MR2 electric fan conversion

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ian65
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MR2 electric fan conversion

Post by ian65 »

This topic covers the mounting of the dual e-fans from a Toyota MR2 to a 1st gen radiator...

This is a popular mod on 1st gens, especially in the US. Factory viscous fans are becoming unreliable with old age and even when working properly, they put a load on the engine and create a braking effect on the engines ability to rev.
There are plenty of e-fans available to do the job but the Toyota MR2 dual fans lend themselves to this conversion as they are a great fit for the standard 1st gen radiator.


Image


The following pictures show my installation on a series 3 radiator. It will also install on s1 & s2 rads but the bottom of the fan shroud needs to be cut to clear the bottom radiator outlet.


Image


Image


I used a pair of fans from a 1993 MR2 import. They were £19.99 from a specialist MR2 breaker.
The first step is to unbolt and remove the factory viscous fan and then remove the large plastic shroud. The pulley that the viscous coupler bolted to needs to be re-bolted to the front of the water pump.

The fans come as single units and bolt together as seen in the photos. I drilled holes into the shroud to correspond with the existing holes in the rad frame where the old plastic shroud had bolted up and then bolted the whole MR2 dual fan unit into place on the rad frame. Across the top of the fan shroud, I put a layer of thin foam to stop the metal shroud from rattling on the radiator. The whole thing as a unit was then lifted back into the car and bolted into place.

I considered using a standard fan controller such as this one ...

http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/product/ADJU ... OSTAT_STAT


but in the end ,I decided I wanted a bit more control and opted for an Auto cool II controller from the USA.


Image


The auto cool keeps the engines coolant at a constant temperature rather than the usual highs and lows of the standard fan controllers. The fans speed up and slow down as the controller constantly monitors the temperature of the coolant.
I connected the 2 fans in parallel to the controller although I think they would work just as well connected in series.
The Auto cool fan controller and wiring will be covered in a separate thread.

There are other options for wiring the dual e-fans.... 2 standard fan controllers could be wired in the bring each fan on at a different temperature to reduce loads on the alternator.

.

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Re: MR2 electric fan conversion

Post by chc »

Ian, did you find the need to install a crossmember at the bottom of the shroud at all?
Ta
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Re: MR2 electric fan conversion

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chc wrote:Ian, did you find the need to install a crossmember at the bottom of the shroud at all?
Ta
Cliff
Nope, just bolted the shrouds to the rad

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Re: MR2 electric fan conversion

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ian65 wrote:
chc wrote:Ian, did you find the need to install a crossmember at the bottom of the shroud at all?
Ta
Cliff
Nope, just bolted the shrouds to the rad
Okay - hopefully will have sometime to look at this through Easter week - perhaps even on the "WEDDING DAY" - borrrrring (I know it's not very patriotic)
:lol:
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Re: MR2 electric fan conversion

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chc wrote:[ perhaps even on the "WEDDING DAY" - borrrrring (I know it's not very patriotic) :lol:
Perfectly patriotic, just not royalist.

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Re: MR2 electric fan conversion

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Johnnyboy wrote:
chc wrote:[ perhaps even on the "WEDDING DAY" - borrrrring (I know it's not very patriotic) :lol:
Perfectly patriotic, just not royalist.

John
Well said John.
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