hey ang, yep, sounds you installed it the exact same way I did. It actually looks pretty good in there too. well, about as good as a rad can look anyway...lol. I haven't got around to putting an electric fan in yet, but I will soon. That's a good idea to put a "on" light in the dash. Of course, the more lights and switches I have on my dash, the happier I am...lol. By the way, where is Castro Valley?

The reason for the light is that the sensor for the fan is in the radiator, the temp gauge reads from the block...I've been in heavy traffic on a hot day were i was moving just enough to keep the fan from turning on but not enough to cool the motor. It doesnt make any sense. All's I know is, if the temp starts climbing and the fan/light doesnt automatically turn on, I can flip a switch to force the fan on.
Castro Valley is in the BayArea, not even 10minutes away from Oakland.

Electric fans won't cool any better than the stock fan. If not done right, it won't cool as well ... On the other hand you can make electric fans cool just as well. Make sure you use a big enough one, use the factory fan shroud and mount it in the same position as the factory (same spacing).

It does take a little peak load off the engine (but puts load back through the alternator). Since it doesn't run when the engine is cold, it will save some fuel.

Thats true, what little power is gained by taking off the fan is taken away by the added electrical load on the alternator. The thing is, the fan never/rarely turns on while the car is moving. Even when it's hot. Only in stop-and-go traffic or in town from one light to the next. I figured that with out the stock fan i could loosen up the belt, just a little, and maybe extend the life of the waterpump.

If you are in Australia, a Holden Gemini radiator is great. Hoels are all in the right spot and all you need is 4 bolts and four bits of pipe to use as spacers...

but load taken off the motor would be good as at high rpm the fan uses a lot mor power from the motor than an electric would from an alternator

Its just an idea cause I don't realy know but I think an electric fan is no better. If the car is going fast then the air is rushing in past the fan just as fast and would creat no load on the motor at all. In fact the fan may turn the motor and give it more power like a wind generator works. The electric fans if on the front of the radiator only block the flow.

Good thinking. Unfortunately there's not that much air going through the engine compartment, most goes around the car, over the hood, etc.

To save power when the fan is not needed, many engines use a viscous-coupled thermostatic controlled fan (non electric). Racers used to use a flexible fans to save power at high rpms. "Underdrive" pulleys are still popular, though they also reduce high-rpm drag from the water pump, alternator, etc.

The 1200 factory fan and shroud do a great job. The electric fan is fine for performance, but not necessarily better at cooling the engine. For racing performance, an electric fan may be best for the reasons previously mentioned.