CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

'89 R3500 Crew Cab 2wd to 4wd conversion & beyond

Started out with 2wd TBI350 with SM465 to current 4wd with 454, 700r4, NP241
I haven't been happy with the cooling I was getting, or not getting, from the single, 2spd Volvo fan. I had opened up the shroud to get better highway cooling, which worked. But then my under 35mph cooling suffered.

I decided to try the Windstar dual fan setup. Seems like the best of both worlds because there are 2 big holes for the fans that will let the air flow on the highway, but also 2 fans to get cooling at slow speeds.

With the aftermarket radiator the fans are wider than the core, but also shorter. Did some measuring and cut notches for the hoses and the drain.

2015-07-03%2011.26.55.jpg


I didn't like how open the shroud is on the big fan side. This is how it's done from the factory. So I added the aluminum piece to create a shroud around that outside edge.

2015-07-03%2011.27.07.jpg


It's riveted to the shroud.

I decided to use a dual 70amp relay board from Leash Electronics.

smugshot_2651009.jpg


I had Windstar fans in my K5 and I remember I tried a 30amp breaker for the big fan and it kept tripping so I had to bump up to a 40amp breaker. I figured using 70amp relays would be keep the relays from being overtaxed. The big fan has a 40amp fuse and the small fan has a 30amp fuse.

I have temperature switches to active the fans.

I needed connectors for the relay activation spades. I figured out the bottom 2 slots on my 3-slot 56 series plugs lined up perfectly. I just shaved the third hole off which also gave it good clearance between the plug body and the relay board.

2015-07-03%2012.44.01.jpg


2015-07-03%2012.43.22.jpg


2015-07-03%2012.42.43.jpg


2015-07-03%2012.42.31.jpg


Here's where I mounted it.

d80f7c6a-da2b-4c21-b48c-2cf978b4594d.jpg


I filled the back of the plugs with silicon to keep moisture out. I used the factory fan plugs and wires and ran a 6ga wire through an 80amp fuse to the feed side from the battery.

We'll see how this works on the trail next weekend.

Also had some fun decorating a junction block cover on the dash.

27cf3cd9-9f41-483b-91b4-1d9991c68362.jpg


Realized the kids need to watch Back to the Future because they had no clue what a flux capacitor is. :doah:
 
looks good man. I had all sorts of heat issues before I went to the windstar fans several years back. Once I installed them I never had an issue again. Luckily the PCM can run both fans too so your install will get even cleaner with your LS swap. :)
 
Yeah this is my third cooling fan iteration. Hopefully last.
 
No, theft deterrence. There's one on each end. The panel won't come off if they're locked. Mostly worried about the gauges being stolen.
 
Ok, I'll bite, what does the "coffee" switch do? You have a damn coffee maker in that summabitch or what? :dunno::dunno::haha:
 
Haha! I'd probably use it a lot if it did but it doesn't. That's just an unused switch at this time.

I thought someone might guess it was a coffee warmer. :D
 
I supposed if I was more clever, I could have made that switch on/off for the flux capacitor.
 
Top Bottom