Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!

Installing Electric Fans in a 1974 Camaro

The LS1 Fan fits nicely into the second generation camaro.  In this installation they're mounted to a 3 core radiator for a 1974 Z28 with A/C (17"h x 26 3/8"w core, approx. 19"h x 32"w overall)

When you obtain the LS1 electric fan, be sure to get the fan plugs with a short length of the original harness.  And don't forget to test the fans.  Total installation time was about 6 hours (spread across a few days).

Parts (cost = $234):
LS1 Fan assembly with 2 feet of harness (used) including shipping:  $109
DELTA Controller kit and SP-2 splitting loom kit:  $115
Water pump pulley screws, framing screws, 1/8"x1"x2' aluminum stock.  $10

Disconnect battery. Remove old fan, clutch assembly, fan shroud, and upper radiator support. Replace pulley bolts with shorter ones that are long enough to go through the pump hub but not too long as to hit the pump housing.  3/4" worked for this single groove pulley and Edelbrock pump. Tighten and spin the hub to be sure. 
pulley_screws.jpg (34490 bytes)
The two upper brackets are made from 1/8" x 1 x 4 aluminum stock. If you bend the aluminum around a 6 penny nail you'll get just the right gap to snuggly slip over the LS1 fan housing.  Drill holes and attach to the radiator support with some framing screws (these have a very flat head). clip_with_screw.jpg (25773 bytes)

upper_clips_testfit_02.jpg (23543 bytes)
Test fitting the clips

upper_clips_testfit_01.jpg (18800 bytes)
Make one lower 'L' shaped bracket from the aluminum stock.  Screw it to the fan housing and at the center of radiator support tray. lower_clip_inset.jpg (24245 bytes)

The lip on the support cover hits the fan housing just a bit.  A little trimming is necessary to make it fasten down flat against the upper radiator cushions.

cover_trimmed.jpg (16725 bytes)
Test fit the new fan assembly and support cover.

The Delta FK-35 fan controller was used instead of relays.  One advantage of the DCC is that it gradually spins the fans until they reach full speed. This eliminates the high initial amperage draw associated with most electric fan installations.  The controller also has some built in overload protection. The SP-2 splitting loom kit was used since the LS1 fans each have their own wires.  It makes for a cleaner install and only costs $5.

support_cover_testfit.jpg (44708 bytes)
 

Mount the controller in an easily accessible place close to the fans and 12V source.
Here it's mounted on the driver side radiator support with the 1/8" sheetmetal screws provided. 

Removing the washer bottle makes drilling the holes and wiring the controller easier. 

control_mounted.jpg (14617 bytes)
 

Attach the sensor. It just slips in between the radiator fins.  For crossflow radiators, the sensor should be placed at the bottom by the outlet hose.
It's best to secure this with a small clip so it can't slip out. This clip is attached to the lower housing tab, allowing the wire rest loosely, but not allowing the head of the sensor to slide out of the fins.

 

sender_clip.jpg (13217 bytes)
Remove the fan assembly so you can run the sensor wire and battery ground wire (and 12V power if you take it from the battery) inside the headlight harness casing. The harness passes just under the fan support cover, between the fan and radiator support. It attaches with stock harness clips. 
This makes for a nice clean install.  Now you can permanently attach the fan assembly to the support.

harness_support.jpg (26319 bytes)

The FK-35 kit includes all the wires and terminal ends you need. 
Connect the ground wire you ran through the headlight harness to the BATTERY (-).   Here it is, coming out of the harness, ready to be connected.
BAT_ground.jpg (55421 bytes)
The other end of the ground wire gets connected to the GROUND terminal on the controller.

Connect ground leads from the fan (using the SP-2 black) to the same GROUND terminal on the controller.

            fans_wired.jpg (15766 bytes)
Connect the positive leads from the fan (using the SP-2 red) to the controller OUTPUT terminal.
control_complete.jpg (36540 bytes)

Plug in the sensor on PINS 1--2 of the controller.  The yellow wire  is connected to an 'IGN on' source so the fans will turn off when the engine is shutdown. Blue wire is for A/C equipped vehicles (not used here).

Connect 12V source to the controller INPUT terminal.  Our 12V source will come from a junction block mounted on the fender near the fuel vent canister.  This junction block will also supply our headlight relays.

All the wires have been enclosed in casings for a cleaner install.  A harness clip was added on the side of the fan housing to secure the fan wires.  A small hole was drilled in the housing tab and a stock harness clip was snapped into place. They're also secured with a clip on each fan enclosure (factory design).
harness_clip.jpg (23193 bytes)

harness_fans.jpg (54197 bytes)

Here are the fans all wired, cased, and clipped.


The Delta Controller comes with jumpers to set the temperature at which the fans come on. The default 180* (no jumpers) was used.  Time to test. The fans work great.  When the engine temp reached 180*, the fans started to slowly spin, ramping up quietly and maintaining the temperature between 180* and 185* while the car idled for 20 minutes.