Rad Help
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Supreme Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,074
Likes: 6
From: Orange, CT, USA
Car: 1983 Pontiac Firebird
Engine: 400HP 350
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Rad Help
I'm my replacing my right right know and i broke the shroud. He he, oops. is this going to cause a problem??? He he he, snap, Oh S.h.i.t. Oh well, he he he.
Supreme Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 13,414
Likes: 6
From: Central NJ, USA
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
Actually, sounds like a bitchin' time to upgrade to an electric fan from any 85-92 MPFI 2.8/3.1 f-body! You'll get a few horsepower back, too.
Originally posted by TomP
Actually, sounds like a bitchin' time to upgrade to an electric fan from any 85-92 MPFI 2.8/3.1 f-body! You'll get a few horsepower back, too.
Actually, sounds like a bitchin' time to upgrade to an electric fan from any 85-92 MPFI 2.8/3.1 f-body! You'll get a few horsepower back, too.
Supreme Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 13,414
Likes: 6
From: Central NJ, USA
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
Yeah, 82-84's used a mechanical fan, off the water pump pulley, with a fan clutch in between the two. As the engine (and therefore, pulley) heat up, the clutch engages, and spins the fan. This way the fan isn't running constantly off the engine (like an old car), but it'll still run off the engine if it gets hot, and depending on the timing of this, it could happen when he's racing. An electric fan would solve the problem. I think I posted a message a lonnng time ago on how to swap an '85-up electric fan setup into an 82-84 2.8, and how to make it "automatic".
Basically, you'd need the fan, upper & lower fan mounting brackets, some wire, a relay, two fuses, and the "fan switch" sensor from the back of the passenger side head. You can add a switch and some more wire to add a "manual" control, too. I'd imagine a junkyard would let the fan/brackets/sensor go for $25, and the rest you could buy locally for another $15-20, depending on where you find the parts.
Plus it would really clean up the engine bay! No more big shroud in the way of your engine!
Basically, you'd need the fan, upper & lower fan mounting brackets, some wire, a relay, two fuses, and the "fan switch" sensor from the back of the passenger side head. You can add a switch and some more wire to add a "manual" control, too. I'd imagine a junkyard would let the fan/brackets/sensor go for $25, and the rest you could buy locally for another $15-20, depending on where you find the parts.
Plus it would really clean up the engine bay! No more big shroud in the way of your engine!
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Supreme Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 13,414
Likes: 6
From: Central NJ, USA
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
Really? Thanks for the info! I'll have to look at the next one I see in the junkyard! I suppose he could always get a T-fitting to split off the dash-temp-sensor's hole, at the front of the driver's side head, but it might interfere with the air conditioning.
I got a Thermostat Switch Kit from J C WHITNEY, for $18 bucks.
Its Ajustable - set it to the temp you want - sensor mounts ON the radior hose, no relay needed. Sez it works with any electric cooling fan.
Its Ajustable - set it to the temp you want - sensor mounts ON the radior hose, no relay needed. Sez it works with any electric cooling fan.
Supreme Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 13,414
Likes: 6
From: Central NJ, USA
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
Thanks for the info, GR84! The only reason I suggested the relay was to allow the relay to handle the high current of the fan, instead of a switch mounted thru the firewall in the passenger area. It's generally safer to let only small amps in thru the firewall for a switch, and let the higher amp circuit get switched by a relay. (Kind of like headlights...)
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