Kennedy
Registered Member
Let me preface this by saying that I did the following mods when I worked at AutoZone, so the 20% discount really got me buying things from them....
I have an 89 with 230,000 miles on it- relax
I am the third owner.
I needed a new radiator, so for $169.00 I bought the radiator used in 1986 K30 with the 454 from Autozone. I needed to buy the upper radiator support from GM, $12.00.
So now with my stock 350- the only mod being a single 3" exhaust with a Flowmaster muffler, and straight water for coolant, I ran for three weeks with no fan at all! Granted I just did street driving, but this was this summer when it was at least in the 80's everyday. I was careful to watch the temperature- but it seemed to do okay.
Since then I have added a 16" AutoZone electric fan with an automatic thermostat- and haven't had any problems. I plan to add an additional 14" fan so I can use the A/C without fear.
As for my testing, I do mainly street driving... I have 33" Mud T/A' s, (3.42 gears) and I take it through the mud any chance I get. It always stays in the propper opperating temp. range no matter what I do with it.
Conclusion:
I don't know that I notice any difference at all with the electric fan. Sorry, I wanted there to be a big difference, but I haven't found it yet. Don't get me wrong, I like it, but I know it doesn't move as much air as the mechanical fan. It helps the truck warm up faster in the winter, and it makes for a cleaner engine comparment. And now I am not wasting horsepower turing the fan while driving down the highway. I'll know next winter when I put a plow on it- that will be the test!
David 1989K5
I have an 89 with 230,000 miles on it- relax
I am the third owner.I needed a new radiator, so for $169.00 I bought the radiator used in 1986 K30 with the 454 from Autozone. I needed to buy the upper radiator support from GM, $12.00.
So now with my stock 350- the only mod being a single 3" exhaust with a Flowmaster muffler, and straight water for coolant, I ran for three weeks with no fan at all! Granted I just did street driving, but this was this summer when it was at least in the 80's everyday. I was careful to watch the temperature- but it seemed to do okay.
Since then I have added a 16" AutoZone electric fan with an automatic thermostat- and haven't had any problems. I plan to add an additional 14" fan so I can use the A/C without fear.
As for my testing, I do mainly street driving... I have 33" Mud T/A' s, (3.42 gears) and I take it through the mud any chance I get. It always stays in the propper opperating temp. range no matter what I do with it.
Conclusion:
I don't know that I notice any difference at all with the electric fan. Sorry, I wanted there to be a big difference, but I haven't found it yet. Don't get me wrong, I like it, but I know it doesn't move as much air as the mechanical fan. It helps the truck warm up faster in the winter, and it makes for a cleaner engine comparment. And now I am not wasting horsepower turing the fan while driving down the highway. I'll know next winter when I put a plow on it- that will be the test!
David 1989K5
