K5L Fans on GMT800

[redhat9]

Curious on swapping out 7/9 or 5/5 2nd design 700w K5L fans on my Tahoe. Presently it is a 2005 with factory 300k+ eFans and a 160amp alternator.

I see a lot of posts about them being swapped on GMT900s, but not a lot on the 800s. Looking up, it looks as if when equipped with K5L, you'd have a 160amp alternator.

Does anyone know if the GMT800 when equipped with efans, and a 160amp alternator will be OK for these stronger fans? Or when performing this upgrade is anyone upgrading wiring/fuses/relays/etc?

Thanks.

 

[mattbta]

I have gone through a number of iterations with e-fan conversion on my 2004. They ALL suck a lot of power when the blower is on high in the heat of a Texas summer. I'm not wholly comfortable with the dips despite upgrading to a Mechman 240a (i had 145a from factory) and doing a big 4. You might be better off since you've got the RVC setup - my 04 doesn't. I think my idle is too low to get enough generation going with all the drag. Or I have another issue going on. Or the motors need replacing.

I've done regular OEM 5/7, K5L 7/9, and K5L 5/5 new design. Settled on K5L 7/9. They all fit fine.

 

[redhat9]

Thank you @mattbta Appreciate the info. I think I am going to try some 7/9 and new motors. From my looking it doesn't seem like the E-Fan'd 160amp 800 is much different from a 900 in terms of fan harness or wiring.

Thank you again. I will report back.

 

[mattbta]

Thank you @mattbta Appreciate the info. I think I am going to try some 7/9 and new motors. From my looking it doesn't seem like the E-Fan'd 160amp 800 is much different from a 900 in terms of fan harness or wiring.

Thank you again. I will report back.

i used an oem harness and haven't had any relay melting issues like the aftermarket.

 

[redhat9]

You are awesome, exactly what I was curious on. Thank you!

 

[mikeyss]

When I had my 05 Tahoe, I swapped to the K5L 2nd design 5/5 700w fans and they fit the same has the 1st design and worked very well. I now have them in my 09 Tahoe cooling my 3 core radiator, but they are a bit noisy when on high compared to the 1st design ones. You can't go wrong with either style K5L fans, and your 160amp alternator will be ok.

 

[Doubeleive]

should be a direct swap from gmt900 to gmt800 or vica-versa, no different relay or anything is needed regardless of "wattage"

 

[redhat9]

Thank you all... gives me confidence with this. They are definitely easy to swap out, but the wiring/relays/harness was what I was curious on -- so thank you.

Called up a local wrecking yard that 3x over guaranteed they had a 7/9 fan assembly and pulled it for me. Drive 30 minutes to pick it up to find it was a 5/7 like I already have. So I've been looking up vehicles in two local/semi-local U Pull It Yards and plugging their VINs into a GM SI decoder and have found some with K5L.

Looks like tomorrow AM I will visit some yards in hopes that fan assemblies haven't been robbed and or mangled in a front end impact. Already have new 700w motors coming tomorrow.

 

[Marky Dissod]

... plugging their VINs into a GM SI decoder and have found some with K5L.

SI decoder?

 

[Doubeleive]

Thank you all... gives me confidence with this. They are definitely easy to swap out, but the wiring/relays/harness was what I was curious on -- so thank you.

Called up a local wrecking yard that 3x over guaranteed they had a 7/9 fan assembly and pulled it for me. Drive 30 minutes to pick it up to find it was a 5/7 like I already have. So I've been looking up vehicles in two local/semi-local U Pull It Yards and plugging their VINs into a GM SI decoder and have found some with K5L.

Looks like tomorrow AM I will visit some yards in hopes that fan assemblies haven't been robbed and or mangled in a front end impact. Already have new 700w motors coming tomorrow.

if you want the 7/9 blade you can find them in hummer H2's and Escalades or others optioned with k5l, seems like they only made the 7/9 blade for a couple years around 07-09
the motors are 700w, left & right motors are different (shaped different and mount different) and so is the way the fan blade mounts

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these motors only fit the 7/9 blade housing

More Information for GM GENUINE 1580880

More Information for GM GENUINE 1580881

 

[mattbta]

15780789 - i use this to search for K5L

I got my first 7/5 from a junkyard and then the next two K5L off eBay for reasonable cost. Protip: "watch" a set from an auto recycler. They'll usually send you an "offer" of a discount. Counter that with what you're willing to spend. They usually accept.

 

[redhat9]

I scored today! I remembered at the local wrecking yard seeing a PPV GMT900 Tahoe. I looked up their inventory and ran the VIN to find K5L.

Showed up to it and the fans were still in it and in great shape! Super stoked for $25.

 

[redhat9]

Thank you though for the part numbers and the offer advice. I think these 7/9 are not ever listed correctly.

Will degrease and wash them up this afternoon, take em apart and put the new motors in and give em a spin.

Think I’ll hook up a tech2 and make a video of them on low and high just for reference for others.

 

[Doubeleive]

Thank you though for the part numbers and the offer advice. I think these 7/9 are not ever listed correctly.

Will degrease and wash them up this afternoon, take em apart and put the new motors in and give em a spin.

Think I’ll hook up a tech2 and make a video of them on low and high just for reference for others.

same fans I have in mine, had to replace both NEW motors once since I have had them. in both cases the harness connector burnt a little inside nearest the motor
not sure why defect I guess. first it was the left side replaced the motor and the harness, then a while later it was the right side, did the same replaced the motor and harness.
discovered it happening when 1 motor wasn't coming on and I touched the harness and it instantly turned on, then the 2nd time I had them out to replace the radiator and upon inspection of the harness discovered it was melting so I replaced it

 

[redhat9]

SI decoder?

GM dealers and technicians have access to GM Service Information (SI). It lists all repairs or maintenance a vehicle had when it was at an authorized GM garage. Additionally you can take a VIN and list all RPO codes.

I use a website called www.free-vin-decoder.com. It must have an API to pull from GM SI or they just know all the VINs.

I enter a VIN on there to see if it has the RPOs I like. I used this big time when looking for and buying my Z71 Suburban from Texas. My wife’s DD.

 

[redhat9]

Got the blades off, motors unbolted and everything washed.

Good call on new motors. These spun hard with some bad spots felt in the armature. And they look crusty.

New motors showed up. Genuine Bosch.

Time to assemble.

 

[Marky Dissod]

Score anything else off that GMT921 PPV?

 

[redhat9]

Score anything else off that GMT921 PPV?

No nothing else really caught my eye. Front clip was gone. Had some 243 heads which is cool. Have a buddy who needs a set for his LS1 C5, but I didn’t feel like pulling them haha.

 

[redhat9]

Got the fan assembly in, bolted up and plugged in. Started the truck and they worked well. Low speed fans sound about the same, high speed sure is loud and moves some air. Awesome!

When on high speed I did not see any voltage drop or issue. Volt gauge showed fine at 14. So I think I’ll be good!

Will make a video demonstrating in a few days.

 

[mattt]

I scored today! I remembered at the local wrecking yard seeing a PPV GMT900 Tahoe. I looked up their inventory and ran the VIN to find K5L.

Showed up to it and the fans were still in it and in great shape! Super stoked for $25.

View attachment 429940

$25 is a steal! Those fans sell for over $100 in CA junkyards. How many more can be had for $25?