electric fan relays and switches

[DjLunchbox]

who's using them , and which setup do you have? i noticed the one from painless is only like 180 on/165 off, or 200 on/ 180 off.. something like that. or there is the adjustible setups, which i'm leaning towards right now. my questions are.... with the reg. themostat set-ups, where did you screw the thermostat into on the block? and the adjustible kits have that probe that has to go somewhere.... where did you put it? this will be for an LT1 engine. iu was thinking of having the probe brazed into the side of the radiator on the fill side. pics too if ya got them.

thanks, jeremy

[SLMDLT1]

Normally the temp probe is simply inserted into the radiator fins. I personally ran two 30a relays and made my own relay harness with a switch on the dash. Mine never gets hot though driving, so I only have to use the fans if I am in traffic.

[DjLunchbox]

ok, and what are you using for a thermostat? i want a 160 degree i think....where did you get it? does an auto parts store carry them for that low of a temp?

[pchurchill]

I have a flex-a-lite dual fan kit in mine that came with a controller with the probe that went into the upper radiator hose hole, then you clamp the hose over it. It had a little rubber block to help seal it, and it never leaked. Problem with the old controller was that there was one speed, 100%, on or off. With the a/c on, the fans run 100% of the time at full blast.
They now have a variable speed control box which I just installed, and it is much better. The probe just presses in between the radiator fins nice and snug, and the fans come on "softly" so less amp draw, and run at 60% speed, then ramp up to 100% if the temperature climbs throughout the next 10 degrees increase (which never happens)
With the a/c on, it runs the fans at 60% speed, which is all the condenser needs. The fans are much quieter now and get less wear and tear, without that initial high amp draw on fan startup. It also senses the temperature after you shut it off, and if its high it will run the fans for 30 seconds after you shut the truck off. It is adjustable for temperatures from 155-230 with a small screw setting, and has provisions to add switches for manual override to bypass and turn them on or off. 79 bucks at Jegs.com
If you do a google search for flex-a-lite variable speed controller there's a few other places that carry them online. Comes with all the wires, small in size and easy to wire up to any system. I use a 160 thermostat and the controller is set to come on about 15-20 degrees above that which only happens when sitting in traffic. Hope this helps.

[SolMan98]

Originally posted by DjLunchbox
ok, and what are you using for a thermostat? i want a 160 degree i think....where did you get it? does an auto parts store carry them for that low of a temp?

do a search here on thermostats. a lot of folks are running 160, but someone found a study and posted it here showing the downside of running a 160. it stated that a 180 in today's vehicles was about as low as you wanted to go. i have a 170 in mine currently, my fans have the same style probe that just pushes through the radiator and is set to come on at 180.

go to any local auto supply and they can tell you what they have available for your truck. might have to go to more than one to find the temp range you want, or order one from hypertech or someplace.

[SLMDLT1]

I am running a stock 180 thermostat in the LT1. You cannot use just a SBC thermostat either, the LT1 ones are different and you must order one specifically for the lt1. I would stick with a 170 or 180 for you, specially being up their in the cold.

[DjLunchbox]

Originally posted by SLMDLT1
I am running a stock 180 thermostat in the LT1. You cannot use just a SBC thermostat either, the LT1 ones are different and you must order one specifically for the lt1. I would stick with a 170 or 180 for you, specially being up their in the cold.

that's right! i forgot about the different thermosat... they're reverse flow aren't they? and big as hell if i remember correctly, the temp used to sit right at 175 all the time, i wonder what is in there i'm guessing a 170......

and thanks for the reply's guys. i'm going to go with another adjustible set-up with the probe. now my first one was just shoved into the hose inlet of the radiator, but i don't want to do that. i'm getting a new aluminum radiator, and i don't want to punch the probe through the fins and ruin it. as it is, i still have to find a way to mount the fan up, and not ruin the fins like the old one did. i'm planning on fabbing some brackets, unless i can find a set of universal brackets. the only one's i saw so far are for the perma-cool/ be-cool radiators...

i'm, guessing that i could just drill a hole in the side of the radiator, and braze the probe in right? that would look neater...

[SLMDLT1]

Prob just a stock 180. My temp never gets over 170 or 175 with the 180 in it. Run a couple bottles of water wetter and a 50/50 mix of antifreeze. Since I am in florida and dont worry about freezing blocks or anything I run about a 80/20 water/antifreeze mix and two bottles of water wetter, and it cools insanely fast and never gets hot.

[DjLunchbox]

Originally posted by SLMDLT1
Prob just a stock 180. My temp never gets over 170 or 175 with the 180 in it. Run a couple bottles of water wetter and a 50/50 mix of antifreeze. Since I am in florida and dont worry about freezing blocks or anything I run about a 80/20 water/antifreeze mix and two bottles of water wetter, and it cools insanely fast and never gets hot.

sounds good, i'd just reuse what's in there, but i don't want to leave anything to chance (that's why i'm getting a new radiator too) 180 it is... and yeah, i forgot about that 80/20 mix you guys use down there, but i remembered when my radiator turned into a block of ice last january when we were -30 degrees for a while had to flush the whole system:LOL:

[SLMDLT1]

Originally posted by DjLunchbox
and yeah, i forgot about that 80/20 mix you guys use down there, but i remembered when my radiator turned into a block of ice last january when we were -30 degrees for a while had to flush the whole system:LOL:

Ouch, atleast it didnt crack the block. Its common down here to not even use antifreeze, just straight water *L*

[DjLunchbox]

lol, i was like "oh man, WTF, first the e-brake, now this:LOL: "

being up here my whole life, it still seems wierd to me not to run 50/50.