Replacing Fans and Fan Shroud

[JBaker4981]

I am wanting to replace my stock fans with the lower amperage fans from DI to limit how much of a beating the electrical system takes though the stock fans with Bitsyncmaster's Fan Relay and Fan Fail Unit have been amazing so far.

Is it possible to unbolt the existing fan shroud and drop it out without having to drain the system and take out the radiator? In my mind, it should be fairly easy but I have noticed a few people throughout various threads here that mentioned that dropping the fans was an utter nightmare.

I had hoped to find a How To Guide or any other thread specifically dedicated to this task on either DMCTalk or DMCToday however I came up short.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[Bitsyncmaster]

I have dropped the shroud on two cars with the fans still installed. You have to drop the "sway" bar for the OEM fans to clear. Just have to have a good assortment of 1/4" drive sockets, extensions and wrenches. If the blots stick, work them back and forth carefully so as not to break any. So no need to drain cooling system or drop the radiator.

[WHO1DMC]

I am wanting to replace my stock fans with the lower amperage fans from DI to limit how much of a beating the electrical system takes though the stock fans with Bitsyncmaster's Fan Relay and Fan Fail Unit have been amazing so far.

Is it possible to unbolt the existing fan shroud and drop it out without having to drain the system and take out the radiator? In my mind, it should be fairly easy but I have noticed a few people throughout various threads here that mentioned that dropping the fans was an utter nightmare.

I had hoped to find a How To Guide or any other thread specifically dedicated to this task on either DMCTalk or DMCToday however I came up short.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

The only advice I have is get a strong friend to help push and pull on the radiator to try to find the little room there is to get those big fan motors out.. Now the fans won't drop straight out there will be a fight!

Doing this without taking the radiator out or totally removing the anti sway bar is a big PITA but I did it all by myself it took all day.


Dave B.

[Lenny]

I’m interested in doing the same thing. Living in Florida my fans are on most of the time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bfloyd]

It's a pain to do it without dropping the radiator, but it can be done. I did it earlier this spring when I upgraded my fans and shroud. However, I ended up developing a hairline crack in my 2015 DMCH replacement radiator, so I ended up having to drop and drain the radiator anyway.

If you're wanting to just replace your fans with new low current models, DMCH sells new units that will bolt up directly to your existing shroud. If you're dead set on replacing the shroud "just because"... I would highly steer you toward Josh Bengston's set at Delorean Industries.

[JBaker4981]

It's a pain to do it without dropping the radiator, but it can be done. I did it earlier this spring when I upgraded my fans and shroud. However, I ended up developing a hairline crack in my 2015 DMCH replacement radiator, so I ended up having to drop and drain the radiator anyway.

If you're wanting to just replace your fans with new low current models, DMCH sells new units that will bolt up directly to your existing shroud. If you're dead set on replacing the shroud "just because"... I would highly steer you toward Josh Bengston's set at Delorean Industries.

I just purchased Josh's fans from DI and should have them by this weekend. Hopefully this won't be too difficult... I know the previous owner (tommyrich) originally had swapped the fans out and then back to stock at one time so I don't expect any issues out of the bolts. I'll have to figure out how to remove the sway bar and go from there.

[David T]

If you still have the OEM radiator with the plastic tanks, just replace the radiator too. Those little bolts and nuts are a real PITA and if they have not been touched in a LONG time expect to snap many of them off. Since you say things were recently worked on, you may be fortunate and will be able to remove them easily. Draining the radiator and refilling the system, IMHO, is easier than disconnecting the sway bar and trying to get the parts out in the limited space.

[Gregadeth]

Does anyone know how much the stock shroud/fans weigh and how much the aftermarket (stainless) ones weigh in comparison?

[mr_maxime]

I tried replacing just my fans and shroud while also the front end recall. I had the original radiator so while removing the bolt by the passenger side connection, I broke the plastic side tank. The plastic was too weak and the force of backing the bolt out caused it to crack. An all aluminum radiator might not have this issue.

Another problem I ran into was the the DPI shroud holes did not line up with the DMCEU radiator I got. This was an easy fix out of the car, but would be a pain if the radiator was still installed.

In all, it's better to just replace the radiator to an all aluminum one while you do the shroud assuming you have the budget for it. You might want to replace your support braces too. I sheared the stud out of one of mine.

[Delorean Industries]

I tried replacing just my fans and shroud while also the front end recall. I had the original radiator so while removing the bolt by the passenger side connection, I broke the plastic side tank. The plastic was too weak and the force of backing the bolt out caused it to crack. An all aluminum radiator might not have this issue.

Another problem I ran into was the the DPI shroud holes did not line up with the DMCEU radiator I got. This was an easy fix out of the car, but would be a pain if the radiator was still installed.

In all, it's better to just replace the radiator to an all aluminum one while you do the shroud assuming you have the budget for it. You might want to replace your support braces too. I sheared the stud out of one of mine.

The issue is not with our shrouds. They are a precision component with high tolerances held. The disclaimers for the above mentioned radiator on Delorean go is plenty to substantiate where the problem is during fitment. https://www.deloreango.com/us/delorean-radiator.html

[chris williams]

I tried replacing just my fans and shroud while also the front end recall. I had the original radiator so while removing the bolt by the passenger side connection, I broke the plastic side tank. The plastic was too weak and the force of backing the bolt out caused it to crack. An all aluminum radiator might not have this issue.

Another problem I ran into was the the DPI shroud holes did not line up with the DMCEU radiator I got. This was an easy fix out of the car, but would be a pain if the radiator was still installed.

I had the same issue trying to fit the DPI new fan set, one of the first IIRC! This was not an issue with the shroud simply the 35 year old rad giving up. I purchased a new rad from Ed at DMC EU and the shroud lined up perfectly with the holes (same one D-Go now sells) So I guess it's hit and miss on the hole lining up front!
Chris

[mr_maxime]

The issue is not with our shrouds. They are a precision component with high tolerances held. The disclaimers for the above mentioned radiator on Delorean go is plenty to substantiate where the problem is during fitment. https://www.deloreango.com/us/delorean-radiator.html

Wasn't implying problem with the shroud but like Chris said, original radiator holes could be out too. I know one of my mounting bolts on the bottom was bent.

[JBaker4981]

Thanks for the input guys! I was able to get it done though it took 11 hours to do it myself.... the new fans are REALLY NICE! My only issue with the product itself was simply what Josh said in this thread, the tolerances are tight everywhere.

Honestly due to the nature of trying to hang the fans onto the top three existing bolts of the radiator (without pulling the radiator out of the car), I needed them bigger so that the bolts would simply pass into the holes on the shroud. I had to drill out the holes by no more than 1/16" as the pre-drilled holes only allowed for the bolts to be screwed in.

Josh - I am in LOVE with these fans man! They work well and have put my worries of melting things down to a minimum.

[Trstno1]

Thanks for the input guys! I was able to get it done though it took 11 hours to do it myself.... the new fans are REALLY NICE! My only issue with the product itself was simply what Josh said in this thread, the tolerances are tight everywhere.

Honestly due to the nature of trying to hang the fans onto the top three existing bolts of the radiator (without pulling the radiator out of the car), I needed them bigger so that the bolts would simply pass into the holes on the shroud. I had to drill out the holes by no more than 1/16" as the pre-drilled holes only allowed for the bolts to be screwed in.

Josh - I am in LOVE with these fans man! They work well and have put my worries of melting things down to a minimum.

Ill be doing this job soon myself. Did you have to take out the sway bar in order to get the old fans out? Also, might you have a finished product photo?

[WNY1983]

I replaced my original fans and radiator. With the DPI upgraded fans and radiator. I took out the sway bar. It made things a lot easier. I also replaced the bushings for the sway bar. I have had no issues at all. I highly recommend any parts from DPI. Well made and very good quality. Think of it as an investment for your DMC.
#15297

[JBaker4981]

Ill be doing this job soon myself. Did you have to take out the sway bar in order to get the old fans out? Also, might you have a finished product photo?

I didn't take out the sway bar but I did unbolt it from the frame and dropped it down. It provided plenty of clearance to unbolt the fan shroud from the radiator and drop the fans out. Keep in mind that dropping the fans out without the radiator is a bear of a job and if I had bled the system and dropped the radiator out, it would've been way easier in the long run.

[Delorean Industries]

Dropping the car will help a great deal in removing the bulky factory units. In the future, this will not be required once our system is installed.

[JBaker4981]

Dropping the car will help a great deal in removing the bulky factory units. In the future, this will not be required once our system is installed.

As Josh as stated, this is due to his fans & shroud being very low profile and probably half as tall as the factory unit. Dropping the factory unit was a bear of a job due to clearance of the frame extension but the DPI fans had no clearance issues of anything including the strut bar (if you chose to bolt it back on early)

[David T]

Unbolting the sway bar from the frame and letting it hang is the way to do it. I find the hardest part of the job is undoing all of the little bolts holding the shroud to the rad. Besides some of them being hard to access, they are usually rusty and wind up just breaking.

[Trstno1]

Unbolting the sway bar from the frame and letting it hang is the way to do it. I find the hardest part of the job is undoing all of the little bolts holding the shroud to the rad. Besides some of them being hard to access, they are usually rusty and wind up just breaking.

answers were much appreciated. thx

[Helirich]

Just got done doing this job. I'll add my two cents. I don't really understand all the talk about letting the swaybar hang. It takes about twenty seconds to remove the four bolts to let it hang. That was definitely the easiest part of the job. A more pertinent question is, do you need to remove both lower radiator supports? I removed one and loosened the other. They are much harder to get at. Especially the pax side because one of the bolts is behind the rad hose/tube. I was able to pull down the driver's side and angle the shroud out.

I installed the DI unit and as mentioned by others, it is a thing of beauty and fit perfectly. My holes did line up, but if I was to do it again, I might drill them out a few sizes. Could make it easier to install. I don't think it would hurt structurally.

These fans draw less power and run quieter. They also don't blow as hard. I'm sure they will work, but Im courious how they would perform with one fan down. My (1) 40 year old stock fan did fine on an hour long trip in 90 degree weather. Hopefully, I won't find out about this for 40 years.

[Helirich]

Ps, the job took me about four hours.