HI, I have an 1987 camaro tha came with an electrical radiator fan. The other day I saw an 1981 camarothat had the mechanical radiator fan, and wonder if I can retrofit my car back to mechanical, without a clutch, radiator fan.

Why do I want to do that?.... I drive allot in traffic, stop and go, and I am tired of the every couple of year having to get a new radiator fan motor. Better stick with good old mechanical system.

Any ideas?

 

You can. Fan clutches fail periodically too though. Nothing lasts forever.

 

You can use a flex fan on a direct drive off of your water pump, however they are noisy, don't move as much air as a stock fan with a fan clutch, and the flex fans use a lot of power to turn do to constant wind resistance. Your best bet is a stock fan, clutch, and shround from an earlier model firebird or camaro. You can probably find everything in a wrecking yard fairly reasonable, but I would invest in a new fan clutch, as these do wear out and can cause damage if it comes apart. Some people say that a mechanical fan uses about 15 hp. Charles

 

Thanks!

Were I am is alway between 80 to 90 and humidity if 100%. It is hot! I do allot of traffic drivin, stop and go. I need something that really pulls air. The other day I meet a 1981 camaro owner tha had the fan (no clutch sytem) and at idle, I really pull allot of air. His unmodifid car was runing below 180... I just got a housing, and plan to get a fan, i dont think I will use a fan clucth... probably direct. How much HP can you loose in real life usage. I hardly ever go pass 4500 RPM. and with my t-56 manual tranny, at 5 or 6, overdrive, my car is doing 120 below 2000 rpm.

But you have mention a valid point, how much HP will I loose? Hmmm

 

'82-'86(possibly '87)came with engine driven clutch fans for the most part.The '83 L69 305 was the first to use the single electric fan.if you want to convert look for an early 3rd gen with a 5 or 7 blade fan(I would have to look at my '83's mechanical fan as i switched to dual electric fans)as a sign of the HD cooling system(standard cooling was a 3 blade).Get the fan assembly along with the upper and lower shrouds and all mounting hardware.You will want to purchase a new fan clutch for a HD cooling A/C equipped f-Body.

 

dont the 85 and up water pumps that came with serpentine belts use a reverse rotation pump? would that affect the airflow of the fans?

 

Don't do w/o the clutch, it's no exaggeration to say it'll cost you at least 15 hp, plus it'll sound like a small airplane at takeoff already at 2000 rpm. Even at idle the noise from a direct fan is very noticeable. If you have A/C you'll want a heavy duty fan and clutch like coolram says. It will always move plenty of air even at idle to ensure low condenser pressure.

 

I would also not recommend running a fan without a clutch. If you do, be ready to change water pumps every once in a while.

Also make sure the fan is a 7 blade if its stock, not a crappy 5 blade or less. You can also find what you need in a wrecking yard from early thirdgens.

 

The fan clutch allows the fan to coast when the temp is below normal operating level, or at highway speeds where the air flow is sufficient to cool the engine, or when the engine RPM is high. The fan clutch will save you a lot of HP. A stock fan is not designed to run at full RPM, and it can come apart if you drive it direct and spin it too fast. If you are going to run a direct drive, you will need to use an aftermarket flex fan, but they do not pull as much air as a stock set-up with the fan clutch. I am not sure about the rotation of your water pump, so you better check that first before you start to disassemble your car and spend money on parts. Charles

 

Thanks for all those treads. My engine setup was a mixture of serpentine and V belts. I Belive the rotation should not be an issue.

As per direct or fan clutch.. know you have me thinking... My goal is to keep my engine under 180...

I have manage to get a fan shroud, but looking at it, I dont know how I attac it to the radiator and in turn the radiator secure to the frame.... See my car has Upper mounting paneel the secure the radiator and provide a fixture to electric fan system. I guess I need the Upper Radiator Mounting Panel for a Camaro that came with the mechanical fan....

any ideas?

 

If your water pump is run off the Serp belt its a reverse rotation pump and will need a reverse rotation fan and clutch.

Heres the two I used.

Severe Duty Hayden 2784 reverse rotation Clutch

Fan Hayden 18" 3620

Cools at 180 all day long.

 

Thanks. What year is your Camaro? If is not a problem, do you have pictures of your upper radiator mounting. I belive the shroud that I manage to get (for free) is not from a camaro, but it physically fits nicely.

How hot does it get were you live? DO you drive with AC all day?

Thanks for the part numbers! I will look at them

 

I have been looking at all the alternative for mechanical fan, and the best choice appears to be a Thermal Fan clucth and a plastic/nylon, syntthecit fan. However, It does seems like all hte fans for thirdgen are of metal. I wonder why, since it will add more stress to the water pump. The other day I saw a fan clutch set up on a H2 Hummer.. it had the thermal clucth and the plastic fan blade... many blades... I willposted updates! thanks

 

All three of my 83's had the metal fan, and the fan clutch worked by thermal as well as by RPM. Never had any problems with them. As for the plastic fan with a thermal/RPM clutch my 97 Crown Victoria has that set-up. It's a P-74 model, but has the mechincal fan and a high volume electric fan like the P-71 police and taxi versions, which mounts directly in front of the mechinical fan. They built them with the two fan set-up to prevent overheating from extended ideling. It works well. The car has a 195 t-stat, and never climbs above 195 no matter what you do to it. In fact, it actually relies on the thermostate to keep it warm enough, even in the summer. It also has the reverse rotation that the later models Thirdgen's have. There should be lots of old police cruisers of that vintage in the wrecking yards. You might look at one of those set-ups for your car? Charles

 

Have you thought about a newer elec fan? I've heard the LS1 dual fans move a TON of air and hook right up.

 

All you need to do for an LS1 is mod your upper radiator support, and cut the tabs off the LS1 setup. As soon as I remove my current A/C, the LS1 setups going on, and I'll be sure to document modifications with pictures.

Oh, and '87s used a hybrid serp/v-belt setup that had the alternator running on a serpentine belt. It honestly sucks. But the pump is a clockwise, so there should be no worries about needing a counter clockwise fan.

 

If you had a reverse rotation water pump you could use the 7 blade fan/HD clutch from a W(L35)code S-series.They are the same diameter as the 3rd Gen.Also I believe there was a switch to a nylon fan on them in '97 or '98.Just food for thought.

On the upper shroud it acts as the radiator upper retainer/support much the same as the one for the single/dual electric fans.And the lower section fits on the lower lip of the radiator support and has 2 bolts/j-nuts to retain it(you could use the hardware from your electris fan).

 

Hmmm that double system seems interesting...My problem is that I dont have access to a salvage yard, since I am in Panama, where the canal is... I would have love to see that set up. As for the rotation of the pump, mine is a 1987 and have the hybrid sytem, Serpentince and V belts.... Most likely clockwise rotation...

Where I leave there is HEAVY TRAFFIC, and VERY HUMMID AND HOT! I need something that pushes tons of air to keep my hi compression engine cool... Correct me if I am wrong, but it appear that mechanical fans move more air thant the electric set up.

On the research that I have done, one draw back of the mechanical fan is some HP loss and the extress on the water pump. The later concerns me... that why I though about the plastic fan... less weight, less stress on the water pump.

AS is, I am looking to purchase the fan shroud. My only options appears classic industries,where they have it listed, but it will cost me and arm a leg to get it... I wonder if there are any online salvage yards!

Considering the cost and the trade off the the mechanical set up, I am re thinking about an electrical set up.. to the double elctrical fan really out perform a mechanical set upt in terms of cooling???

I guess this is my true question... In terms of cooling, wich system is best? Mechanical or electrical?

 

PLEASE POST PICTURES AND COMMENTS... I am interested to see how much it cools in comparison the the system you have.

Thanks!

 

yea me to I want to see a complete how to install LSx/LTx twin fans in.

 

Cool Ram, why did you switch from Mechnical to Electrical? For more HP, Better Cooling, or looks? How was the change? Better Cooling?

 

Keeping true to sharing experience and Knowledge, I have done exhaustive research on this idea of retrofitting to a mechanical set up. I have spoken with all the tech gentleman from the tree mayor manufacutres of automotive fans, Together at thirdgen.org, we have shared difference experiences, and after examinig earlier third gens with the mechanical set up I have opted not to pursue this avenue..

for the sole reason that it will cost to much money ($300.00 newparts) Other secondary reason are the stress on the H20 pump, the relcationg of the A/C lines (hoses), and the crowding the cowl will creat in the engine compartment. But I tell you this, I wish I have experimented with the idea, just for the experience.

I have purchases a set up used dual fans, with all the mouting ware. I will open a new threat when I get the fans, I will post pictures and comments.

Thanks to all that contributed to this thread!

 

Fulo sorry for the slow response.I did the switch to take the load off the water pump,I need a new HD fan clutch and got the entire dual fan setup for the same price(less the controls).It does provide for a cleaner engine bay and the fans only run when they are needed.So far they've done a very good job through the hot Southern summer.I also switched my '95 Jimmy 4DR 4WD to LT1 dual fans from the clutch fan with very good results.The LT1/LS1 fan assemblys will fit the 3rd gens with no problems.