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Would a electric fan help?

Millwright on Tue August 14, 2007 4:36 PM User is offline

Year: 1990
Make: Frord
Model: F-150
Engine Size: 302
Refrigerant Type: 134a

I got the truck to work good at road speeds(41degrees) but once I stop at idle for awhile the temps go back to the high 50`s I have a new oem clutch fan and the condensor is clean but I guess the condensor just can`t handle the load from the 143a,so wouls it help to add a pusher fan in front of the condensor and if so what would you use?

TRB on Tue August 14, 2007 6:17 PM User is offlineView users profile

I had this same model truck and a electric fan did not help.

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Millwright on Tue August 14, 2007 6:23 PM User is offline

I mean if I put a fan in front of the condensor and keep the ford clutch fan from the factory both together are you sure this would not help?

TRB on Tue August 14, 2007 6:25 PM User is offlineView users profile

As stated it did not help, clutch fan and electric.

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JJM on Tue August 14, 2007 7:02 PM User is offline

Nothing beats a properly functioning engine fan and clutch. A pusher fan on this type of set-up might actually impede air flow. Unless somehow that pusher fan is more powerful than the engine fan (unlikely) it'll just act as a big bug that went splat on your condenser.

Joe

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dannyual767 on Tue August 14, 2007 8:56 PM User is offlineView users profile

My converted 5.0 Mustang does the same thing. In fact, in the latest high heat we've been having, I'm up to 60 F out of the vent at extended idle. I'm all the way down to 40 F at 55 mph.

I've got a Lincoln MK VIII fan that will be going in just as soon as my DCC electric fan controller gets here. With the info I've read on this forum, I don't think that my idle vent temps will get any better. I'm doing the electric fan for my engine. I want to save gas/hp and noise. This fan clutch that I've got moves some air but it makes a tremendous whirring noise that drives me crazy.

The MK VIII fan is known to move some air so hopefully my vent temps won't get worse at idle.

I'm thinking that the only thing we can do to improve our idle temps is to go with a parallel flow condenser. Tim, Chick, what do you think??

GlennT on Tue August 14, 2007 11:00 PM User is offline

I sometimes miss selling that mustang but after 14 years and 270k miles and every conceivable repair I let it go. The lincoln fan was on my wish list, from what i understand if flows more air than any aftermarket fan like a black magic. The problem with that fox body in my opinion is it just does not have good airflow especially the GT with the solid nose. I herd good things about the lincoln fan but never got around to the upgrade but if I was to do it today I would make sure you seal the gap between the conndenser and radiator. Basically make it suck as much air as you can through the condenser. Forget about a pusher fan, it never helped me in city driving and is useless on the highway. JJM hit it on the nose with the pusher, I did a volvo 91' conversion that had a monster 22" pusher fan that could freeze you out of the car. An old rule of thumb is the fan should be able to blow your hat off and the volvo fan and the lincoln fan can do that. However you will need to , if you haven't already, upgrade to the powermaster or 3G 130+ amp alternator because the stock 80amp wont handle the 60amp startup and 40amp draw that the fan will require.

The parallel flow condenser was also on my wish list. If you remove the stock condenser and measure the front cavity you can fit one of the universal units listed on Tims site. The problem is you will need to make your own hose assemblies to connect to the high pressure and liquid lines because the parallel flow condenser do not come with spring lock connectors. Not an easy thing for a DIY'r without the proper resources like the tools or a good shop but it can be done. Badically the hot gas from the compressor enters at the top and the liquid exits from the bottom, from there you need to decide how to connect to the stock hoses or fabricate new ones.

Sounds like you have a bit invested already so if I was going to spend your money I would go for the parallel flow upgrade at least by next summer. I honestly think it will help because if you compare both the stock unit to what you can fit in that cavity I think you could increase the condenser surface byt at least 60%. Just look at he the units in later model luxury fords like lincolns and mercurys, the condensers are huge with big fans and that is what you are trying to achieve.

Good luck and keep us posted.

dannyual767 on Wed August 15, 2007 9:18 AM User is offlineView users profile

posted by GlennT,

Quote
sometimes miss selling that mustang but after 14 years and 270k miles and every conceivable repair I let it go. The lincoln fan was on my wish list, from what i understand if flows more air than any aftermarket fan like a black magic. The problem with that fox body in my opinion is it just does not have good airflow especially the GT with the solid nose. I herd good things about the lincoln fan but never got around to the upgrade but if I was to do it today I would make sure you seal the gap between the conndenser and radiator.

My wife has suggested that I sell the Mustang since the ac has really frustrated me in the last couple of years (leaks after the conversion that turned out to be the evaporator!) I told her that these 5 liter Mustangs are the 55 Chevys of my generation and will be desireable for decades to come.

The Lincoln fan is a huge favorite in the Mustang world with the proper controller (like Delta Current Controll [DCC]) and a 3G alternator, which I bought new from PA Performance about 4 yrs ago. I like your idea of sealing between the radiator and condenser. I'm going to do that !

In the end, like you said, I think that it is going to take a parallel flow condenser for the most efficient R134a cooling. My local NAPA makes ac hoses so I've got that base covered. My system seems to be working fine. When I'm not in 90+ degree sunshine, I easily get vent temps below 40 F at any speed other than idling.

In the hot sun in the middle of the day, the system is pushed hard and I get 40 F at 55 mph and above (1500rpm.) Idle vent temps will creep up to 60 F. Slow speed city driving (35-45 mph) will give vent temps of 48 F. The more time I can drive, the more time it has to cool down and the temps will come down lower than that. Honestly, my 2002 WS6 Trans Am doesn't seem to cool any better except maybe at idle.

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