Engine Proform E-fan - Stock Shroud Req'd?

boostfrk

10 Year Member
Aug 30, 2011
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Colorado
I've got the Mustang specific Proform 15" e-fan on my car that the PO installed. It has a built in shroud of sorts, but by my calculation the fan only covers about 56-57% of the face area of the radiator.

Would trimming the shroud off the Proform and installing the fan inside the stock shroud yield better results? Am I just making work for myself?

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If it's keeping your car cool right now, you're wasting your time. The Proform fans are garbage IMO. When that one fails, get yourself a junkyard Taurus, Contour, or Mark VIII fan. They flow almost twice the CFM of the proform and will last much longer. If that one is working for you right now though, I wouldn't mess with it..
 
I've heard the Proform fans are garbage. I may look at upgrading anyways.

With one of those junkyard fans, is it easiest to take the fan itself and install it into the stock Mustang shroud or use the entire assembly from the Taurus/Contour, etc?

I believe I remember seeing a write up about installing a Taurus fan into a stock shroud.
 
I haven't heard of anyone needing to modify the shrouds on any of those OEM fans. I went with a Taurus fan myself mainly because it has a smaller shroud and will clear my turbo piping better. It pulls so much CFM that having a shroud to cover the entire radiator area shouldn't be necessary. I think the contour fan covers the most radiator area because it is a dual blade fan.

Here is my Taurus fan mounted up:
DSC_0354.jpg
 
Looks like it covers more of the face area than my current fan. I liked the idea of the stock shroud so that I could mount my stock overflow bottle on it.

I may start looking for a Taurus fan and then piece together a wiring/controller kit for it. The current controller I have only has a 40/60A relay which seems a bit small from what I've read about the Taurus fans.
 
One of the guys with an early fox installed an aftermarket fan of some sort into the stock shroud (I'm associating the thread with a guy who either had an '86 or had 86 in his username - but I could be wrong). It was a big thread and might have been a sticky at one point.

I was also wondering (along with Scott, et al) how this set-up was doing for you, temp wise. That, along with how reliable you think the circuit is, might determine how quickly you replace anything.
 
One of the guys with an early fox installed an aftermarket fan of some sort into the stock shroud (I'm associating the thread with a guy who either had an '86 or had 86 in his username - but I could be wrong). It was a big thread and might have been a sticky at one point.

I was also wondering (along with Scott, et al) how this set-up was doing for you, temp wise. That, along with how reliable you think the circuit is, might determine how quickly you replace anything.

I believe you may be thinking of 85_SS_302_Coupe. His thread is here http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/threads/e-fan-with-stock-shroud-how-to-check-it-out.755550/. That's what gave me this idea in the first place, along with the fact I just never felt the fan that's on there now covered a decent amount of the radiator face area.

The setup seems to be working OK from what I can tell. I bought a simple fan controller that turns the fan on at 185F and off at 170F. If you believe the factory temp gauge the fan kicks on when the gauge reads 200F. As soon as the fan kicks on, the needle never rises, it just goes down.

I don't think I need to replace anything right away. There are a couple main reasons I wanted to find a stock shroud and use it.

1. If I could use the stock shroud and mount the e-fan in the stock shroud, I figured I could get better coverage across the radiator face as the stock shroud would cover the entire radiator face (or nearly all of it) as Ford originally intended.
2. Stock look. I don't really care for just having a bare radiator with the e-fan bracketed on in my engine bay. I've seen a lot that look nice, mine just looks cobbled up.
3. With the stock shroud I'd have a place to mount the factory overflow bottle. The PO rigged up the washer fluid reservoir and the overflow bottle. I'd like to be able and get away from that.
 
I may work on piecing together a new setup over the coming months. Stock shroud, Taurus junkyard fan and the base $80 DCC controller. This should give me a reliable setup, look relatively stock, and allow me to mount my overflow tank back on the stock shroud.
 
:nice: Indeed, you're correct. Apologies to 85SS. I knew it was a pre aero guy but I haven't been on here in some time (my cache of usernames has faded).

The only concern one might have is that your temp readings are based on the stock gauge. We both know its accuracy can leave something to be desired. I've seen them read as much as 35* too cool. I'd at least confirm the temp with the ECT or another mechanism, but it sounds like you've been doing just fine.

I like your ideas about shroud coverage, etc. That sounds like a good plan with whatever fan you choose to use long term.

One last thing - regarding hysteresis. Unless you run a balanced 160* t-stat, your fan settings are too low. If you're running a non-balanced 160 (which might fully open at 172-175*F ) or any sort of 180 (balanced or not), the fan will be running even when the stat is closed. One really wants to have at least 5-10*F of spread between the temp that the stat is fully open and the temp that the fan shuts off. This allows the cooling system to cool as best as it can on its own for a little bit, and then the fan is utilized as necessary. It also keeps the fan from running almost non-stop [once the car is warmed up] since it will continue to run when the t-stat has closed. Not much of an issue in the summer, but if you drive the car in the colder months..........
 
I keep hearing mixed/different opinions on this fan. I just bought one of these pro form fans new for my stock 90 lx, as it is an easy install, comes with the controller installed, and I got it for less than $100. Should I bring it back or install it and see if it works good enough. Right now, I have the stock fan and clutch that are working just fine. Just looking to free up a few horsepower, clean up the engine and keep the motor cool.
 
I keep hearing mixed/different opinions on this fan. I just bought one of these pro form fans new for my stock 90 lx, as it is an easy install, comes with the controller installed, and I got it for less than $100. Should I bring it back or install it and see if it works good enough. Right now, I have the stock fan and clutch that are working just fine. Just looking to free up a few horsepower, clean up the engine and keep the motor cool.
I have been using mine for years without any problems.
 
From what I've heard nothing really cools like the stocker, you just have to make sure the clutch stays in good shape. Depends on how desperate you are for that supposed extra HP.

If I still had the stocker I would probably keep it.