of our underdriving is done with the crank pulley, not the accessory pulleys. This is done so maximum weight loss can be achieved at the crank where most of the horsepower gains are found.

Please note: Belt(s) not included. Instructions provided with underdrive pulley will give recommended belt sizes. Belt(s) can be purchased at your local auto parts store.

[chickenmanq]

Hey, here's a question. &nbsp;Why aren't the pulleys harmonically balanced? &nbsp;Cause they're made of aluminum?

[S13Grl]

Perhaps that and the fact that they're much smaller than they are supposed to be, so they cause a certain amount of imbalance to happen.