Mark VIII Fan and Custom Controller

[TurboLark]

Just some info for you guys with the M8 fans. I had one in my 88GT mustang a few years ago. I ran a dual 30amp relay setup from an old Product Engineering fuel pump. I also installed a 130amp alternator. My guage never ever even flickered when the fan came one. Make sure the alternator is rated high enough, and use a large(4g) feed cable to help out.

[gmachinz]

I'm thinking I wouldn't have problems with just running a HD relay and a 50-amp fuse and an 8-gauge power wire BUT-you could have an alternator overcharging to 200-amps or have it undercharging at 25-amps and the voltage could still remain the same, so the gauge mostly likely won't give you an indication of how many amps your charging system is putting out-merely just the amount of voltage it's operating at. For example, I had someone who thought they had a bad battery because their car would not start and their gauge always read 12.5-13 volts. Well, using an ARBST type machine I found out that the alternator was cranking out a max of 225-amps under a full load @ 2000 RPM while the voltage reading was a consistent 14.10V from the regulator. I think the DCControl is something worth trying out-the way I see it is like this: sure, you might not ever see a high enough voltage spike to cause any damage BUT-if it did happen, what could the results be? It's not a chance I want to take I'll tell you that. Preventative safety is what I call it. -Jabin

[Charley Lillard]

The Red Witch has had a Mark 8 fan on it since 1996 ? I think I have about 21000 miles on it now and the fan has been great. The Mark 8 fan is used in a production car. Does the production car use a device like is being discussed here ? It sounds like a neat piece but is it needed ? Just my thoughts.

[gmachinz]

Charles, I think it would be a great upgrade-here is a quote I have from the service manual for a Mark Vlll-1997.

"PCM determines when fan operation is required by monitoring coolant temperature, vehicle speed and air conditioning status. When operation is required, PCM signals VLCM to turn on fan to desired speed."

This doesn't actually point to a voltage control, but maybe the computer controls it along with fan speed. Thoughts, anyone? -Jabin

[gmachinz]

Well, I was contacted by Brian Baskin who owns DCControl, and he said he would discount $15 apiece for 20+ orders and knock off $10 apiece for an order of 10. I think this applies to everything in the catalog. -Jabin

[Jim Nilsen]

I agree that the controller for just the fan isn't really a neccessity but it will help increase the life of the motor.

My main reason for choosing it is because I plan on running an electric water pump and with both items drawing as many amps as they do and the ability to help the life and efficiency of them together along with everything else in the cooling system it seems like a good way to go. I might be sorry down the road but someone has to go there to see if it's better.

It's just a great thing that these fans are so inexpensive compared to the other aftermarket fans that claim to do so much and don't for the money.


Jim Nilsen

[gmachinz]

You know, it seems as though a lot of aftermarket companies seem to hold (by their advertising) that people think if it doesn't exist in their catalogs, it either does not exist at all ot it is inferior. Maybe they don't realize the effort a lot of us will put in for something that may not be a direct fit for our cars but we can make it that way with a little creativity. I agree though-for the money, most every aftermarket electric fan can't come close to that of a Mark VIII. Interestingly, on my Mark fan motor it has the Siemens company stamped on it. They make aftermarket new/reman. blower motors, AC controls, etc. Seems to me Ford knows how to save money (ala GM) by out-sourcing certain things which in turn make it very affordable for us to purchase them new. Sometimes cost-cutting is a good thing. -Jabin