Yet another cheap electric fan...

[OKGMC4]

I realize that some of you are aware of this part, but maybe I can show someone something new. I wanted an electric fan for my 56 with a 5.3l -- I looked at Summit and Jegs and all the street rod places and I ALMOST ordered a Cooling Components fan with shroud that costs $200. I'm sure it's a great fan but I am SOOOO cheap so I researched cheap junkyard fans and kept coming up with this...Lincoln Mark VIII (and some later model TBird/ Cougars) have about the baddest efan the factory ever made. Taurus fans are good, too, but are usually the wrong size for us tri five guys. I did some measuring and it's as though Ford said "You know, we ought to make an electric fan for chevy pickups!" They are two speed and have a massive motor and 18" blade. I got mine at LKQ for $20. It is a commonly sought after fan and I got the last one in the yard, after checking every Mark/tbird/cougar! I trimmed the factory brackets off, cut 3/4" off the rear of the shroud, and used 1/16" aluminum strips to tie it to my radiator. There's about 3/4" clearance on the motor, and my engine rides higher than most so there could've been more room. I'll let the pics speak for themselves and let you guys decide...

[OKGMC4]

after trimming...

[OKGMC4]

mounted...

[dwcsr]

One of the problems now with these being so popular is that people think that just because it looks like a Mark VIII fan it is a Mark VIII 2 speed fan. There were about 5 version of this fan and some were a single speed that was operated by a variable speed controller. Your looks to be a 2 speed. If the connector on the fan was white and there was a small inpection plate just above the connector it would be a single speed. The easiest way to tell is test it. There is a significant difference in speed between the hi and low. If you get a junk yard fan get the plug with it especially if its a Taurus fan.

These may help in determining your wiring needs

http://www.thehollisterroadcompany.c...VIIIrelay.html
http://www.thehollisterroadcompany.com/MarkVIII.html were I installed it in a C10

[bobinbc]

Hey OKGMC4, good tip on the fan, I have one I picked up a while back. Being the smart shopper that you are I was wondering where you got your rad?

[mr48chev]

Slick, I keep eyeballing the fans in my daily driver 88 Caddy every time I work on it thinking that one or both of them would be good fits but I like the looks of the one off the Lincoln.

[OKGMC4]

Originally Posted by bobinbc

Hey OKGMC4, good tip on the fan, I have one I picked up a while back. Being the smart shopper that you are I was wondering where you got your rad?

EBAY! It was cheaper than all the other direct fit radiators that I could find but...one little side note about this. It is a Rand brand radiator. It seems to be well made in general and I think it should cool the 5.3 no problem but the brackets are problematic. They were welded on at an angle, and the bottom leaned in and hit the splash pan. I tried to use 1" spacers to move it out enough but I had issues with the top hose and cooling fan fitment. I had to cut the brackets off the side and put the radiator in exactly parralel to make it all work. Now I need to find someone who can TIG it back together for me because I can't weld aluminum. So, it's sort of a good deal but I had to modify it to make it work.