I bit the bullet and did the electric radiator fan

[StephenG]

Last weekend I finally got around to installing my electric radiator fan. Someone had given me a 14inch single speed unit, and low and behold, that particular model was the recommended unit for a ka hardbody.

Installation was simple, just remove the four 10mm nuts that hold the fan clutch to the pully, pull the fan/clutch assembly straight out and then reinstall the nuts. I had two pieces of aluminum stock from scrap projects and fabbed up a bracket, as I didnt want to use the stock shroud. I wired it up with a thermostatic controller, and a 3 pole switch in the cab. This way I can manually turn it on or off, or leave it on the thermostat.

Fan: free, dontated :P
Thermostat: Autozone, $17
Fuse holder, fuse, switch, additional relay and misc wiring: $25
Total Project Cost: $42 and about 3 hours

All in all, I'm pretty satisfied. Its a bit louder than I had hoped, but for a single speed, that is pretty much to be expected. Sometime before next summer I plan to rework it with a dual fan, variable speed setup, but this works for now. Does it make more power? I doubt it, maybe 1.5 hp lol. One thing I have notice though, my highway mileage is up to 36!

[Rev_D21]

Can you share the make and model of the fan you used? Up to 36? Wow, mine only made it to 28mpg once. It hovers around 25mpg.

[osegundo]

I've been wanting to put electric fans on mine but not sure if the fan clutch comes off on the Z24!! Do you know if it does?

[StephenG]

The fan I used is a Hayden 3690.
Also, I'm an amateur hyper-miler. I cruise around 68, draft semi's(5 car lengths, I'm not totally insane) and I keep my A/C off unless its hot enough to warrant it. Over inflate the tires slightly, don't jackrabbit, run full synthetic 5w30, etc...

[jdansmith]

any pics? Been thinking about doing this also.

[Drafteddesign]

All in all, I'm pretty satisfied. Its a bit louder than I had hoped, but for a single speed, that is pretty much to be expected. Sometime before next summer I plan to rework it with a dual fan, variable speed setup, but this works for now. Does it make more power? I doubt it, maybe 1.5 hp lol. One thing I have notice though, my highway mileage is up to 36!

You touched on a very important point on this for me. I want to do this same swap, but I dread that loud whine of the elec fan. On Extreme 4x4, they added a flexilite single fan onto a Scout. It sounded like a Jet engine! It was so loud, the other guys on the trail were mocking its "whirr". I'd love to pick up an extra few miles on the gallon, so I'm on the fence about it.