Converting Your Car to Electric Thermo Fans - Davies Craig Digital Fan Switch (Ford NC Fairlane)

[@MotoringBoxTV]

This conversion cost me approximately $150 in parts, and I'm really loving the end result. What do you think? And let me know if there's anything you would have done differently.

[@TwistTapeTechnology]

shoulda put a plug on the fan, not the crappy, poorly crimped yellow joiners ;)

[@jamesfrench7299]

TheyDontWantMusic he can always do that later.

[@bendover-yd9be]

$150 seems like an aweful lot. I done the thermo conversion on my Ed for just under $40

[@MotoringBoxTV]

@@bendover-yd9be the main cost was the controller, they're around $100. Fans for $20. The rest went towards wiring and the joiners, etc.

[@jamesfrench7299]

ben dover must have been all second hand bits from a mate, relo or Gumtree.

[@Leosarebetter]

I like the honesty where he says something along the lines of "I started this job yesterday arvo and still working on it today" that is a fact. Average guy working on their car in their garage dont have the equipment or the blessing of uninterupted time like a workshop. Kids/dogs/wife/life/missing parts/some bastard part broke that wasnt supposed to/bastard neighbor didnt return that tool you needed, all add to the time frame. Most jobs in your home garage go way over the estimated time frame. Unlike some other YT mechanics that are annoying little bald men that pretend that everything is easy and quick to do! For example, changing front disc pads, rhs went well, done in under 10 minutes. Lhs was an absolute shit, and took ages. Thanks for the vids MotoringBox!

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Yup, it took me way longer than I imagined. The shroud-mod and final touches were done last Saturday, so all up it was done across 3 days! Nothing to be ashamed of, we're all learning and it was a very satisfying project. Thanks for your comment and for your support mate!

[@jamesfrench7299]

It took me half the day to change a front engine mount on my Laser and half my tool collection was strewn around. No way would I contemplate something like an engine swap in my driveway. It gets sent out!

[@Rollin8.0]

Phil Long can relate. I’m a qualified mechanic and ‘budgeted’ 2 full days at home to do the timing chain, VCT solenoids and supercharger swap on my mrs C180 Merc.... ended up taking 5 looooong days of suffering and frustration, kept finding other parts that I “may as well replace while I’m in there”, and significant portions of time looking for that tool I had literally put down a minute ago!

[@MotoringBoxTV]

@@Rollin8.0 I'm glad it's not just me that does that. I put stuff down all the time and then can't find it 1-min later.

[@bc8057]

Aaaarh man that's better,those who know...know,real folk do still exist,thank you phil, whilst i got ya may i now ruin yr dinner by bringing up rear hubz..wot...🤮,sorry man but i GOD a tip(recent cv axle)well rusted up hub(thats ALL au'z)3destroyed pullers(allready flogged around hub so iss off roger,"sledgehammer handle end against hub face alternate between studs,enter lump hamer,watch hub dont belt ya shin when it jumps off🤪now go clean yr spew up or the cat'll eat it...good night

[@AvenirRacing]

I love this channel so much. It's criminal how few subs you have considering how much effort and quality you put into your videos.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Thanks so much mate, it's funny how KZbin works.

[@paulcamilleri3299]

Agree 100%

[@Dropbear237]

I done the thermo fan conversion to my NC 2 fairlane years ago, and it gained an extra 60-80km of range in fuel economy on the hi-way.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

That's a pretty decent gain - I'll have to wait and see how mine goes. It just feels so much more efficient already though.

[@Dropbear237]

@@MotoringBoxTV before you go on a long drive reset your average speed and fuel economy on the screen in the middle of the dash and it will give you a more accurate reading, it needs to be reset after changes like the fan conversion otherwise it'll take months of driving to adjust the averages.

[@DiscoFang]

Similar results in my 2000 E46 BMW 328i. Dropped just over 1L/100K in consumption which is about 10% improvement. For some reason the autos have a viscous and the manuals have the thermo fan. So get the thermo fan and shroud from a wrecker for $40 and the hilarious part is the swap is total plug and play. The wiring plug is on the standard loom and the ECU is still programmed to send the signal.

[@Levent_Ergun]

Cinematography is just amazing. It clearly shows you are putting a lot of work into your videos. Keep it up.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Thanks mate!

[@furai-ingfalc-kuru8149]

A good 2.5in 3 muffler system will keep it quiet but also give you a great note. I picked up a 3 muffler HM Headers 2.5in system for my i6 which is the perfect balance

[@baglessnoblades]

This. I had a 2 muffler 2.5 inch on my NC I6 and even that was quiet. Gave it a nice note without being obnoxious. Any less and it gets over the top. Had a single muffler with a resonator before that and it was way too loud for that car.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Thanks for the feedback guys - I was looking at a single muffler system but might steer clear.

[@furai-ingfalc-kuru8149]

@@MotoringBoxTV definitely do the cats while you"re at it if you can find a good deal on them. Makes a great difference to idle tone etc plus the performance benefits

[@brendanmatthys3788]

How you don't have a million + subs baffles me. Your content is so good! Now you've got me on car sales looking for NC fairlanes and AU farimonts!

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Thanks mate. We'll get there, maybe.

[@salamatpo7326]

Thank you for being one of the first Australian KZbinr to put the time stamps of where you have done stuff thank you

[@MotoringBoxTV]

No problem mate, I love that feature now and have enabled them for most of my videos.

[@rebelliousreptile7336]

I honestly believe a new exhaust would help the car a bit when it comes to performance and economy. But i wouldn't be putting on a massive exhaust though. I would put a respectable exhaust that isn't to loud but you can still hear it. Also, I'm really sorry to hear that you commodore didn't sell on eBay. Have you thought of your next steps for the car?

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Never a fan of huge exhausts, it'd be something pretty subtle if I go that way. Still got the Commo, no plans as yet but will try to think of something.

[@einar8019]

@@MotoringBoxTV you could just swap one of the mufflers for a straight through one

[@jasonblanch8769]

I think the exhaust sound is fine the way it is. A luxury cruiser isn’t meant to have a loud exhaust, it would spoil the quite and relaxing experience of driving (or being a passenger) in this kind of car.

[@urabusliberty9258]

MotoringBox maybe a valved exhaust for the fairlane

[@alamerichs]

@@MotoringBoxTV I did one on my eb pacemaker 4480 100cell high flow cat and 2 Maga flow mufflers with 2.5" stainless pipe work and is still very quiet with the added performance of a sports system

[@queenslandballistics2987]

13:15 to 13:22 Reving that Windsor 302 is absolute music to my ears. 🎵🎶👂

[@plokiju369]

Lapping was still a thing when I lived in Ipswich back in 2016. They did it on Thursday nights, not Saturdays. The cops were usually too busy breaking up fights near the maccas to worry too much about the cars. Great video mate, loved it!

[@laurence2192]

Had a NC Fairlane Sportsman as the weekend family car when I was a kid. Watching this brought a great sense of nostalgia for the family trips over the years. And appreciation for these beautiful cars. Thanks for your great work!

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Thanks mate, glad it was able to take you on a journey down memory lane.

[@Greg253d]

Yep used to go lapping in Ipswich in the late 90’s. been a long time since I’ve heard that!

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Might be time to come back and check it out!?

[@Heino5010]

The quality of your videos is amazing. Surprises me that you don't have more people following you and watching your videos! Keep it up!

[@allyboy8]

From Motoringbox to Mechanicsbox. 👍. An exhaust upgrade would be superb, a nice deep note!

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Cheers.

[@OddClancy]

Just bought a Davies Craig kit for my 1jz Chaser and saw your video. Funnily enough, I've used that road out the back of bundamba you used in the intro to the video to take photos! Great stuff and cool to see someone local! Subscribed

[@MattExzy]

Hooly dooly. This takes me back to back in the day when I had a Mazda Astina with electrical gremlins. The fans stopped working, or so I thought - a sensor or something went belly up. My inelegant solution was to disconnect the aircon compressor (it used the banned refrigerant which had all leaked out anyway) and I simply switch the fans on 'manually' using the aircon button when the temperature rose. How bloody useful such a controller would've been.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Haha that's cool, so the button was still "air-con" sort of, but for your engine. Nice ghetto work around there.

[@MattExzy]

@@MotoringBoxTV It was major ghetto. It worked for.. wow, three years, until I cooked the fans themselves, ironically; I must've been over zealous in my button-pushing.

[@furai-ingfalc-kuru8149]

Did this on my EB2 Ghia last month. Makes a huge difference over the clutch fan, fully recommend it as well as the Davies Craig switch kit. For those swapping over, keep an eye on your charge. My alternator was pretty much dead at this point due to the typical power steering leak and it being full of crud so as soon as I had the thermos fitted the battery was dead in 2 days due to the extra draw over the clutch fan. New alternator and it runs like a champ now

[@MotoringBoxTV]

I've got a battery monitor on the Fairlane, and so far so good. It has a fresh battery though, perhaps yours was on the way out and the fans killed it off :)

[@andrewrose9707]

Couldn't agree more. I converted an EA falcon to thermo fans from an EL years ago. The Davis Craig controller wasn't quite as fancy as the one you used but it seemed to work fine. Besides reduced noise it also puts a lot less stress on the water pump. I remember how bad it was before the conversion when the fan clutch seized and the engine seemed to shake itself senseless and the noise was ridiculous. PS, if you have a 32mm open-end spanner it makes getting the nut off a lot easier, plus I had to slot a long screwdriver between the water pump bolts to stop it from spinning when trying to crack the nut. Great work again

[@MotoringBoxTV]

I don't have spanners that big, luckily the shifter worked ok in the end. I used a pry bar to try and secure the water pump pulley, but in the end I managed to smack the nut loose without anything securing it. Quite a few forum posts online suggested it'd work, and luckily it did.

[@queenslandballistics2987]

If you were ever interested, a small lip spoiler on the boot lid I reckon would suit the Fairlane quite nicely. As long as it is nothing over the top, it would look good on the back of the car for sure.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

I used to like the standard spoiler some NC's had, but now I'd prefer to keep it as is. I sometimes fantasise about some sort of NC track-hack or budget drift build (purely for the laughs of course) and think one of those low drag spoiler/tails would probably suit it.

[@tapmad]

"Cracking laps" is the official term. In the early 80s we would sometimes come down from Warwick to crack some laps at Ippy for a change. Thanks for the video as I'm about to use the same kit to control a Davies Craig ATF cooler fan, and I just needed to watch someone do it.

[@RichieRouge206]

It’s like an Australian Crown Vic! Love it. I usually like the sound of viscous fans, my 740 had one and it roared in summer. But this was well worthwhile and a great job installing it!

[@notentirelysure85]

Thank you for this. I did this to my EA Falcon S about 15 years ago with the same set of EL thermo fans. Back then the digital Davies Craig controller wasn't available, they only had a mechanical one with the probe mounted in the top hose as you described in the video. Not liking this idea, I ended up with a DIY thermostat kit from Jaycar which used the same probe setup as yours in between the fins of the radiator. I only had one large relay controlling both fans, and all the lights would dim when they spun up. The voltmeter on the instrument panel would also show a drop of about three volts for a moment. This setup worked great until the car was unfortunately stolen and written off about three years later. Thanks for the memories!

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Spinning then up separately seems to be fine, which is awesome. The voltage dips to 13.1-ish when the first fan kicks in, so not far enough to cause any problems. Second fan takes it down to mid 12's from memory.

[@nickpanagiotakopoulos5943]

Did you tap into the ignition wire the one that run into the fusebox did you need a fuse or relay or you just tapped straight into the ignition wire without a fuse or relay ? and did you have to take out your thermostat as well or you left it in ? Plz let me know if you can THKS

[@gregwilson9035]

Great info here. I have the same Davies Craig switch and a 10” thermo fan, which I’m planning on using with a transmission oil cooler on my BFMk2. This has given me extra confidence to tackle the job. Keep up the great work Sean!

[@DD3512B0Y]

Great quality video as usual mate. Love the Ford fans, have used them on many of my cars . Only criticism is the lack of fuse on the battery feed cable, not something I would risk not having

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Cheers. I'll add a fuse later on.

[@robbieaussievic]

@@MotoringBoxTV ...... No need, both loads are inline fused, the circuit board of the controller will be fused.

[@RobJaskula]

Ipswich looks like a nice enough town but the empty storefronts are noticeably frequent as you cruise around! Lovely video as always 👍 enjoyed the drive at the end; always good to see the NC!

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Thanks mate.

[@broke123]

I am going to collect an EB fairmont ghia tomorrow with a v8 that's had this mod done but I think the previous owner has had them hardwired to run full time as they come on as soon as you click on accessories. I like this wiring method much more, seems more elegant and doesnt force the fans to run every second the car is on.

[@darth3pio]

I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to certain classes of car, looking at the Fairlane as a luxury car I think a modified exhaust would ruin it.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

I'm mostly like that. If I do upgrade the exhaust it wouldn't be anything over the top - just something subtle.

[@darth3pio]

@@MotoringBoxTV I could get behind subtle.

[@jamesfrench7299]

MotoringBox a neighbour had one with a mildly sported up exhaust and it sounded crap IMO. Too different. I love how factory original mine sounds, just like I remember the first one I saw in 91.

[@paulsmith3416]

mate i tried to do this when i was 19 , 20 years ago with an old ea Falcon, i bought the el fans brand new for 200 bucks but never actually went through with the conversion, it has totally made my day seeing you do it, and yes i reckon totally get an upgraded exhaust, do ur research and get one that delivers the sound you want when reving but doesnt give out a horrible sound while driving a set idle speed , some of them just moan while your sitting at a solid speed like 60 or 80 kph, Great video mate!!!

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Glad you liked it mate! The fans cost me $20 and the controller was around $100, so it was pretty good value for money when I consider how much of a difference it made to the car.

[@x360aa]

Great video man i recently bought a NC Fairlane with the straight 6 and can't stand the sound, thanks for your help your a legend

[@andrewhallett-patterson9778]

Thanks for another great vid. Haven't performed this mod on a Ford but have used the EL Falcon radiator/thermofan combination on various projects, the current being a Holden HZ Premier with Toyota Lexus V8. The only upgrade performed was replacing the orginal fans with upgraded Davies Craig fans, whom were the original designers and providers to Ford. Very simple as the fan bolt patterns are still identical. The curved blade design of the orginal EL fans are not very efficient once comparable curve vs. straight blade airflow data from Davies Craig is analyzed. Curved blade design offers lower recordable noise emissions but inefficient airflow, whereas straight blades increase airflow but with increased noise emissions . The digital fan controller is excellent but must be fused from battery to controller to ensure any voltage spikes that can occur when the fans initially engage do not destroy the controller. This is from experience. The radiator probe, though a great idea, can vibrate due to harmonics generated by forced airflow induction passing over the probe at speed, deflecting onto horizontal cooling tubes, inciting metal to metal contact, resulting in friction intrusion. For electrical wiring, look into utilizing uninsulated butt connectors for joining wiring, as wire retention and conductivity is more secure due to increased surface area and internal retention design. Simply cover with shrink tube to ensure both moisture intrusion is minimised and metal to metal contact doesn't occur. 👍👍🇦🇺

[@MotoringBoxTV]

I've heard about EF/EL fans going into lots of different cars. I can see why - they do a great job.

[@palacefords]

Another excellent video Sean and very informational. You’re getting better and good to see that the support is definitely going to good use!

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Thanks for your support mate, you helped make this happen!

[@palacefords]

MotoringBox Well happy to be supporting a growing channel. Just need to get some stickers and hoodies together now!

[@leithhall5614]

Do you ever go the show & shine at Yamanto Shopping Centre 1st Friday of every month ?

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Never heard of it, I tend not to like or enjoy show & shines though.

[@leithhall5614]

Yeah, the show & shine group meeting at a few different places, it’s great to see some of these unique cars that you just don’t see everyday, including an XE ESP in mint condition. As far as the exhaust on the NC is concerned, I would probably change it, maybe go stainless, but nothing too loud. Those mags are interesting though, were they already on the car when you bought it ? They look like they could be hard to clean, but then again I’m not a huge fan of their factory alloys either, those standard rims don’t have much in the way of ventilation. Ipswich Lappers ha ha! That reminds me of back around 8 or 9 years ago, very low Commodores, Falcons & Skylines scraping on the speed bumps, with sterios cranked up all sorts of coloured fluorescent lights underneath (apparently theyr’e illegal) Anyway, looking forward to your next video.

[@BABS1978]

Cut me deep when you said the VT sounds better than the NC. Brings me back to doing this on my EB but!

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Well.. it's true! In the current forms anyway!

[@Dropbear237]

I also added brake lights to the taillights in the boot lid like the LTD has. It didn't look right having only the outer and upper brake lights, so I got some light sockets from an AU Falcon (same plug from EA-AU and NA-NU) at the wreckers and ran a brake wire to the boot lid. I did the same thing to my 1992 Holden Jackaroo, it only had working lights on the rear bumper and fake taillights with working reverse lights up higher. I got the proper lights from a later model jackaroo and wire them in, it has 4 park lights, 4 brake lights and 4 indicators on the rear now, and 2 reverse lights in the same location. It just doesn't have the brake light in the rear window.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

I have been wanting to do that for a while, just need to get the light sockets!

[@Dropbear237]

@@MotoringBoxTV if you can get new ones otherwise go to the wreckers and try and find one's off the latest model car, they're less likely to be cracked. Check for cracks and burn marks they have a bad habit of this happening.

[@josemanuel5749]

That Ford FairLane is gorgeous!

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Cheers, I really love it too. Some people say it needs to be lowered, but that's not what I'm after.

[@felixthecat1672]

Nice work on the conversion. Always a good feeling when you nail something like this yourself. If you go the exhaust route why not look at one of the adjustable mufflers so you can choose when its noisy or quiet

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Maybe!

[@murrayscells7843]

Another great and informative clip, timely as well as I was considering to do this conversion to my daily driven 91 eb xr8. I had a ed xr8 a few years back it had a 2 1/4 single system with one free flowing lukey muffler sounded great inside the car and wasn't loud, got comments all the time on how great it sounded. My current xr8 has a dual system to the rear of the car with x pipe, it is quiet, sounds ok inside the car but definitely does not sound as good as the single system out side the car, performance is the same with either system. If in the future if your Fairlane does not want to start one day , turns over but just won't start it will be the ecu it happened to me last year with my current eb xr8 after 2 days of checking relays , fuel pumps , fuel regs, etc. pulled the cover off the ecu to find 3 blue capacitors all in bad shape with one totally burnt out, took the ecu to my local electronic repair guy and for $88.00 it has not missed a beat since. I think this one fault has relegated many of these cars to the wrecking yard, which is a shame as they are very underrated in my book and I enjoy driving mine everyday.

[@quadruple_negative]

Did this on my EB S-XR6 years ago. It's the best thing you can do for the cooling of these things. That and running an 82 deg thermostat, for we fear the SOHC head gasket. I remember that the twin fans running at full speed was a bit too much for the standard alternator. You could watch the volt gauge dropping while waiting at the lights. Edit: Your Davie's Craig controller is a lot more modern than the one that I had. It was the one with the vapour tube stuck in the top hose of the radiator and a box with one dial on it. I had to guess where to set the temp by the temp gauge on the dash. When the needle hit the M in "NORMAL" , the fan should be on. Gee, I go on a bit.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

The NC dash doesn't have a voltage readout, but I do have a bluetooth battery monitor attached which I'll keep an eye on via my phone. So far I haven't noticed any issues with lights dimming or RPM's dropping when the fans kick in. I think the fact that the controller starts the fans separately (10-second delay to fan 2) makes a big difference.

[@atomicmillenial9728]

Just a heads up, getting a Fairlane-specific pre-made exhaust is VERY difficult. It took me 3 goes to get the right tailpipe section as most suppliers seem to think that the Fairlane and Falcon wagon exhausts are the same (wagon has leaf springs, Fairlane has trailing arms that get in the way).

[@sasquatch1159]

There is a fan removing tool that latches on to the bolts of the water pump pulley to easily remove the fan using that and a 36mm? spanner. They used to be pretty cheap on ebay and there were plans around on the internet to make it if you are a capable metal worker.

[@sasquatch1159]

I vote for a new exhaust, but maybe since you arent doing any modifications to the engine i would stick with a 2.5inch with maybe 1 muffler and 1 resonator (hot dog) at the back, shouldnt make it sound TOO loud. I put a 3 inch exhaust with a single high flow muffler on my NC v8 but it would be a bit loud i think for what you are looking for. Could also look at Aftermarket Headers/Extractors and Catalytic converters, they would liven the sound up quite well and improve performance and economy quite a bit too, but they are quite pricey.

[@blackpanther50]

26C in Ipswich on a winters day! Should come to Melbourne it was at 2C at 7am today. Car did not heat up until I got to work.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Not a big fan of the weather down there mate!

[@elegantpiplup]

When it comes to wiring under the bonnet, I would've just stripped the ends of the two wires and then wrapped electrical tape around them. Although it seems that the heat shrink probably works a bit better. The thermo fans seem miles better than before though, I would not have even thought of it. Great video as ever, hopefully the people from Ipswich are happy now ;)

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Thanks mate, I was really happy with it! Elec tape seems to not handle engine bay heat very well, so I went for the heat shrink instead.

[@ceegee3664]

Great journey through Ipswich, great upgrade remedy to a Falcons greatest weakness, great episode thankyou.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Thanks mate.

[@antoniof7479]

“It’s quite a nice winter day, with 26 degrees “. My heart stopped 🤣

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Felt even warmer in the afternoon sun, definitely needed the aircon a little.

[@kym393]

Exhaust upgrade for sure. Let her breathe, nothing crazy just hear the heartbeat. Good vid. Subd.

[@lobsterwhisperer7932]

Back in the day i had a EB 5.0 falcon that sounded like i spent thousands on the engine, i realized that wasn't the case, and previous owner had it fitted with an x-shape stainless steel exhaust.

[@Sobriquet71]

I'm the guy that had the VT Calais Series II V6 now VF Calais V 6.0 V8. I like having the VF as factory as know one knows the hidden power beneath the hood thus remaining a "Sleeper". Also good because you don't piss of neighbors with your rumbling and noise if you start up at 6:00 AM every morning. Think about this before you "upgrade" the NC. Keep it smooth, powerful and silent as it was meant to be. John Howard would be pissed off with all the noise when this vehicle was a COMCAR.

[@Andyc351]

You did exactly what I did to my DC LTD when I did the thermo conversion. Cut the top of the shroud off to keep it looking factory. If you want to make it sound nicer without going over the top and for cheap cut out the big tri flow muffler in the middle and put a big hot dog as a replacement. Exhaust shop charged me $60 it was still quiet at cruise.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

It turned out so well, the only thing I noticed is the airbox snorkel does rub against the edge of the thermofan frame, making it slightly difficult to reinstall it. Perhaps applying a bit of heat and remoulding that part of the snorkel would make it fit in better.

[@stephenravenscroft3636]

In the late 90s in Melbourne. We used to call it "Laps on Chaps" driving up and down Chapel St. past all the clubs and bars on the weekend. Good times.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Good old Chap Laps. I inadvertently walked down that street about 10 years ago before I knew about its significance.

[@jamesfrench7299]

Shaun, the idea of the silent V8 is to emulate how Rolls Royce does things with their idea of a luxury car. I like that bit about the V8 Fairlane is it's prestige note and silence in the cabin. Don't ruin that. Get an XR8 if you want noise. Get a Fairlane for silence!

[@MotoringBoxTV]

The Fairlane is pretty quiet but it's no Rolls! If I do upgrade the exhaust it won't be anything stupidly loud, I've learnt my lesson on past cars.

[@bobbuilder5362]

The radiator sensor probe is meant to read some 10-15 degrees colder than the actual water temp(Davies Craig manual). So makes sense you had to adjust down to 85 degrees.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Makes sense - it felt right adjusting it to the same temp it has been running its whole life.

[@southerndiy1]

Also, a fan clutch tool and long open ended spanner (38mm from memory) makes it so much quicker and easier to remove the clutch fan. I used an eBay tool when I replaced my serpentine belt.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

I bought one but accidentally chose the 32mm version which suits 6cyl. Windsors are 36mm.

[@MrFordpower]

I had a 3 inch cat back exaust system on a 5 ltr el and it sounded great. You should treat the old fairlane. She deserves it.😁

[@retromod7525]

Somehow I missed this one, and have just watched it 2.5 yrs later. Great video. Any chance you could identify the singer/musician used on the outro section ? Has a nice voice. Thanks for your hard work....Greg

[@RighteousBruce]

My dad put a 2.5" system on my NCll 4.0. It did used to whurrrr alot alot from that fan haha.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

The stock fan is LOUD. Unbelievable really.

[@dcaruana81]

Nice work mate, just wish this video was made about a year ago before I did it to my ED XR, would have made it a bit easier for me. I did the install basically the same way you did, the controller in the same spot, except I left the plugs on the fans and took the matching plugs from an EL parts car I have. The only differnce I did was that I got an adapter to put the temperature prob into the thermostat housing so it reads the actual water temp. I noticed you also set it to 90c as I did, but your temperature might be a bit lower as you are reading the outside radiator temp. I think my fans come on a tad early in the temp range, I might up it to 95c. I also did the serpentine belt conversion at the same time and the car runs heaps better, but I reckon the biggest difference was due to the thermo fan conversion.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Sounds like you did it better!

[@eam1614]

Yep a exhaust is a must

[@robertharrison8014]

well done sean I put a set of thermo fans in my xf it makes a big difference great vid by the way keep the great work up from phill

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Yup, the 80's falcs had the same problem - it's a great upgrade.

[@chrisnewton2325]

Such a clean example, I don't like Fairlanes but yours a beautiful piece of Aussie history

[@Rollin8.0]

You wash your mouth out!

[@MotoringBoxTV]

They're an acquired taste, and never go up in value as much as the equivalent Falcon or Fairmont. I love the FD/ZK and DC/NC era mostly.

[@JohnPedder]

Top video content as always mate, cheers for another good episode!

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Thanks for watching!

[@ethanjubee4438]

Oh how good, I have 2 sets of thermo fans for the eb and ed. I tell ya you make some good videos bro, have a good day 🤙

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Thanks mate!

[@gtafanaticdude]

I love the fan conversion, looks and sounds great Personally I wouldn't touch the exhaust, while it sound have that aggressive exhaust note that we all like, I don't think that's really in the spirit of what a fairlane is supposed to be but that's just my 2 cents

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Thanks for the input mate, opinions seem to be split right down the middle.

[@gtafanaticdude]

@@MotoringBoxTV I thought it would be, I suppose it depends on what you want to do, it is your car after all, you're the one spending the time and money on it, we all just enjoy admiring it from a distance

[@dillpickle7468]

That is a fantastic improvement. I did a shitty version back in the day to my sigma and it was just wired to a switch I had to contro in the cabin. Definitely the poor man's version. I regretted not putting a controller unit with temp sensor. Your video will educate people to NOT do it my way haha. Well done.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Nothing wrong with a switch if that's what you like, it's just remembering to turn the sucker on and off. Definitely better than just wiring the fans to be on all the time though.

[@Seiskid]

Good mod. If you run a wire directly onto the battery it's worth installing a heavy duty fuse at the battery end of the wire. This protects the wire from catching fire should you have a front end accident or something else catastrophic shorts out. The main battery lead for example will have a fusible link built into the cable and since you are now bypassing this with a new wire its a good idea.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Good tip - I bought a fuse holder for that purpose but didn't end up using it. Will definitely go back and add it in.

[@MkdMuzza]

Nice little improvement there, really does suit what this car is all about - quietness. In saying that, I personally wouldn’t open the exhaust up. I would however, get an intake setup, just to add that nice growl on load. You’d be surprised how much depth it adds to the noise, but still maintains a stock sound on idle and light loads. Don’t expect any performance gains though! Easily reversible too.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Just for laughs I did once stick a cheap pod filter onto the front of the airflow meter a few years back. There was a slight increase in the amount of induction roar the car had, but it simply wasn't worth how crap the setup looked!

[@TN-hc6hf]

If you do an exhaust, make sure it's easy to swap back. I had an exhaust mod done to my G6E Turbo, but it was too obnoxiously loud. It took away the subtle sleeper feel of the car and made it sound like a P platers straight pipe. Luckily the exhaust shop made it easily swappable and I was able to put it back to normal without too much work.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Yup, if I had a car with a barra turbo I'd probably leave the exhaust alone. Good choice!

[@jamesfrench7299]

A few years ago our mechanic replaced the viscous clutch and so it's working well but it gets hot on long freeway climbs that I encounter going to Sydney so I will have to work on possibly doing this down the track. Trouble is E series are not appearing at my known wreckers now, only AU and up. I take it the one from the six is suitable. I kinda like the viscous noise in mine, which emits a different note to yours in the video, but totally get that it's a good move. Our mechanic did it to his ages ago and hasn't looked back. I have rust spots to worry about first though.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

I believe the fans are the same 6cyl vs 8cyl, but there are some differences EF vs EL in the way the fans are wired / how they run. I don't recall what they were specifically, only that EL sounded more ideal.

[@jamesfrench7299]

MotoringBox thanks, appreciate the heads up.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Found it! "The EF has one fan which only runs at full speed and the other fan which is a two speed unit (half speed and full speed). The EL has two fans which only run at full speed."

[@jamesfrench7299]

MotoringBox amazing how they dumbed down the EL. They returned to a distributor after the EF's coil pack. Good move going for proven reliability though.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

@@jamesfrench7299 I believe the wiring for the EF's second fan is probably like a low/high beam headlight - powering 1 wire would run half speed, powering both together would run it at high speed. Beyond what the controller could take advantage of, so the EL fans simplicity suited the job perfectly!

[@Matt-dr2bu]

I think the old NC is more than worthy of a nice new performance exhaust. Something that really brings that V8 sound to life.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Yup, just a little bit. Nothing too crazy.

[@darlingdownstransportservi3529]

Great pre-EF mod, worth every cent

[@brentjones9961]

Good job ,, the muffler shop put on straight throughs on a falcon Ute I had and it changed to nicer note without beening silly, just a thought

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Haha, probably still too loud for what I'm after. I have an idea on the system I'd like, I just have to take some measurements and see if it'll work.

[@380MN]

About to install one of these units. Informative clip. Cheers.

[@Noelly1980]

I did the same thing with my XR8 (minus the temperature controller and shroud mod which I think is a great decision to keep it looking stock), absolute essential mod on anything with a viscous fan. Mind you we made a tool to grab the water pump hub so it made the job easier. I've still got it laying around here somewhere. Great video bro. 👌

[@Noelly1980]

P.S. Yes, you should upgrade the exhaust. I like the Windsor note, just loud enough to give you that sport feel when accelerating, but still comfortable and not droning when cruising.

[@quadruple_negative]

I made the tool to hold the water pump still too (6 cyl). The service manual has instructions on how to make one!

[@MotoringBoxTV]

I actually bought a tool, but it was 32mm (6cyl) instead of 36mm! (8-cyl). In the end, giving the wrench a huge whack with the mallet got the job done. For anyone attempting it, I'd say use tons of WD40 and hit it as hard as you can.

[@thomasholley1110]

Did this on my falcon too and spent a full day trying to get the clutch fan off, that bolt was a mission

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Not wrong mate.

[@dalechenoweth915]

I would go with long tube headers, metal catalytic converters and 2.5 inch pipes with crossover, but keep two mufflers per pipe. It will still be quiet at cruise, but it will roar when the throttle is open. Also a mild aftermarket cam upgrade to improve engine breathing at mid to high revs.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Thanks mate, I'll keep that in mind!

[@doug-core8850]

Few years too late for the pub scene in Ipswich. I dont think the nightlife will ever come back up the top of town. However the new mall might change that.

[@crxdelsolsir]

My current car is with electric fans and recently had cooling issues. It was a night mare to diagnose as there is a lot more components to test and eliminate. Having electric fans complicates the diagnosis since now you factor in the possible issues of thermo switch, the fan motors, the fan relay and not to mention the electrical wiring into the equation, on top of what is already a lot of your regular items such as hoses and other hardware (thermostat, radiator cap, radiator etc). All of which could be avoided with the belt driven fan, which being more solid state does not seem to fail any where near as much as electric fans.

[@JoshVennix]

If your engine bay gets hot enough to melt solder you have more issues than electrical. Crimp connectors however may work loose from vibration. Please solder and heatshrink all automotive electrical work. Best option is adhesive heatshrink, which has an adhesive that melts, waterproofing and strengthening the connection.

[@qam2878]

26 degrees in winter! Sign me up bc it's summer in the UK and it's not even that warm

[@PaulinesPastimes]

I can see how tempting that would be except you would have to move back when summer hits in Queensland. You would melt! :-)

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Yup, you'd probably want to be leaving around November before things get crazy :)

[@damo3748]

Haha!… I may have done a few laps around Ipswich on Friday or Saturday nights back in the 90’s!

[@ashleylowe3347]

G'day mate how's it going?great video. By any chance do remember the part number of the Craig Davis fan controller? Been searching and quite a few available. Want to make sure I purchase correct one. Thx again. Ashley.

[@gregmyatt9932]

You will notice the increase in power from the old 5 litre aswell. The viscous fans sucked power. Especially when you needed it, like towing a caravan up a long mountain road in summer. That probe is a good idea, I remember seeing the old type in the top hose, they leaked on most occasions. Oh and definitely upgrade the exhaust, the windsors are the best sounding V8, hands down, the clevos a close second.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Thanks mate, I've noticed a difference already but it'll be interesting to see if the economy figures back that up.

[@gregmyatt9932]

MotoringBox I think it was the Roadkill guys did a fan comparison on an engine dyno, the viscous turned out to be the worst for zapping HP.

[@brockcotton3658]

Loving the content coming from this channel. It's great to see some high quality car content from an Aussie on Australian cars. Considering you've done interior and exterior detailing videos, is there any chance of seeing an engine bay detail/tidy up video sometime in the future? Keep up the good work

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Thanks mate! Maybe, I've never really gone to town cleaning up an engine bay before, but I could certainly give it a go. So it probably wouldn't be the definitive guide on how to do it haha.

[@mitchlowe9061]

Look man. This is a long shot. But it would be awesome to cruise with you around Ipswich some time. I have a dead stock EL Fairmont Ghia, only 120*** on the odo. It’s my daily driver. It’s my first car too, been on my red p’s since September 2019.

[@jamesking566]

Your videos are great to watch!

[@mikevanderhoek5252]

Very informative video. The modification was well known back in the 1990's for improving fuel economy. The kits weren't as good 30 years ago though and often there was an override switch fitted so the driver could turn the fan or fans on manually. Pleased you still have the Calais, there must be more footage you can create with it, that VT video was too good to be a one off, it needs a sequel!

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Yup, the kits back then were pretty basic. I have at least one idea for the VT, so it'll be back on the channel again sometime soon.

[@sourwords1808]

Definitely update them exhausts. Maybe use a valve which will allow you to adjust the noise levels since you still want that quiet drive every once in awhile. Great upload as usual. Thanks.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Not a bad idea, I'll think about it.

[@vacban7332]

I reckon upgrade the exhaust. Did it on my ef got 2L per 100 better economy, and its sounds nice. Its a 2.5 inch system with a single muffler. Doesnt really drone unless its uphill under load, but its not too bad. Overall I would recommend a good 2.5 system, maybe with an extra muffler if u want it a bit quieter.

[@seamusnestor8201]

Was going to do this conversion to my EB Fairmont. And now god himself has guided me on how to do it Great Video as always, looking forward to the next one

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Definitely a worthwhile upgrade, doesn't cost a lot either.

[@azzamatic4190]

Ipswich: Pauline Hanson country

[@MotoringBoxTV]

I don't like it.

[@willm687]

Eww don’t mention that

[@RyanDaviesTheFirst]

The exhaust rotted out on my DC LTD, and it was the best thing that could have happened. Cause the new exhaust makes it sound like a proper 8 with a bit of bite - Gonna have to perform this conversion though!

[@MotoringBoxTV]

I think my rear muffler is starting to go, so I may have to go that direction anyway.

[@paddy-uf8el]

Uppa the Supercheap auto gear. I love your vids. Definitely deserve more views and subs

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Nothing but the best gear huh.

[@magnum0121984]

That fairlane is so clean. I miss my eb Fairmont 😢

[@Frank_2023]

Cool upgrade, btw where do you top up the radiator on that thing ? couldn't see the traditional cap ?

[@MotoringBoxTV]

At the overflow tank behind the battery!

[@garyniehus5336]

I have a set of those fans already! Great job with the car. Mine is a six Cylinder only and currently sanding back for painting. I have ordered a controller for the conversion. Can I ask what camera you are using on the dash and how you get it to pan please? Cheers.

[@mickedwards6693]

Where does the yellow wire connect mate?

[@MotoringBoxTV]

You have to find a wire which goes live when the accessories are turned on. I used a voltmeter to probe all of the relays under the radiator overflow tank and found one there.

[@davidorama6690]

That’s a great little mod.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

I thought so too, thanks mate.

[@yanni6556]

Cool video love the old fairlane we have a DC LTD ourselves with the windsor also owned it since 95. Next time you should grab a long bar and put it around the wrench you will have that out fairly quick.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

Thanks for the comment. Unless you can jam the water pump from spinning, getting more leverage won't really help. It's quite difficult to jam it with only a pry bar or screwdriver(s) so I went for the other option which is to try 'shock' it undone by using brute force and letting the water pump still spin.

[@imidsikkey]

Windsor's may be gutless but they sound great with some nice pipes! 😍

[@jamesfrench7299]

They have good pulling power up hills over the six of the time.

[@MotoringBoxTV]

I have heard that...