SO my electric fan finally kicked the bucket. I really really didn't want to deal with this but also didn't want to put it off and HAVE to use the car with no fan.
I didn't spend much time thinking, just hopped on ebay and bought a 12" push/pull for 21 dollars shipped.

Just some info after a tiny bit of research. This generic 12" on ebay pulls 1750CFM. Info on the stock fan doesn't exist but a replacement of the same design pulls 700cfm...which is totally believable. So we will be pulling TWICE the air through!!

Steps I took, didn't take pics along the way but this is a WAY easier mod than I thought and for 21 dollars EVERYONE should do it. (pics aren't that necessary either)

1- Receive box with fan, scratch head
2-remove fan shroud (sorry if you've never done this before, I can do it in 20 minutes now without thinking.)
3- Remove old fan, observe obvious size difference...scratch head some more
4-Dat sh** don't fit man...
5- After deciding I can't make it work I decide the next step is to cut all of the surround of the shroud out.
6- Cut all of the surround of the shroud out. Mind, we ARE keeping the bit that sticks off to focus the air a bit.
7-After removing grind everything down to smooth it out
8-Put fan about where you want it, I found that one of the square sides works well on the part that sticks out because it can sit on the edge and has plently of support
9- Put on the mounting hardware to locate holes and drill them out
10-Fit mounting hardware
11-Find places that need additional securing or tightening and fit zip ties
12-Prime and paint
13-Mount fan
14- Replace shroud and wire it up!!

Sorry if anything is vague just ask questions!
I didn't do this well at all, theres quite a bit of space around the fan for air to leak but I figure that the CFM increase is so great that you can't possibly be losing more than is gained.
That being said it would take a pretty close inspection once it is in the car to say it looks bad. But hey, I'm a college student that just wants to drive a v12, no fancy pants Catcooler for me!

The whole assembly

You can see the other side of the mounting hardware here, note that 2 of the 3 are cut a bit to fit

Fastener locations

These work kind of like zip ties, I left some extra so they can't back off

How the side is attached. Hole drilled through fan and shroud. Obviously foam can be fitted to this WHOLE thing to make it more efficient and quieter but I dont care for now...

There IS a gap but what is gained far outweighs what is lost!! But the gap could be closed a bit!

Gap closed with another zip-tie to tighten it all up

 

Let us know how it works this Summer. Looks good.

 

lol I live in Florida, its already 80 degree stop and go. Theoretically the temp shouldn't be lower because the thermostat will regulate it, but that means when it does open up i'll have no problem sitting still in traffic

 

I wonder how mine will do when it gets over 100* here.

 

I'd like to mention when I put it in the car I had to cut one of the square bits of plastic so the top left radiator hose could fit. No big deal, but worth mentioning.

Also you can wire it up like the old fan, the female bullet becomes a ground and the male goes to the red positive wire and the fan is now in "pull" mode

 

Did you have to pull the radiator to get the fan shroud off?

Thanks,

John
1987 XJS V12, 62,000 miles

 

No.

man....I was gonna do a write up while putting it back together ( and just reverse pictures) but decided it was fairly straight-forward and noone would care. But I guess I've just done it a couple times before and don't realize not everyone has done it.


I can go into more detail on how to remove it if you want

 

If you have a chance that would be great. I'd like to pull the shroud and see what work I need to do (I know the small fan is kakput), but would rather get it out, examine it, and put it back together while I'm waiting on parts. The second time I'll do the major radiator stuff (new hoses etc) when I get all the parts together.

Thanks!

John
1987 XHS V12
62,000 miles

 

@Sidescrollin

Nice work. 1750cfm from that size of fan is pretty impressive. I hope you tidied up the kitchen when you were done !

 

moved

 

took your suggestion and went for the 11" left hand fan and fitted a 14" on the right side there the biggest that will fit flush, just waiting for the elec. parts and shorter water pump bolts to arrive and I can get it back together.

 

nice man! hopefully the electric fans more than make up for the lack of shroud, I wouldn't be surprised...

I can't recall belt routing and whatnot enough. So I have to ask, the shorter bolts just to delete the tensioner and everything for the water pump belt?

 

I couldn't get the studs out from the water pump/tensioner fittings with conventional stud removal tools to replace with bolts, (and I didn't want to damage them by trying to hard) I had to use spacers on the studs to take up the spare length, I have taken them off again since the picture as I decided not to go through the condenser with the ties, as the 14" one also meant going thru the oil cooler which I couldn't get to happen.
there is now fantastic accessibility to bottom hoses and front of engine components and I can easily get on the crankshaft pulley with a socket, if the need arises.

 

Another option if you want to try would be heating the area around it, giving it a nice bath of penetrating oil, or even cutting it to the size you want and then using a die to create threads all the way down and properly cut the new end as well.
All just depends on whats in your toolbox.

Then again if you are ever bored you can try harder until the possibly break off and then take your drill and extractor set out
I wouldn't worry about it until it deserves worrying though