Electric fan conversion article....???

I read the article about this electric fan changeover. It sounds good to me because I have a 67 a/c car, would like extra cooling for the motor and cooler a/c. Looks like the total cost is just over $100, but you have to have a 130 amp alternator. I clicked on that website to find that my alternator will cost $239.!! I like this swap but not at the cost of $350!!! Is there anyway around this???
thanks,
Signed,
Flat broke

I swaped a 130 alt out of a newer mustang for my 65, all I had to buy was the wiring kit from that same company you where looking at and I had to make a bracket for the alt to mount up. but now that I think about it, it looks as though a taurus (sp?) alt might fit with less work, I found my alt on ebay for about $60. plus like $30 for the wiring and like $8 for the sheet steel I used for my bracket so for $98 I think I did ok, oh ya I had to use the pully off of my old alt.

Then it would seem that I can get the alt and the wiring kit out of a car at the junk yard. Or is the wiring kit something special that converts this alt over to the older cars??

On the late 60-early 70's cars, the wires to the alternator are a sub-harness. You can scrap the whole harness and regulator. The alternator from an Aerostar with power windows will bolt to the existing brackets. My mechanic recommended not re-using a junk yard plug, as the female terminals inside the plug are subject to arcing and melting if re-used. I didn't like the idea of an engine fire, so I converted to a 100 amp GM alternator off of a 4 cyl Pontiac/Olds/Buick. Pulled the plug from the car when pulling the alternator. A heavy gage wire runs from the "bat" lug on the alternator to the battery terminal side of the starter solenoid, as does the red wire in the GM plug, the brown wire splices to the light green/red wire for the idiot light, the other one or two wires in the GM plug are not used.

I did the Taurus electric fan conversion, and at idle with the GM alternator, voltage stays steady at 13.9-14.2 volts with AC, headlights, stereo, and radiator fan all running at the same time. Total cost for the junkyard GM alternator conversion was $25.

It isn't all FOMOCO, but it was easy, cheap, and works great...

Dave
70 Torino 347 Stroker

Powermaster puts out a 140 amp alt for '66-'86 fords. $186, and I assume it fits the stock mount. It's in the new summit catalog, part#PWM-8-57140.

Guys, I have some questions about the junkyard fan article. Mr. Langley please explain your electrical math. Why are you installing a large relay and alternator to cover an occurence that lasted "only for milliseconds"? I do not understand why you suggest that people spend hundreds of dollars to upgrade their electric system to install a $30 fan. Rather than spend the money to increase my alternator amps I would spend $100 to buy a Perma-cool fan that works with the alternator that I have. I have installed several cooling fans on my older cars without going to the trouble Mr. Langley did and they have lasted for years without any problems, so I do not see what all the fuss is over 130 amp alternators. Please illuminate me.

i too would have to agree w/perma cool
they are sleek very nice looking and
have front and rear ball bearings for
long life i have the 16" and it only
draws 9.5 amps for under 100 bucks
you can't loose. the motor is pancake
so you won't hurt for room.

Don't get me wrong guys, I suggested the powermaster 140amp because it cured my problems with having underdrive pulleys and an electric fan, and 70 stock amps aren't going to do it. It fit the stock mounts, no fabricating, and only required one wire to the pos side of the battery. Problem solved, no hunting for electrical plugs, harnesses, mounts, etc. The $186 is about what you'd expect to end up with in labor, parts hunting and head scratching to go the junkyard route.

The factory 65 ~ 70 amp alternator found in civilian (most mustangs) is barely adequet ...you add in a good stereo (high amp draw, an electric fan and run the air conditioner...you will be draining off battery power at anything close to idle.

Taxi, police V-8 cars were fitted with 100+ amp alternators for this reason. As you should also know, the computer requires clean, stable power to run correctly. A lot of drivablity problems can be traced back to electrical/computer problems...caused by the cheap factory alternator. There is a horse power penalty to run a bigger alternator, but it isn't that great when compared to a tow charge plus the embarassment.

I really don't see any argument for NOT installing a better alternator. You don't "need" it, but its cheap insurance. IF there is something that says loser...it's a guy that has $3,000 in tires and wheels, $4,000 in his motor...etc. But its sitting on the side of the road or being towed home because he went for the flash" intead of spending just a little on the stuff people don't see. But, that's probably just me...I'm attracted to shiny things too! But I didn't have to catch a ride on the "short bus" home from school.


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Beoweolf on 6/15/03 9:05pm ]</font>