North American Turbocoupe Organization



Cooling upgrade on my 84
RC Martin Offline
Posting Freak
#1
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.


   

   

   

   

   
Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, Bright Canyon Red TuTone, Desert Tan Interior; 1 of 7 in this combo in 1984 according to Marti.  1 of 13,361 TCs in 84.
   Rebuilt, 3-Angle Valve Job, SYB37 "OE/Small" Slider Cam
   Full 3" Stinger Exhaust to Flowmaster 40, Gnari FMIC/Recirc/BPV, MBC @ 18psi, RF-E6 Manifold, Remote-Mount TFI, PC1 and Flowed 35# Injectors, Inline Walboro 255HP, Kirban AFPR
   Rebuilt Suspension -- KYB & Energy Suspension
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RC Martin Offline
Posting Freak
#2
Got bored, made a cartoon


   
Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, Bright Canyon Red TuTone, Desert Tan Interior; 1 of 7 in this combo in 1984 according to Marti.  1 of 13,361 TCs in 84.
   Rebuilt, 3-Angle Valve Job, SYB37 "OE/Small" Slider Cam
   Full 3" Stinger Exhaust to Flowmaster 40, Gnari FMIC/Recirc/BPV, MBC @ 18psi, RF-E6 Manifold, Remote-Mount TFI, PC1 and Flowed 35# Injectors, Inline Walboro 255HP, Kirban AFPR
   Rebuilt Suspension -- KYB & Energy Suspension
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Jeff K Offline
Administrator
#3
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.
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 24 psi, forced air IC, water injection, BPV, Ranger cam, subframes, etc., etc.
86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP N2O, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.
11 Crown Vic Interceptor
14 Toyota Camry (wifes car)
95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter beater
67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized
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RC Martin Offline
Posting Freak
#4
(06-21-2020, 01:34 PM)Jeff K Wrote: 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
Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, Bright Canyon Red TuTone, Desert Tan Interior; 1 of 7 in this combo in 1984 according to Marti.  1 of 13,361 TCs in 84.
   Rebuilt, 3-Angle Valve Job, SYB37 "OE/Small" Slider Cam
   Full 3" Stinger Exhaust to Flowmaster 40, Gnari FMIC/Recirc/BPV, MBC @ 18psi, RF-E6 Manifold, Remote-Mount TFI, PC1 and Flowed 35# Injectors, Inline Walboro 255HP, Kirban AFPR
   Rebuilt Suspension -- KYB & Energy Suspension
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