Been thinking pretty seriously about dumping the clutch fan and shroud in favor of twin electric fans. I have looked at the different manufacturers and products available, but before I go and buy something I wanted to ask you folks.

I want a setup that will bolt right up to my factory radiator and look like a clean install. Trying to avoid any weird brackets or mounts that look like something that really does not belong.

Have any of you done this with good results. If so, which setup did you use, and how has it worked out for adequate cooling and durability.

Thanks
Tom

 

Some people have said they liked electric fans, while others have said they haven't had the best of luck with them.

I've been using the dual 14" Flex-A-Lite setup for a couple of years, now, with good results. That said, making the conversion to my satisfaction did involve some fabrication and customization, i.e. just bolting them on out of the box didn't work for me. I would steer away from the option of ordering the fans with Flex-A-Lite's automatic thermostat. Their design of inserting a thermocouple into the upper radiator hose opening and then bending the tubing around between the neck and hose and hoping that it sealed was cheesy. Make your own. I purchased a 302 water neck that was tapped and threaded for a pipe plug, and then purchased a 3/8" threaded sender to trip a relay for the fans. I also spliced into the a/c circuit to kick them on when the compressor was switched on. Finally I wired the works into a dash mounted rocker switch and switch plate to allow "ON-OFF-AUTO" positions (You may be able to make it out in the dash photo in my gallery). Finally, I found the fans to be a bit of a pull for my truck's 65 amp alternator. Since the stocker had some miles on it, anyway, I swapped it for a 105 amp Econoline alternator of the same year and engine as my Bronco. It was a direct bolt-on save for a slightly longer belt.

I made up some custom brackets from aluminum angle, though the ones that came with it may have worked. They were just too universal for my tastes.

With a bit of work and wiring, you'll likely be happy with installing one of these. I'm not sure, though, that you'd be as satisfied with taking one straight out of the box and bolting it up. Understandably, Flex-A-Lite wants you to be able to use the same part # on just about any application. Unfortunately, this leaves you with a fairly crappy-looking install. Some time, planning, and a few dollars in extra parts will get you the "factory package" you're after.....

 

I have been looking into the same thing and there is a company on ebay that sells factory LS1 dual fan setups complete with wiring for like $110. I am thinking about trying this. Restorit, did you notice much in the way of power or better mileage?

 

Honestly, I can't say that I did. Flex-A-Lite advertises that they saw something like a 15 or 20% increase in fuel economy or power or both when they put this setup on a Suburban. Not likely. I did feel a slight increase in low end, namely when stepping on it at low speeds. I might have picked up a slight increase in mpg, and I probably did, but most of my driving is in-town, which is hard to measure.

There are other benefits, though. The engine is much quieter, and access to the front accessories is 300% better. As well, the fans barely cycle on, at all, in the winter, which helps with warm up. I'm sure that the reduced load on the engine and water pump is good for power and efficiency, but the results in the brick-shaped, heavy Bronco aren't as readily apparent as they would be in something like a Mustang.