i've been searching for several days before posting, to get that out of the way. I have plans to do the electric fan in the next month. i'm debating on several things. first off, do i need the 180 stat or does my geographic location render it pointless, South Dakota, it was 7 below zero the other morning and it can range from anywhere less than that to mid 90s in the summer. going off of that answer brings me to what controller to get, i like the adjustable feature of the hayden 3651( on at whatever off at 160), but i've read multiple bad reviews of the relay malfunctioning. or the Deral 16720 which seems like a more solid unit, but is not adjustable and comes on at 180, and off at 165. it is also available to come on at 190 and off at 175. option 3 hardwire it to ignition. stock fan is on all the time, why can't electric as well. less stuff to mess with. for the placement of the sensor, i'm going to go with an inline adaptor that i found on ebey that fits the 1/8 npt temp switch. oh, an im not going to blow $100 for a controller either.
thoughts, comments, suggestions?

 

well you can always just make your own controller for this system... and then just get a gauge to make sure it's doing it's job...

All you need to make your own is a temperature sensor switch and a relay....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/dc-12V-therm...-/130540135837

something like that will allow you to change the set point whenever you want...

Just a thought.

 

i thought about it all morning and i decided to get that little controller! I found one for $14 and figured it will either work like a charm, or i can pitch it and only be out $14 with a lesson learned for all. unless somebody else has already tried it . now i have to wait forever for it to come across the bearing sea!! dang.

 

You just need a way to get an accurate temperature reading from the coolant... they make all kinds of adapters that will allow you to do that.

 

Yes, i plan on getting a inline adaptor for the top rad hose right after the thermostat, it won't be accurate until the thermostat opens up though, i'll get one with a 3/8 bung on it and jb weld the probe style sensor into a 3/8 brass piece that will thread into the aluminum adaptor.

 

okay sounds good...

Just hope they gave you enough length of wire for the thermostat sensor, otherwise that control will not be able to get mounted in the cabin...

 

I am running a Ford Taurus fan ($25), a Hayden 3647 controller ($35) and a 180* stat ($10)

 

i plan on running to the local auto recycler place tomorrow moring to look for the 3.8L fan, i saw that out of the 50 taurus' they have, none of them have the 3.8, but three sables do and one mark 8. hopefully i'll find something that fits the bill. I came across too many negative reviews of the Hayden controllers to justify getting one, i know $30 big whoop, but i also wanted something that i could adjust if necessary, and being in SD, like i said, temps here are probably annually 20* less than other places, and i want to reach a good operating temp to warm up in the cold winters! so that is why i am not sure of the 180 stat and this way i can still switch it out if i want to and all i would need to do is adjust the controller with the digital readout to compensate. IDK i'll see how it goes.

is there any type of power surge when the fan comes on like when the power windows reach the top or bottom and the button is still pressed???

 

Went out and got my fans today, one of them has a broken housing, so i'll use that one as a backup just in case. Hooked them up to my 30amp 12V power supply and they both fired right up!! one step closer.