Cooling upgrade on my 84

This tech article helped a little, sounds like 83/84 is very similar if not the same as 85/86:  https://turbotbird.com/thread-cooling-fan-switch-85-86

Here is how I just upgraded my 84:
- CU138 aluminum radiator stock replacement for 3-row "HD cooling", my original was a 2-row copper, -- $100 (already picked this up a couple years ago, buyer's remorse for not upgrading at the time instead)
- Aluminum shroud with two fans from Stinger -- $130
- Derale 16759 Adjustable Fan Controller -- $50

For the auxiliary override to run the fans for A/C, and for backup to the temp probe and controller using my stock 221F +/-5F temperature fan switch, I just used the existing hot wire for the original fan.  Used the ground for the original fan since it was a true solid ground of adequate gauge.  Ran the temp sensor to the very top outer corner by where the hot hose comes in from the thermostat, used some RTV to hold it in place.  Setting the temp was very easy with the engine running keeping an eye on my autometer water temp gauge.

The fun mod was tapping into the original fan controller to run an ignition/run hot wire.  Turned out faster than tapping a wire anywhere else and was fairly easy to get to.  Just drilled a hole on the trace for pin 8, sanded down to bare copper, and used a little machine screw and lock washer.  Way less cheesy hacky than those tap splices they give you...

I need to clean up the wiring and loom it up but once that's done I think it will look like it all belongs! There is way more room in front of the engine now.  The fans also drop the temp FAST and for probably the first time ever I have a stable hot idle of about 200-210F rather than creeping up to 220 where I always thought it ran coarser not better.  I also expect better stop light A/C performance from the tight shroud seal, I have a lot of layers to pull air through going IC-condenser-radiator.

   

   

   

   

   

Got bored, made a cartoon


   

That is the same fan controller I have on my 86 Tbird 5.0 that I converted to a 2 speed Taurus 3.8 electric fan years ago. It has performed flawlessly for years. IMO, with the temperature probe in the radiator fins it worked OK but not great. I picked up a 1.5" diameter aluminum hose coupler on Ebay for a couple bucks, and drilled a hole in the side of it the diameter of the probe and JB welded the probe in the hole. Put the coupler in the upper radiator hose.
This gave the controller a much more accurate reading of the actual coolant temp and gave much more consistent temp control under different ambient temp conditions.

That is the same fan controller I have on my 86 Tbird 5.0 that I converted to a 2 speed Taurus 3.8 electric fan years ago.  It has performed flawlessly for years.  IMO, with the temperature probe in the radiator fins it worked OK but not great. I picked up a 1.5" diameter aluminum hose coupler on Ebay for a couple bucks, and drilled a hole in the side of it the diameter of the probe and JB welded the probe in the hole.  Put the coupler in the upper radiator hose.
This gave the controller a much more accurate reading of the actual coolant temp and gave much more consistent temp control under different ambient temp conditions.

That's a great idea, I'll have to be on the lookout for one of those couplers.  

It seems to work okay where I have the probe at.  The fans are so much quieter that I wonder if they are even on! Lol