Merkur Depot Radiator and Intercooler Install (Lots of pics)

[John Brennan]

I rigged The radiator with 2 12"fans. The same one as bought the opening post. Does anyone know what kind of connector I need to make them work?

I saved the old connector from my stock fan, but any sort of commercially-available type, such as Weatherpak (if you're lucky, as they are basically watertight), or even spade connectors (as long as they're not the "Vampire" type which pierce the insulation), is fine. With dual fans, if you're really 'cool," you'll wire In a relay so as to get full power to both fans; I run mine in tandem, which works OK, as aftermarket fans tend to draw less juice than the old stocker, but I'd like to finish that job properly one of these days.

[timxr8]

John, both fans already run off relays connected to the main distribution bus. That's what's hiding behind the windshield washer bottle. If you run 2 fans, especially if they are smaller (I think 12" is as big as you can go on these shorty radiators), the current draw is not high enough to warrant 2 separate relays for running your fans off just the engine coolant circuit. I'm planning to just keep it as is with 1 fan connected to the engine cooling and the other to the A/C switch. Many have claimed a single fan was all that was needed since the radiator is very efficient.

[Chris_12]

ok, I have been trying to find a place locally to get the connector, but nothing... Does anyone have a website they like to order wiring connectors? Also, with adding a relay, does anyone have specifics on what I need and how to wire it?

[merkurdriver]

ok, I have been trying to find a place locally to get the connector, but nothing...

Fan connector? Clip the connector off the stock fan that you removed and wire it to the new fan (s)
Both the front and rear fans on the XR are already ran off relays - these are located behind the headlight as mentioned above.

[merkurdriver]

5 ply matte black silicone hose upgrade.
Replaces stock Y hose on all automatic 1985-1988 XR4Ti.
Also the perfect hose to install if you are running one of the MERKUR DEPOT aluminum "shorty" radiators in a 5spd or automatic XR.

Available on our website at the bottom of the aluminum radiator page:

http://merkur.50megs.com/photo2_2.html

OR, on ebay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/192392853002

[LITTELHAWK]

With the vacuum hose for the blow-off valve, can I just run that to the vacuum tree on any of the ports there or is there something else I need to do?

[merkurdriver]

With the vacuum hose for the blow-off valve, can I just run that to the vacuum tree on any of the ports there or is there something else I need to do?

Yes. If your car is a 5spd there will be a capped off port on the vac tree you can use for a BOV line.
(Auto cars use this port for the vac operated shift modulator, but capped on 5spd cars)

[LITTELHAWK]

With the vacuum hose for the blow-off valve, can I just run that to the vacuum tree on any of the ports there or is there something else I need to do?

Yes. If your car is a 5spd there will be a capped off port on the vac tree you can use for a BOV line.
(Auto cars use this port for the vac operated shift modulator, but capped on 5spd cars)

Thank you, I saw that port and was really hoping. Glad to hear the great news!

[LITTELHAWK]

I noticed this kind of late, and my '87 isn't the same way, but there are two capped lines on my turbo, would I be able to use those to run a bypass valve?


On the '87 they run to a round box mounted on the passenger fender but they are just capped off on the '85, Is that something I need to fix?

[John Brennan]

The round box is a vacuum reservoir for your air doors and such, so if that's missing, then you want to be sure that the lines are capped, so you have no leaks. Either one is perfectly good for a BPV, yes.

[merkurdriver]

Are you talking about the small vacuum hose size lines on the turbo (inlet) are capped?
Hard to tell over a forum post, but it sounds like one of your cars still has the factory boost solenoid and the other car does not.
Round thing on the passenger fender well? 2 vacuum hoses on it and one electrical plug with 2 wires?

[LITTELHAWK]

Yep, that would be it.

[merkurdriver]

Yep, that would be it.

Ok thats the factory boost control solenoid then, not the VAC ball for the air doors. You definitely do not want to use one of those lines to hook up a line for a BOV or BPV.