flex fan vs. electic
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New User
Joined: Dec 2004
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flex fan vs. electic
i want to switch over to a flex fan. BUT what are the disadvantages thats there? i have a clutch fan on my truck, and i want a little better gas mileage. i would get the electronic fan, BUT i absolutley hate electronics.. 
and tips?
and tips?
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 393
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From: Empire of New Jersey
i had a cheap flex fan on my 68 mustang with a 351w which had a huge aluminum radiator. it was a POS, temp would rise as soon as i stopped, but i'm sure there are better ones then the one i got.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 936
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From: Texas
My first truck was a 82 F150 stepside with a 351W in it. After making some upgrades to the engine via Mr. Edelbrock I put in a flex fan. It seemed to work okay, but one day while I was tightning some belts the bolt I was on rounded out and my hand went slaming into the flex fan. I got some real nasty cuts on my hand. The blade actualy first hit me on my knuckle, it cut me down into the joint. That hurt. Bad. I was able to see my bones when I moved that particular joint. Now the scar tissue has built up inside that joint and I cant open or close it all the way. I also lost some feeling in the tip of my finger (left pointer finger, joint closest to finger nail). I'll never use one of those again.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 552
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From: Northern, Va
Stainless flex fan's work the best, I have on my 89 454 surb. & tow a 31' travel tral. , I also have one on my 89 Big Bronco 347 stroker , thay are noisy but thay do work great !!! But Word of Caution wear heavy Glove's thay don't care who thay cut. That's why you wear glove's to that knife fight !!! Bought mine at summit.
Don
Don
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 946
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From: Orange
Electric. Less rotating mass means more power and better gas mileage. Plus it only works when you want it and can flow up to 5500 cfm. No flex fan can do that.
I had an electric fan on my 87 Supra Turbo with 352 RWHP and on my dad's 70 Skylark that had a 350 with a 4:71 blower.
I had an electric fan on my 87 Supra Turbo with 352 RWHP and on my dad's 70 Skylark that had a 350 with a 4:71 blower.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
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From: Atlanta GA
Besides being a bit noisy, they work fine, but, as noted they are a real cut hazard under the hood. I cut myself by accident trying to turn the engine to set the points. Wear leather gloves!
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Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
Make sure the stocker is working properly and the fan shroud is in place. The flex fan will cost you mileage. Electrics are complicated and failure prone, they are also fairly mickey mouse.
You can get better mileage by installing a vacuum gage and using it to modify your driving habits.
You can get better mileage by installing a vacuum gage and using it to modify your driving habits.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 541
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From: Fleming Ga
You will get less milage with the flex fan than you will with the clutch fan. Thats why car manufactors started using the clutch fan. Once a vehicle gets to moving above 45 mph then the air flow through the radiator from the air flowing around the vehicle is greater than the fan can pull thus the fan isn't needed anymore so the clutch fan freewheels and isn't a strain on the engine anymore. Flex fans above 45 are actually fighting against the vehicle air flow. The only reason to be using a flex fan would be it your truck was over heating at low speeds or idle due to the clutch fan not moving as much air as the flex fan.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,549
Likes: 71
From: Calhoun GA
I run Flex-A-Lite 295 e-fans and they haven't given me any problems on my 94 supercharged/intercooled Lightning here in the south. The fans cover the entire radiator and are fully adjustable. They also have a trigger input for the AC and manual "On" mode.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 544
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From: Ocala, Florida
Flex fans are dangerous. Have you ever heard of metal fatigue? Take a piece of metal and bend it back and forth. What happens? It breaks. Flex fans do break and at worst can be deadly. Imagine standing next to your vehicle with the hood up. You are fiddling with the accelerator linkage and bang a blade lets go and hits you. It has happened. You old style clutch fan is actually more efficient and robs less horsepower over a flex fan. Go with either electric or keep the stock unit, but for safety sake stay away from flex fans.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 552
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From: Northern, Va
You are proberly right ! But I have ran mine from 1973- till now & have yet broken it . It is the same one I used to street race with ! maybe I have a Horse Shoe barryed some where? Yea, the cheep ones will break . My problem I don't buy cheep. When the book say's 4" concrete floors are enough, I use 6"-8" w/ wire & rebarb 5/8 at least. Maybe that's why I'm lucky Don !
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,635
Likes: 349
From: Albuquerque
The factory style clutch/rpm fan is really the most efficient if the silicone hasn't leaked out of the clutch.
I don't care for flex fans unless it's a racing application.
Electrics are pretty bullets proof if properly installed and shrouded. I'm running a 16" electric with shroud on a 425hp motor with no problems. Also an aluminum radiator.
I don't care for flex fans unless it's a racing application.
Electrics are pretty bullets proof if properly installed and shrouded. I'm running a 16" electric with shroud on a 425hp motor with no problems. Also an aluminum radiator.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 311
Likes: 3
From: Arkansas
May not be the exact thing for your application but I'm running a pair of Derale 16" fans with their own thermostatic controllers. Install wasn't terribly difficult but takes patience. And at 2,175 cfm each they can move plenty of air to keep my supercharged truck cool.