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Looking to replace your belt driven engine fan with an electric fan in order to free up some horsepower? Do not underestimate the importance of having your electric fans properly wired and controlled. A wonderful product that will drastically simplify the process is the Delta Current Control Module.

I recently replaced a 7-blade thermal clutch fan on my 1966 Malibu with a dual 13″ Derale setup. The dual fans draw a massive 50 amps when turned on, but move an impressive 4000 CFM of air. Your car does not always need 4000 CFM of airflow in fact often it will need little to no fan assistance to stay within operating temperature. This is where a fan controller comes into play.

A typical electric fan install consists of a thermal switch that operates a relay. The relay is in turn connected to the fan. Often the thermal switch will turn the fan on at one temperature, for example 210 degrees and off at another, say 175 degrees. The problem with this sort of setup is that your engine temperature is constantly fluctuating.

The Delta Current Control Module operates by varying fan speed to maintain engine temperature at a desired level. The unit is a full, self-contained system. It takes the place of a thermal switch, relay, fuse, manual override switch, air conditioning switch, etc. [Read my article on the Install of a DCC unit in my 1966 Chevelle.]

I have been running a DCC unit on my car for the past week and once car is warmed up the temperature gauge rarely moves at all. This includes a 100-mile freeway drive, multiple drive-thru lines, a trip to the drag strip at LACR and a 30-minute driveway idle. The switch from mechanical to electric fans has also freed up a noticeable amount of power.

Features:

1. Turns on fan only when needed
2. 100% Self Contained, compact Unit
3. Adjustable Target Temperature (148, 158, 166, 173, 180, 187, 194, 202, 212)
4. Maintains engine Temperature within a tight heat range
5. Has provision for A/C activation and use with under drive pulleys
6. Choice of two types of thermal probe
7. Frees up horsepower (verified by my faster quarter miles times)
8. Can also be used to control an electric water pump.

Verdict:

A no headaches solution to electric fan control. The DCC unit is an elegant solution that works as advertised.

Sources:

Delta Current Control
www.dccontrol.com

While not directly Hot Rod related I figured that it merited a mention here on the site. My daily driver is a 1990 Toyota Corolla with an automatic 3-speed transmission. Over the course of the last 2 tanks of gas I have been experiencing transmission slippage that has greatly reduced my fuel mileage. This is a major problem considering that good fuel mileage is all that the Corolla has going for it. What do I do?

I spent some time with google looking up prices for transmission rebuild kits as well as possible common issues with the Corolla transmissions. My search proved helpful, but not in the way that I anticipated.

After a flurry of different websites offering rebuilds and replacements I came across the Lucas Oil homepage. I was brought to the site be a customer testimonial from John Quinn of Springfield, Illinois that stated:

I was driving down the street and the transmission starts slipping. Can’t get it past 10mph and then transmission just whines. Had it towed to shop and started looking for used trany. Saw your ad on the internet and tried a bottle. Not only did it drive without slipping, I’m getting about 40 extra miles per fill up at the gas station. Thanks a million.

Normally I do not fall for “testimonials” on a manufactures website, but at this point I am desperate. I simply cannot justify putting a new transmission into a car that I bough for $1000, so this morning I picked up a bottle of Lucas Transmission Fix from the local AutoZone. It set me back around $10.

The back of the bottle states “Results are Usually Immediate” so as soon as I exited the store I popped the hood on the trusty old Corolla and added half a bottle to the transmission via the dipstick tube. As directed by the Transmission Fix bottle I added the fluid with the engine warmed up and running.

I let the car sit and idle for a few minutes while I cleaned up, then took her for a road test.

Initial Impression:
Before I had even exited the parking lot I could tell the difference. The transmission was noticeably smoother on shifts and I could no longer perceive any slippage. So far this stuff is working.

Long Term Results:
Nothing yet, but as I get some more time with the car I will update this article.

Sources:
Lucas Oil Products
302 North Sheridan Street
Corona, CA 92880-2067
951.270.0154
www.lucasoil.com