Questions and Answers

Ford F-100 Auxiliary Cooling Fan Q. Hello, I have 1973 Ford F-100 six cylinder, carbureted, 3 speed manual transmission. The engine was replaced with an 1982 van six cylinder. That engine was removed and professionally rebuilt. I am attempting to install an electric cooling fan. Question; can an electric thermostat switch be installed where the usual screw in device is in the pipe where the heater hose attaches to the engine?

There is some sort of a sensor (used in the van installation of the engine) installed in the pipe coming from the engine where the heater hose is attached. This device has two electrical looking connections. They do not conduct electricity when the engine is hot. It is my desire to remove this sensor and install a thermostat switch if one is available. This I feel is a far better set up than a sensor installed in the radiator fins. What do you think?

Thanks,
TTM

A. Well, I guess you could put it there. It wouldn't do much good, but you can put it there. The problem is the coolant coming in there has already been through the radiator and cooled off. By the time it got hot enough to kick on the fan, you'd have been overheated for a while already.

The best place to put that sensor is between the thermostat (that's why you see most of them in thermostat housings) and the top tank of the radiator.