FX45 electric fan conversion

[Logan]

Its been thirty days since I did the the conversion. I meant to post sooner - yep, slacker. BUT it has been thirty days of dedicated testing...... So far it's been seamless, temp stays exactly where it should, fans don't come on often (yeah it is the winter), no leaks, engine compartment is slightly quieter W/O manual fan running constantly.

I have wanted to do this mod for some time but after reading the threads on the org. and seeing how the two original conversions were done by running the fan attachment tabs through the radiator fins freaked me out. Enter John (turbocad) where he called out the mounting system as well and that it didn't sit right with him (don't know about you guys but when stuff doesn't sit right with John I take note). After further discussion John was thinking that the 35 fan would fit and the 45 SHOULD have existing mounting points in place that would accept the 35 electric fan shroud. I spoke with four different dealership parts guys and they said NO way, not going to fit. John took measurements and I found files online that showed mounting points that looked similar so I bought one, first company sent the wrong fan. Tried again with Parts Geek and great success it was the right fan and all the mounting tabs looked to be in exactly the same spots as the 45 fan-GREAT SUCCESS. John also pointed me in the direction of the Dakota PAC-2700 digital fan controller which is an excellent stand alone device. All in all the install looks completely stock and as I said above it is working perfectly. That's really what I wanted (aside from additional power and performance) reliability and as stock as possible.

Parts used:
1. Dakota Digital PAC-2700 Electric fan controller $114.00
2. Dakota 3/8" temp pick-up $13.95
3. OE FX35 dual fan shroud set-up (Parts Geek) $124.00
4. Install (Install was performed by Kito auto sports of Seattle) $300.00

I wanted to run a B/4 and after dyno but I just couldn't bring myself to kick in the additional 125.00 for a dyno pull to see what the difference was.....BUT I can feel the difference across the entire curve. Probably the same gain as Invidia exhaust so possibly 7-10 WHP? Trying to be conservative here, its hard to tell but the car does feel more responsive AND I have seen SLIGHTLY better MPGs on the freeway.

Thanks to the pioneers on the ORG. and thanks to TC6 motor sports

Install pics-

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Stock fan in place (grill air intake removed)

Stock fan removed

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Stock fan (did not weigh it) shown upside down

OE FX35 dual fan replacement

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OE 35 fan in place, fits perfectly

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Dakota Digital modulator unwired

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Dakota Digital modulator wired

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Over head shot fan shroud in place. Red circle indicates wire tie-ins for fans to stock power. Could have found a harness that MIGHT have worked but it was sounding really expensive just for the plug....green circle indicates the temp pick up position.

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Close up of temp pick-up

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Close up of temp pick-up

 

[Dr.2K]

That is awesome Logan. Dam reminds me to get this done too and get it off my to do list, lol. Maybe summer???? Hahaha

 

[Logan]

That is awesome Logan. Dam reminds me to get this done too and get it off my to do list, lol. Maybe summer???? Hahaha

I had fear as to whether or not it would be reliable, pretty sure that its a solid mod. John is going to do Aiya's soon, lets see if he puts any spin on it or if he deems it "good as-is"!

 

[Dr.2K]

That would be very cool. I hope John puts up a DIY thread for this mod. You hear me John???? Haha

 

[aiya]

Can't wait to get this done. Hopefully mine will be just as flawless as yours Lance! Thanks!

 

[Logan]

So does the owner of TC6 motor sports have a date on the calendar for your install Aiya?

This is definitely a stealth mod, once the grill intake duct is back in place you would never even notice that it has been done, my guess is that most techs would never pick up on it......

 

[aiya]

TC6 MS needs me to get off of my @$$ and order the parts. LoL! As soon as I do that and he is willing to see my ugly mug, we can get this thing done!

Hopefully before the season change too many more times.

 

[Logan]

HAH! Took me forever to order my parts as well. Get the fan done any other performance mods in place then get the TUNE! I am planning on getting my UPREV dyno tune next week then I'll do a down load post of stage by stage mods with HP gains. Really curious to see what the tune will do to pull it all together......

 

[turbocad6]

looking good lance, using a 35 fan was just such a no brainer & it mounts up like it's made for it. hell, it IS actually made for it :tonguey:

when I do rich's I'm going to dig into some of the factory wiring & see how I'd integrate the controller & of course I'll put up a diy for you guys

 

[Logan]

looking good lance, using a 35 fan was just such a no brainer & it mounts up like it's made for it. hell, it IS actually made for it :tonguey:

when I do rich's I'm going to dig into some of the factory wiring & see how I'd integrate the controller & of course I'll put up a diy for you guys

Thank's John-Interested to see how a electronic version of the pick-up will work, definitely be a slick aternative to the temp sending unit I had installed.

 

[turbocad6]

maybe, maybe not. if I can't get a good reliable pickup off the oe circiuts then a seperate sensor like that is fine too really

 

[Chedman13]

looks awesome! Your JWT intake still looks brand new too!

 

[Chedman13]

Forgive my ignorance,

1) but a FX35 has an electric fan which is why we're switching?

2) Also, the engine bay may or may not be slightly different in a 2003-2005. So I should buy a 2003 FX35 fan to be safe? Is that electric too?

3) Also, did you have a intake housing above the fan that went into the OEM air filter? Did you not replace that?

 

[tchuck]

...

2) Also, the engine bay may or may not be slightly different in a 2003-2005. So I should buy a 2003 FX35 fan to be safe? Is that electric too?

...

2) My '04 FX35 fan assembly is identical to the one pictured in the OP's post above. Well, I guess I can't really say for sure that they are IDENTICAL, but they have the same number of blades on the same dual fans, same electrical connectors, and the same mounting locations. Not sure about the extent of the changes that occurred in 05, but the ones I do know about are extremely minimal. Stuff like clear tail lights, dark chrome grill, etc... Nothing major.

 

[Logan]

Forgive my ignorance,

1) but a FX35 has an electric fan which is why we're switching?

2) Also, the engine bay may or may not be slightly different in a 2003-2005. So I should buy a 2003 FX35 fan to be safe? Is that electric too?

3) Also, did you have a intake housing above the fan that went into the OEM air filter? Did you not replace that?

1) FX45 Parasitic manual fan is a "drag", electric fan, well you get it.....FX35 OE dual electric fan/shroud purchased on line at parts geek (don't buy original, WAY too expensive) John confirmed brand of OE fan offered by PG is good.

2) All the FX35 electric fans are the same 2003 - 2008.

3) Grill Intake housing unit went back on after the install, sorry about that. I was focusing on the temp pick up install position/wiring and I didn't snap a picture of it with the intake re-installed.....

 

[just45]

power?

does anyone know how much hp does the electric fan free up? i am guessing between 5 to 15 hp. Has anyone been to the dyno with there electric fanned fx45 yet?

 

[aiya]

No one has done a direct before and after yet on the same dyno session. You can be the first!

 

[Logan]

I had the dyno all set up and decided to save the cash at the ninth hour......looking back I wish I had followed through. My best guess on the gain is about the same amount of power I received from my exhaust, 7-8WHP. Nice thing is that its power that is immediate with none of the low end loss associated with breather mods.

 

[cheetahdriver]

controller mount?

logan, did you leave the controller in the drivers side covered access as shown, or did you mount it inside the cabin (and if so, where?).

thanks,

 

[jbaker1121]

Looks like a great little mod, and definitely helps. However, I think the "power gain" is probably similar to an oil catch can..... as in placeboooo. I understand the use of electric vs. the manual fan frees up some power usage but I doubt it frees up more than 3-5 hp