more helpful info about FoMoCo fans (with a bonus question for Jeffy)

[Sherpa]

As I mentioned in my first post on this forum (in the intro thread), my next mod will be an electric fan conversion.  I've been going through all the fan threads I could find, trying to absorb all the info that you guys have put out there.  I really liked Jeffy's thread where he used a Mark VIII fan rather than a Taurus fan.  From what he said (and what the pictures show), it is very easy to install this fan into a Jeep.  I decided this was the way I wanted to go... if only I could find a Mark VIII in a junkyard.

My favorite local wrecking yard announced they are having a half price sale throughout this weekend, beginning today.  I couldn't resist that, so I arranged to have today off work and I went.  Miracle of miracles, they actually had a Mark VIII and the engine bay was virgin--everything was intact.  Giddy as a school boy in sex ed class, I grabbed my tools and quickly had the fan out of the car.  Two cars away was a 4.6L V8 Thunderbird, and out of curiosity I looked at its fan--it seemed identical.  Just to be sure, I went ahead and removed it also.  Sure enough, it is the exact same fan as the Mark VIII in every way.  So those of you who want the larger Mark VIII fan now have a much higher likelihood of finding one.



I did notice one difference between the two cars, though.  The wiring harness plug on the Thunderbird had the usual 3-wire plug with all three wires present.  The Lincoln had the same plug, but only the two outer wires were there--black and blue.  I compared the plugs to each other and they are the same; I could plug either one into both fans.  So as far as I can tell, Ford decided to run the Lincoln fan only in high rather than use low and high as on the Thunderbird. 

Jeffy: is that how you found your Mark VIII fan's wiring connector?  Your pictures (such as the one I posted above) imply otherwise, but I was curious enough to ask.  Maybe my Lincoln was a later model year than yours, and Ford decided the DOHC 4.6L needed extra cooling fan capacity?

Now I just need to design a bracket for my PS reservoir and relocate my coolant overflow bottle and I'm all set.

[b.hog]

I used the t bird fan because I couldnt find a taurus or mkVIII , it works good.Cool to know they're the same.

[Bounty Hunter]

The shroud appears more narrow than a Taurus fan, can you measure the overall width?  I'm curious how easy it will be to mount to the oem shroud holes in the Wrangler radiator.

[sharpxmen]

The shroud appears more narrow than a Taurus fan, can you measure the overall width?  I'm curious how easy it will be to mount to the oem shroud holes in the Wrangler radiator.

mk vIII fits like a glove - i used some angle plate to mount it to the left/right mounting brackets, the height is almost the same as the core, width is i think couple of inches more on the fan but that was enough to hide the mounting brackets.




on another note mine is a Mk viii and it is single speed but i had 3 wires and for some stupid reason the blue and the center black were shorted together internally, the outer ones were the ones to use (i tried to spin it on low speed that i thought was using the center wire and i got fireworks).

[Sherpa]

The shroud appears more narrow than a Taurus fan, can you measure the overall width?  I'm curious how easy it will be to mount to the oem shroud holes in the Wrangler radiator.

According to Jeffy, the shroud measures 18" x 22".  I haven't actually put a tape measure to mine yet, but I'm sure it will have the same dimensions.

[Jeffy]

The Thunderbird should be the same fan since the car is the same.  You could also look for a Mercury Cougar.  They all use the Ford MN12 chassis.

Hmm, the wiring.  So far I've heard of three-wires, three-wires with two shorted and now two-wires.  I'm going to guess the two-wires is just a cost savings from the shorted 3 wire setup.  I would assume that the fan controller is smarter and is able to adjust the speed internally with a variable controller rather then just stepping it down like on the 3-wire setup.

[dwtaylorpdx]

Thinnking out loud,,,, I'll bet the luxury editions have 2 speed fans, the standard don't, Also It could tie back to the car having manual or electronic fan control. The two wire version may have a electronic speed control buried in the harness somewhere? HMM, heading to U-pullit.... Need to do an Autotopsy....

Dave

[Sherpa]

The two wire version may have a electronic speed control buried in the harness somewhere? HMM, heading to U-pullit.... Need to do an Autotopsy....

Do let us know what you find, Dave.

I suppose I could probably do some more research also, as I happen to own a '96 Thunderbird which is parked right in my own driveway!  Mine is just a V6, but perhaps the fan is the same unit?  To this point, I haven't even bothered to check.  I'll have to open the hood and take a peek.