The stock clutch lock-up is thermally controlled. There's silicone, a viscous coupling and a bi-metallic spring which controls the coverage of an orifice. This is how the clutch's characteristics change as the clutch (bi-metallic spring) get warmer. Seeing silicone leaking out of the hub (or a bunch of dirt caked onto the silicone) is a sign that the clutch is on the outs.
If you had posted two months ago, I would have mailed you my old clutch. It's been in the landfill since then though. The caveat with the fan clutch is that if it gets real hot where you're at, the HD unit is nice. Folks dont like it because it locks up pretty decently, but to move air requires parasitic loss and noise. For the desert I chose a HD clutch and metal FAL fan blade (my stocker was cracked - that's a disaster waiting to happen). For milder climates, folks say the standard fan clutch works alright.
If it looks like you'd need a new fan blade too, I'd either:
Just hit a J/Y for a decent looking clutch. This will tide you over till you do the E-fan (it sounds like you want to do that).
Do the E-fan upgrade now, since fixing the fan and fan clutch will cost a good bit (if you already have a 3G, that really cuts down on costs). A J/Y 3G and E-fan, with wiring and a cheap controller could probably be done for around 100 bucks if you have a Pick-n-pull with good prices.
Or if you like the mech fan, get the clutch that's appropriate for you and a metal fan blade if needed. I doubt this is the route you'd want to take however.
Good luck.
If you had posted two months ago, I would have mailed you my old clutch. It's been in the landfill since then though. The caveat with the fan clutch is that if it gets real hot where you're at, the HD unit is nice. Folks dont like it because it locks up pretty decently, but to move air requires parasitic loss and noise. For the desert I chose a HD clutch and metal FAL fan blade (my stocker was cracked - that's a disaster waiting to happen). For milder climates, folks say the standard fan clutch works alright.
If it looks like you'd need a new fan blade too, I'd either:
Just hit a J/Y for a decent looking clutch. This will tide you over till you do the E-fan (it sounds like you want to do that).
Do the E-fan upgrade now, since fixing the fan and fan clutch will cost a good bit (if you already have a 3G, that really cuts down on costs). A J/Y 3G and E-fan, with wiring and a cheap controller could probably be done for around 100 bucks if you have a Pick-n-pull with good prices.
Or if you like the mech fan, get the clutch that's appropriate for you and a metal fan blade if needed. I doubt this is the route you'd want to take however.
Good luck.
you might consider sticking with the stock style fan. its hard to beat the cooling of the stock setup.
i bought a new clutch and fan blade for my car and it cools GREAT, seeing how i still have the stock alt an efan would kill me. i had a efan before and it made the charge low.
later on if u need better cooling go to the 180 tstat and nice aluminum radiator.
there alot of routes you can go
i bought a new clutch and fan blade for my car and it cools GREAT, seeing how i still have the stock alt an efan would kill me. i had a efan before and it made the charge low.
later on if u need better cooling go to the 180 tstat and nice aluminum radiator.
there alot of routes you can go