Steven Ko

I'm slowly getting my beast (86.5) to top order but I've had the classic symptoms of bad fan clutch. So I took the advice of making the fan clutch a direct drive using a piece of metal. Voila, no more overheating problems and I'm feeling like the cat's meow sitting in traffic. Now the question is, with no real answer to the viscous fan clutch problem what are the drawbacks of constantly running the fan with this direct drive set up??? Anyone with input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

WallyP

Bad choice. Excess noise, excess power drain, excess speed on the fan could cause failure with serious damage.

Three better choices:
- Replace the fan clutch - $$$
- Refill the clutch with silicone fluid. I developed this process several years ago. The instructions are on the Nichols web site http://www.nichols.nu/tips.htm and in the archives of this site.
- Replace the belt-driven fan with an electric fan. The details are in the archives.

Paul D

Steven - I just replaced my viscous fan with the S4 electric fans. If you have the money and and some basic electrical knowledge it's not too difficult a swap. I wanted to go to the electric setup because it seems like the more efficient way to keep the engine coolant cool. The fans only come on when needed vs. driving a pulley all the time. The only issue I have now is that my alternator is having difficulty maintaining a proper output voltage when both electric fans are spooled up. I'm hoping a rebuild will solve this issue. I know there are others on this board who have used after market electric fans with good results. The S4 fan setup pulls allot of air through the radiator when needed and keeps my coolant temp gauge from creeping north much better than the pulley setup did. Good luck!

drnick

it is very straightforward to delete the visous fan and replace with a single aftermarket electric fan to the front of the radiator. hardest part i found was removing the old one!

Steven Ko

Thanks for your help guys. I went to this setup after trying the viscous fan repair via the toyota fluid. 2 special order bottles later I was riding a bit high on the temp scale but still not overheating. About a month later, back to the overheating situation. Probably my own ham fisted repair but I didn't feel like wasting more cash on the silicone fluid again.
Well, better take that off and start looking into putting in an electric fan. How does one eliminate the pulley set up that is there???

V-Fib

Steven, with the ambient air temps you have to deal with in Laredo, you're going to have your work cut out for you in getting the operating temp down. It get's hot in Laredo! Come to the Texas Shark Extravaganza 9/27-9/28. Ernest can give you all the cooling information you can handle. Welcome to the board.



Anthony Tate
79/928 Silver Metallic

jpitman2

If you dont want/cant go electric, you can mod your current pulley system to use a cheaper type viscous coupling (read 'more readily available') and fan with a little machining work. I put a Land Rover viscous and fan on my 83, and it works fine.
jp 83 Euro S AT

Steven Ko

Anthony

Yeah it is hot down here!!! Especially from a displaced Canadian!!! I've lived down here for 4 years now and I still can't get used to the heat. Its just too bad my shark suffers from the same overheating problems that I do!!! I'll definetly check into the sharkfest

Thanks again for all your help guys. Looks like I found a used fan clutch so my problems in this department might be over!!