Stock fan or electric cooling fan
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 11,496
Likes: 6
From: Kansas
Stock fan or electric cooling fan
My fan clutch shot craps and so I removed the entire assembly (fan shroud, fan and clutch). I know I can run it awhile with it gone I just need to watch my temp when not moving.
But, I've been told that the real problem is the A/C and that air must be moving through the radiator or the pressure will spike and possibly lock up the compressor. Based on a little bit of searching it appears that it is important to tie your electric fan to the A/C so that the fan is on whenever the A/C is working.
Has anyone replaced their stock fan with a electric unit? It appears that fans can run as little as $80 to as high as almost $800.
Should I stay stock or go for the electric?
But, I've been told that the real problem is the A/C and that air must be moving through the radiator or the pressure will spike and possibly lock up the compressor. Based on a little bit of searching it appears that it is important to tie your electric fan to the A/C so that the fan is on whenever the A/C is working.
Has anyone replaced their stock fan with a electric unit? It appears that fans can run as little as $80 to as high as almost $800.
Should I stay stock or go for the electric?
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,668
Likes: 3
From: Lincoln USA
Stock fan or electric cooling fan
Personally, I like electric fans. There's no lost horsepower spinning a fan all the time, and I have found that my truck warms up better in the winter because there is not a constant sream of cold air blowing over the radiator. So my vote is to go for the electric.
And yes, you do need to wire it so it's on whenever the A/C is on.
Go for it
And yes, you do need to wire it so it's on whenever the A/C is on.
Go for it
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 11,496
Likes: 6
From: Kansas
Stock fan or electric cooling fan
Thanks for the reply Flyboy2610!
The one I am looking at is a dual fan unit. I am talking to Flex-A-Lite via email to see if this unit will fully suffic for my truck. My caution level was engaged when they stipulated that their fans were not to be used with V8's or 4 core radiators. If you do, you are to install a pusher fan on the front along with a puller on the back. But at $450 I would hope that this dual fan would work!
You said your truck warms up faster when it's cold, but when your defroster is running your A/C is on. So does your fan run then to? It appears that is working well for you in any case.
The one I am looking at is a dual fan unit. I am talking to Flex-A-Lite via email to see if this unit will fully suffic for my truck. My caution level was engaged when they stipulated that their fans were not to be used with V8's or 4 core radiators. If you do, you are to install a pusher fan on the front along with a puller on the back. But at $450 I would hope that this dual fan would work!
You said your truck warms up faster when it's cold, but when your defroster is running your A/C is on. So does your fan run then to? It appears that is working well for you in any case.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 11,496
Likes: 6
From: Kansas
Stock fan or electric cooling fan
Well, I went ahead and ordered the Flex-A-Lite twin fan system. It was higher than I wanted to give but it can be custom installed instead of just tieing it to your radiator and it comes with adjustable thermosats. Plus the motors have lifetime warranty's on them.
So, I will see. The company stood by it's claim of 10 extra horses and 10 to 15 more of torque.
So, I will see. The company stood by it's claim of 10 extra horses and 10 to 15 more of torque.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 86
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From: south central
Stock fan or electric cooling fan
Hello Dan:
I did the same thing about 4 months ago. I bought the twin fan from Flex-A-Lite, (pusher) except i put on a 94' suburban with the 350 motor. I have been very happy with it. The motor is smoother, quieter and has a more power. I believe the 10-12 hp increase they claim. The fan never comes on unless you are sitting for a while ( or you turn the a/c on). I have an 81 F-150 with the 302 motor. It has the solid fan (no clutch) and I will get a fan for it after I do some other work on it.
I did the same thing about 4 months ago. I bought the twin fan from Flex-A-Lite, (pusher) except i put on a 94' suburban with the 350 motor. I have been very happy with it. The motor is smoother, quieter and has a more power. I believe the 10-12 hp increase they claim. The fan never comes on unless you are sitting for a while ( or you turn the a/c on). I have an 81 F-150 with the 302 motor. It has the solid fan (no clutch) and I will get a fan for it after I do some other work on it.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 11,496
Likes: 6
From: Kansas
Stock fan or electric cooling fan
I got the thing installed tonight. It was a real pain to install ( mainly my fault) but now that I've done it a 2nd job would be much easier and faster.
The thing is really cool. Mine has the progressive fans on it. So that when the temp starts going up the fans get progressively faster. Takes about 5 seconds for the fans to run their show before they shut off. So far, I am very impressed by the setup. If you live somewhere cold, this would be a very good setup.
The fans only come on when the AC is on. So when your defroster is selected, they only run when it engages. Which is about 4 seconds.
I have the heavy duty radiator in my truck and it took over 30 minutes of sitting and idling at 30 degrees before the fans switched on for a 3 second burst. The coolant gauge hardly even moved from it's usual position. Very efficient.
The thing is really cool. Mine has the progressive fans on it. So that when the temp starts going up the fans get progressively faster. Takes about 5 seconds for the fans to run their show before they shut off. So far, I am very impressed by the setup. If you live somewhere cold, this would be a very good setup.
The fans only come on when the AC is on. So when your defroster is selected, they only run when it engages. Which is about 4 seconds.
I have the heavy duty radiator in my truck and it took over 30 minutes of sitting and idling at 30 degrees before the fans switched on for a 3 second burst. The coolant gauge hardly even moved from it's usual position. Very efficient.
