cooling fan

prideclaw · July 31, 2004

I am looking for an electric cooling fan conversion for my truck.

If anyone here has already done so, any feedback would be appreciated such as;Would a conversion be a single or double fan?

What kind of HP gains did you achieve?

How much did your MPG increase?

Are there any major obstacles that I can expect during the install?

Are they reliable?( Any major issues after install?)

Was it worth it to do?

Thanks

99Silver6.0 · July 31, 2004

You can use a set of fans from an LS1 Firebird or Camaro for under 100 bucks on eBay or from a salvage yard. You will also need a controller. A company called Digital Current Conversions makes a nice unit. Which in my opinion is ten times better than the Flexalite VSC. I have seen too many people have a VSC burn up. The Flexalite fans draw alot of juice. Allen Nelson makes a special harness that hooks to the PCM. That way the fans can be controlled by the PCM rather than having ot buy a standalone fan controller. The DCC fan controller is quite impressive. It doesnt just turn the fans on and off to regulate engine temperatures. It actually regulates power to the fans to keep the operating temp at a constant setting. Rather than fluctuating engine temps. It is better described on the companies website. But it works really well, friend of mine has one.

http://www.dccontrol.com/

lrymal · July 31, 2004

...A company called Digital Current Conversions makes a nice unit. Which in my opinion is ten times better than the Flexalite VSC. ....

Excellent message! I've been toying with the idea of getting the GM electric fan setup that is to be used by the 2005 trucks and was trying to figure out what to do about the controller. This might very well do the trick.

99Silver6.0 · July 31, 2004

...A company called Digital Current Conversions makes a nice unit. Which in my opinion is ten times better than the Flexalite VSC. ....

Excellent message! I've been toying with the idea of getting the GM electric fan setup that is to be used by the 2005 trucks and was trying to figure out what to do about the controller. This might very well do the trick.

Im gonna get one of the controllers too. From what Ive seen everybody likes it. My buddy has had no problems with it at all. Plus looking at both of the controllers, the DC controller is much higher in quality that the cheap-ass Flex VSC.

lotzafun · July 31, 2004

Thanks for the tip, I have been wanting to add electric fans to my truck, but could not make up my mind on which ones to buy. Now you have given me another option. Did your friend buy his fans from a junk yard or off of ebay? How long did it take to install the setup, and did he have to fabricate his own brackets to mount the fans? Maybe you could talk him into sharing some pictures of his installation. Thanks again.

1 Bad Burb · July 31, 2004

the flex-a-lite 292 fans is what i have. i love them soo far. i mean, minus the fact the fuse holder arc'ed and melted the power wire. but other than that, they blow real strong!!!! 5900 cfm or something like that. stock is like 1800cfm ish.

install is easy. the hardest part is gettin the stock clutch fan out. its a BIATCH!!!!!

other than that, the wiring is easy. just gotta find out where the ac compressor signal wire is and the ignition wire. i'll let u know where that is if u have an OBS.

overall, i think it gave me a good 20rwhp...definitly worth it and u will feel a SOTP increase....

Aj

99Silver6.0 · July 31, 2004

the flex-a-lite 292 fans is what i have. i love them soo far. i mean, minus the fact the fuse holder arc'ed and melted the power wire. but other than that, they blow real strong!!!! 5900 cfm or something like that. stock is like 1800cfm ish.

install is easy. the hardest part is gettin the stock clutch fan out. its a BIATCH!!!!!

other than that, the wiring is easy. just gotta find out where the ac compressor signal wire is and the ignition wire. i'll let u know where that is if u have an OBS.

overall, i think it gave me a good 20rwhp...definitly worth it and u will feel a SOTP increase....

Aj

They do free up power. But I think 20rwhp is overstepping it a bit. Thats probably like 40 flywheel horse just from going to electric fans. Isnt too realistic.

lrymal · August 1, 2004

the flex-a-lite 292 fans is what i

Do you recall where you picked the 292 up from? Google searches isn't really revealing too many vendors who sell this model.

99Silver6.0 · August 1, 2004

the flex-a-lite 292 fans is what i

Do you recall where you picked the 292 up from? Google searches isn't really revealing too many vendors who sell this model.

I thought the Flex 282's were the fans for our trucks? TByrne sells them, but they are not cheap. The LS1 fans work just as good.

lrymal · August 1, 2004

I thought the Flex 282's were the fans for our trucks?

Going by your signature, you probably want the 282. I have an '03 and have read a few times before that the 292 is the DIRECT FIT for the '03 models and upwards.

99Silver6.0 · August 1, 2004

I thought the Flex 282's were the fans for our trucks?

Going by your signature, you probably want the 282. I have an '03 and have read a few times before that the 292 is the DIRECT FIT for the '03 models and upwards.

I never thought about a difference between the years. Im gonna go with LS1 fans though. Ive read too many horror stories of the Flex's.

lrymal · August 1, 2004

Ive read too many horror stories of the Flex's.

Could you list some of these? Thanks!

02 Blue Thunder · August 1, 2004

I've read some of the stories about the Flex-a-Lite fans. I had the 282 installed on my 02 Silverado and had no probs. Put a set on my 03 Suburban and no probs. Took the 282 and put it on my 97 I bought to drive everyday and no probs. I really like them and did see an approx 1.5 mpg gain. The only thing I can say is people are correct about them pulling alot of juice, but I have a pretty hefty stereo and have to run a HO alternator anyway on my truck and my sub is stock, with no charging probs. Install is pretty easy, just plan on a couple of hours on an afternoon.

Kyle

99Silver6.0 · August 1, 2004

Ive read too many horror stories of the Flex's.

Could you list some of these? Thanks!

Head on over to LS1Tech and start a thread about the Flex fans and the VSC. Watch how fast it grows with negative things about the VSC and the fans. If you really want me to I can dig up some threads and link them here.