I have read many threads concerning removing the clutch type fan on my 97' 4Runner and replacing it with an elecric cooling fan. Sounds like a good idea to me but I have not found any specifics on what size fan and how much air flow I need to properly achieve this. I don't plan on doing any rock climbing or extreme off roading but I do live in the western NC mountains so a little hill climbing is necessary sometimes.

Any input on this would be greatly appreciated.

Graywoulf

 

Many people (including me) are running a fan from a mid 90's Ford Taurus. Very cheap to buy, and the shroud fits our radiators almost exact. Others use Black Magic, and Flex-a-lite. Do a search and you will find.

 

check out robinhood150's site, he has a pretty detailed write-up regarding this fan mod. i think corey has it also, click on the search feature up top, type in 'taurus fan mod' or similar and you should get plenty of reading.

lee

 

The Taurus fan fits the 2nd gens great but not so hot on the 3rd gens.
Most 3rd gens are using the flex-a-lite dual fan setup (model 210).

 

The FLX 210's are pretty spendy for what you get (I have them). I would spend my $200 on something else if I could do it all over again. Shoot, for the $700 I dropped on headers and the $200 I dropped on the fan, I am suddenly in used SC'r territory!

Then maybe I would have smoked that H2 I raced the other night!

 

What's the benefit of having an electric fan as opposed to having the belt driven type? sorry for the newb question...

 

belt driven robs power from the motor... however if the electric one is too powerful its going to give you alternator ahard time...

 

Here was my thread about the Taurus Fan from a while back https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...ght=Taurus+Fan

 

I figured it would up the HP a little bit... cool cool.

 

We had an eletric fan, and after several times of running hot, I threw it in the trash and put my good ol' manual fan back on. The manual fan doesn't eat up enough horse power to notice.

 

So, basically this is a mod NOT worth doing?

 

So far it has been great for me. I had trouble with my truck smelling and feeling very hot when wheeling or even in bad traffic. My Taurus fan has kept it much cooler than it was stock. It also warms up to operating temp faster, and I seem to have gained a mile or two per gallon. I think if it is done correct it is a great help.
It fits on 2nd gens real good--I dont know about 3rd.

 

IMO, I don't think I'd do it again. I didn't gain anything, I didn't loose anything. The mechanical always works and no need to worry about a wire coming loose, the thermal switch breaking, a fuse blowing, working the alternator too much, etc etc.

The only disadvantage is that a few people (I think I've heard of 2?) with 10 year old trucks have had their original fan explode on them.

 

using an 85 MR2 dual AC fan also works on the 3rd gen--- and its a toyota part too. If you wire the fans in series and use an aftermarket temp sensor, you can get a bit more power from the engine and run cooler. Wiring them in parallel for greater cooling would probably put a great deal of strain on the alternator and negate the benefits of the fan. I have one on my 98 sced tacoma--works good.

T