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Finally: Official How-To: 3.8l Fan Install

  • Thread starter Thread starter FiveOhhStang
  • Start date Start date May 15, 2004
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FiveOhhStang

New Member
Jan 27, 2003
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Sanger, Cali.
May 15, 2004
#1
  • May 15, 2004
  • #1
Well, I finnaly came around to contribute to this. I have field tested this install & relay for about 1 month, along with 89StangLX's setup I also did. Well, here you go, I hope this helps, Basically you just need wire connectors & Wire itself!

3.8L Taurus Fan Install

-Nick
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
33
129
May 15, 2004
#2
  • May 15, 2004
  • #2
nice diagram. looks like you are using a SPDT relay; do you know what amp rating it is?
if you update to having a fan controller and relay for a/c, let us know. it would sure clean up posts about how to wire them.

glad you are happy with it!
 
P

PRO50SC

New Member
Dec 28, 2003
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Olney, Maryland
May 15, 2004
#3
  • May 15, 2004
  • #3
Nice How well or what did it take to secure the taurus fan to the radiator?
 
S

stang2004

Founding Member
Sep 23, 2001
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Northern Jersey
May 15, 2004
#4
  • May 15, 2004
  • #4
make this a sticky
 

Starscream88

New Member
Mar 8, 2003
1,277
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Park Ridge NJ
May 15, 2004
#5
  • May 15, 2004
  • #5
I will contribute this diagram which I used to wire my electric fan,

I have a Swich to "over ride" the Temp sensor,

I have mine set to come on at 195 and shut off at 175
My Temp NEVER ever goes over half way

One of the best things ive ever done!
You need 2 relays to wire in a temp sensor if you have A/C and you obviously use A/C
Heres the Diagram
 

Attachments

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88POSLX

Founding Member
Sep 16, 2002
553
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Red Deer, AB
May 15, 2004
#6
  • May 15, 2004
  • #6
I've attached my wiring diagram. I ground switched the setup and it works great. I used a Hella 70 amp relay, nice piece. The switch does not have to be for high amperage loads.

As for mounting the fan, I just dropped it into the bottom clips and then used a tranny cooler mount kit for the top. I also mounted the factory overflow to the fan.




 

N8Miller

I need NOS....make it 2 of the big ones
Founding Member
Jul 26, 2000
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Kingston, PA, USA
May 15, 2004
#7
  • May 15, 2004
  • #7
how is that fan attached in that pic??
 

BlackFox5.0

Founding Member
Aug 7, 2000
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Massachusetts
May 15, 2004
#8
  • May 15, 2004
  • #8
N8Miller said:
how is that fan attached in that pic??
Click to expand...


By pull through the radiator ties.

I prefer the way I had mine the best, although I upgraded to a Mark VIII and will never look back as this is top of the line


 

FiveOhhStang

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Jan 27, 2003
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May 15, 2004
#9
  • May 15, 2004
  • #9
Lol, wow...heh, well yeah I went to Autozone and asked them for the kit they sell to secure an electric fan to the radiator. Thanks Guys, need this a Sticky Indeed!
 

5 Liter Mustang

New Member
Aug 17, 2003
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May 15, 2004
#10
  • May 15, 2004
  • #10
BlackFox5.0 said:
By pull through the radiator ties.

I prefer the way I had mine the best, although I upgraded to a Mark VIII and will never look back as this is top of the line
Click to expand...

I assume you got that fan from a junkyard.. how much did they charge you? I'm really interested in doing this, seeing as my stocker is broken
 

FiveOhhStang

New Member
Jan 27, 2003
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May 15, 2004
#11
  • May 15, 2004
  • #11
5LiterMustang - I bought 2 3.8l Taurus/Sable Fans for $35 bucks at my local pick & pull. They are having manager special sales on all "Beat the Summer Heat" Items including elec. Fans. It was fairly simple, and the entire install took about 2 hours using the diagram I first posted.
 
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1bad92lx

New Member
Mar 31, 2003
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Close to lynchburg, VA
May 16, 2004
#12
  • May 16, 2004
  • #12
I got a electric fan off of a 90 taurus. It is the 2 speed one. It looks like the one that is pictured on this thread. I hooked it up to the battery in my grand prix while the engine was running and on the hi speed, the fan almost cut the car off when I hooked it up. The fan jerked out of my hands. So it definitely has some pull. I have the painless wiring nitrous hide-a-panel in my ashtray location that I was using for my old advance auto electric fans. I'm thinking that this fan I got out the local junkyard is a lot stronger and better than the 16" ones I bought from advance. I paid $75 a piece for the ones from advance, and only $10 for the taurus one. Do I need to run a relay with this fan? Right now I'm just running my old fans to the panel in my car with no sort of fusable link or relay. Any suggestions are welcomed........

thanks,

Matt
 

BlackFox5.0

Founding Member
Aug 7, 2000
3,514
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0
Massachusetts
May 16, 2004
#13
  • May 16, 2004
  • #13
5 Liter Mustang said:
I assume you got that fan from a junkyard.. how much did they charge you? I'm really interested in doing this, seeing as my stocker is broken
Click to expand...


I paid $40 which was overpriced I thought, I could have gotten it cheaper, it's just the yard I went to

I edited my last post, I had 2 of the same pic, lol, I have it corrected now.

As far as needed relays, you should definately use a bosch 75amp relay. I used 2 30/40amp relays in parallel and I was having some problems. I cooked on relay. i stepped up to the 75amp, with my Mark VIII. I don't want no fires....so i don't mess around.
 

Ranchero5.0

The Voice of Reason
Jan 1, 1999
5,306
0
76
Hagerstown MD
May 16, 2004
#14
  • May 16, 2004
  • #14
Be wary of this setup guys. The taurus fan eats a lot of juice and doen't pull air through the entire radiator (see pics). I had one for about a year and gave up. It must have 10 gauge wire at the minimum and recommend 8 gauge wire that is soldered at all connections. Stay-cons will overheat and melt the insulation, even on slow speed. I went through a couple 40A relays and recommend a pair of 50A relays in parallel with a 40A circuit breaker or fusable link. It never kept my combo (TT 351) cool and ate batteries and alternators. Finally reinstalled the factory stuff with a shroud and the car ran good and stayed cool. Gave the dang fan to a friend to try on his big block Chevelle and it nearly burned his car down after a 50A relay overheated...

Jamie
 

Michael Yount

Mustang Master
Apr 10, 2002
9,039
6
79
Charlotte, NC
May 16, 2004
#15
  • May 16, 2004
  • #15
....and there's a much better mousetrap to control the fan with.....


www.dccontrol.com

5OhhStang - nice job putting what you learned out there for everyone else to benefit from.

Here's what I learned about fans/controls on mine:

http://www.etnracing.com/pages/Tech/FanControl.htm
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
33
129
May 16, 2004
#16
  • May 16, 2004
  • #16
jamie, from what i have read, the taurus fan does not draw that much. are you sure yours was not shorting out, etc? i know of a couple guys running them with 2G alternators, in fact. Jerry checked low speed draw on his 3.8 fan, and it was under 15 amps on low speed, IIRC.
just wanted to ask if that was a possibility, since your observations are contrary to what i have otherwise read/seen....
 
F

fox3streetracer

Member
Jul 6, 2003
195
0
16
ocala,fl
May 20, 2004
#17
  • May 20, 2004
  • #17
jerrys does fine on his car,i was at his house today,his fan is on low speed and you could put your hand under car by back of door and feel the wind!he is still running a 2g alt with no problems.the fan is great as far as cfm and power,but i am weary of how much of the radiator is covered.i think he said it draws 30 on high,but low was only like 15 amps.the only thing is a start up voltage spike,which can be eliminated with a fan ccontroller.
 

ECU5.0

Banned
Jan 10, 2004
1,803
1
0
raleigh, nc
May 20, 2004
#18
  • May 20, 2004
  • #18
BlackFox5.0 said:
I paid $40 which was overpriced I thought, I could have gotten it cheaper, it's just the yard I went to

I edited my last post, I had 2 of the same pic, lol, I have it corrected now.

As far as needed relays, you should definately use a bosch 75amp relay. I used 2 30/40amp relays in parallel and I was having some problems. I cooked on relay. i stepped up to the 75amp, with my Mark VIII. I don't want no fires....so i don't mess around.
Click to expand...

probably a really stupid question...but what car did your fan come out of. i know its a lincoln, but what year? thanks
 
D

Dip In Traffic

Founding Member
Jun 2, 2002
217
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0
queens,ny
May 21, 2004
#19
  • May 21, 2004
  • #19
how did u do the alternator setup ...i would like to get rid of my tensioner how did u do this send me pic itzstress2@aol.com
 

BlackFox5.0

Founding Member
Aug 7, 2000
3,514
1
0
Massachusetts
May 21, 2004
#20
  • May 21, 2004
  • #20
Dip In Traffic said:
how did u do the alternator setup ...i would like to get rid of my tensioner how did u do this send me pic itzstress2@aol.com
Click to expand...

That is a bracket kit made by March, they also make pullies....
 
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