radiator fan

philippe · Post by **philippe** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:23 pm

i want to change my mecanical fan for a electric one.i red in a forum that i need a LS1 electric fan but i dont know what year,model,if i need the fan shround,thermostat, senser or someting else.

if some body can give wiring plans to know how to plug all that kit it will be very helpfull.

THANKS.

Post by **HenryJ** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:28 pm

LS1 fans install

LT1 / LS1 Electric Cooling Fans

okie s10 · Post by **okie s10** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:35 pm

I just bought a twin fan setup by Fexalite but haven't gotten around to the install yet. Am hoping it will an easy switch to do.

philippe · Post by **philippe** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 8:05 pm

thanks for fast reply.now a can start looking for parts.

Torskdoc · Post by **Torskdoc** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 7:02 pm

Not meaning to hijack this, but......

would the fan blade from a 2002 s-10 fit on the explorer/aerostar clutch? Being as the ford fan is an inch smaller but sits back an inch, wonder if the s-10 fan would work better on the ford clutch that is if it will physically fit mounting hole wise.

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 7:16 pm

It would thread on the pump shaft, but the fan to clutch swap would not likely work.

The center of the ford fan looks smaller to me. Then you run into the whole problem of the depth.

I am afraid that the blades would hit the belt if it did bolt up.
I am not sure what you would gain from the swap anyway.

Torskdoc · Post by **Torskdoc** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 7:58 pm

It was just a question in my mind.

The thought was reducing the gap btwn the blades and the shroud to gain some cfm or at least not lose it to turbulence in the gap.

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 8:01 pm

I think the gains made by pulling it back would far outweigh the loss in diameter.

roadrunner · Post by **roadrunner** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 8:07 pm

Anybody ever tried swapping out the rigid-clutch type fan blade for the old self-feathering flex-blade style?

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 8:30 pm

roadrunner wrote:Anybody ever tried swapping out the rigid-clutch type fan blade for the old self-feathering flex-blade style?

Not one of us. We sort of put a lot of stock in Bule's racing experience. No
we haven't tried the electric water pumps either. Sigh

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 8:37 pm

The clutch fan is awful hard to beat.

roadrunner · Post by **roadrunner** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 8:43 pm

HenryJ wrote:The clutch fan is awful hard to beat.

Not to "down" the clutch fan I was just thinking how to increase air flow and eliminate some dead-zone in front of that big thermostatic control. Perhaps also a little of the noise from when that big plastic fan kicks in.

WileyHunter · Post by **WileyHunter** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 1:49 am

roadrunner wrote:Anybody ever tried swapping out the rigid-clutch type fan blade for the old self-feathering flex-blade style?

Not in this rig, but on my F150 that is sitting due to cost of fuel... It does help with cooling but sounds wicked. As you throttle up it winds up!

I used it in conjunction with an electric fan and a heavy duty radiator. I have to disconnect the electric in the fall.

philippe · Post by **philippe** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:53 am

i just bouth a chevrolet venture,it's a 3.4L and has double electric fan.it's a flex style blade and i thinking if it's puling ennough cfm for a 4.3L? I think it could be easyer to fit than a ls1 style.

Rockrz · Post by **Rockrz** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 1:31 pm

I just replaced my Flex-A-Lite fans with SPAL fans. I'm using the Flex-A-Lite controller which has worked great.

I have been through 3 Flex-A-Lite fan assemblies because the fans kept getting loose, so I can't recommend that brand.

okie s10 · Post by **okie s10** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:07 pm

Rockrz wrote:
I have been through 3 Flex-A-Lite fan assemblies because the fans kept getting loose, so I can't recommend that brand.

Well now that is not what I really wanted to hear, but --------too late. I aint' takin it out unless it burns. Thanks for the heads up, I'll be watching it.

Rockrz · Post by **Rockrz** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:13 pm

Yeah, my problem was the brass inserts into the plastic fan would waller out and the fan would get loose and start rubbing my radiator core.

I've got pictures at:
http://www.mys10truck.com/96/spal_efan.html

On the other hand, I've read numerous posts where guys have used Flex-A-Lite fans and haven't had any problems at all.

I'm liking my dual 11inch SPAL fan though. They seem to blow more air.

On my next truck, I'm getting the SPAL 12 inch fans because they have S blades. When I do that, I'll probably have to make my own shroud to mount them on, which shouldn't be too hard if I can find some large flat pieces of black automotive grade high performance plastic

Post by **HenryJ** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 8:27 pm

What model flex-a-lite fans did you get? Any chance the voltage is low and they are not running as fast as they could with a bigger alternator?

Rockrz · Post by **Rockrz** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:41 am

I had the Flex-A-Lite 400-210 dual fan assembly.

After running my new SPAL fans in stop and go traffic, I can tell you that the SPAL dual fans out perform the Flex-A-Lite as the SPAL fans move alot more air and keep the coolant cooler.

I'm still running the same stock alternator and all it does is show that it's going down slightly when I'm sitting still idling. The alternator has not given me any problems at all.

The problem I was having with the Flex-A-Lite fans were they are very poor quality (especially compared to the SPAL fans) as they aren't balanced very well causing vibration, and the brass inserts into the plastic fan material started coming apart, probably due to the excessive vibration.

These SPAL fans I'm using now have virtually zero vibration and the motors are much more powerful and more quiet compared to the Flex-A-Lite product.

My alternator didn't cause the Flex-A-Lite fans to be un-balanced and start coming apart. This condition was caused by a company that builds very poor quality products.

They must have their fans built in China or somewhere cause they suck pretty bad.

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:46 am

Any pictures?

My only concern with needing a better alternator is to keep the voltage up at idle speeds and in return the fan speed would stay up to promote better cooling.

all-gm · Post by **all-gm** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 10:16 am

Has anyone checked the milage before and after the fan swap?

Post by **HenryJ** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:06 pm

The stock clutch fan is hard to beat. It is a pretty simple and direct transfer.

I saw little difference in fuel mileage. Any gains will be very small.
During the summer when the fans run the load is transferred to the alternator negating any real gains.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:48 pm

No gains with efans for me. My best mileage was with the stock fan.

all-gm · Post by **all-gm** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 2:51 am

Thanks, that's all I needed to hear.

zr2offroad · Post by **zr2offroad** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 8:34 pm

If you do this get the ls1 fan vs. the lt1 fan both will work but it looks like there is less hacking on the later model fan setup.

So yall think the alt. drag offsets the e fans? that sucks but still I really like mine if I could get the controller to work right. Mine was bad out of the box. Flex-o-lite is sending me a replacment free.

Hey for those of yall running the single/dual controller how much of a range are you seeing in the temps the fans kick on? Mine is damn near 30 deg. I thats why there sending me a new one but I just wander what your ecperiance is?