Flex-a-lite Fans

kewlgye · August 19, 2005

I was thinking of replacing my stock cooling fan set up with the flex-a-lite full size truck electric fan kit. Thses are dual 15' fans, and will move 5500 CFM. They claim that it will free up to 17 horse power and increase gas mileage. I'm stationed in North Dakota right now, and it gets down to 50 degrees below zero in the winter time, so quicker warm ups and cool downs would also be a plus. Has anyone tried these? I also tow quite a bit with my 1500, so I'd like to help it out as much as possible.

mcreyaufmiller · August 19, 2005

My question is still, how are people hooking them up so they do not run all the time?

kewlgye · August 19, 2005

My question is still, how are people hooking them up so they do not run all the time?

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I read an install in Off Road-Adventures magizine (they put one in a ford) that the kit comes with a tempature sensor that you mount in the radiator, so when the sensor hits certain temps, the fans come on and shut off.

mcreyaufmiller · August 19, 2005

So you have to drill a hole? Sounds risky.

kewlgye · August 19, 2005

So you have to drill a hole? Sounds risky.

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No, you just slide it in between the cooling fins, I looked up the instructions at www.summitracing.com

mcreyaufmiller · August 19, 2005

now that sounds like a thingie I would be interested in. My step-dad put one on his D@#%$ and took it off this past winter because the truck would not reach operating temp. But knowing him, he did not get a temp sensor with his.

facn8me · August 19, 2005

I have a set of flex alite's on my v8 s blazer. They fit the radiator perfect. I run a aluminum radiator specifically for the application. In the heat of the day with the a/c on I run about 210 with the a/c off it runs about 200. This is a built 350 which generates a little more heat than a stock engin would, So I guess my answer/advice is they work good. You should run around the exact same temp as you do now due to the thermostat opening at 186ish and actually temp running 10 degrees higher. I had problems with flexalite's control box. Alot of people have. I have heard that the new ones have a improved controller. I went down to pep boys and bought a different brand controller. the temp probe sticks between the radiator fins. Some experimantation may be needed to find the hottest part of the radator to get the fan on temp right. Usually it's right by the upper radiator hose inlet. It has a adjustable rheastat built in for fine tuning. Set it up to shut off with the key. The controller will have a a/c on wire also. i recomend hooking up the toggle switch on also. I also suggest making up 2 wires with alligator clips on one end and connectors to hook up to the fans so in the off chance the controller dies you can hook directlly up to the batt and have power.

kewlgye · August 19, 2005

now that sounds like a thingie I would be interested in. My step-dad put one on his D@#%$ and took it off this past winter because the truck would not reach operating temp. But knowing him, he did not get a temp sensor with his.

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They also have variable speed control, 60 to 100% depending on cooling needs. Did you're step dad notice any power increase or gas milage gains?

mcreyaufmiller · August 19, 2005

He had a Cummings and was plowing snow when the truck went into cold convulsions. With the Cummings, power was not an issue, he wanted to be able to control the fans to force the motor to heat up, but it didn't work.

wesmadden · August 19, 2005

Installed a flex-a-lite fan on my Silverado and it works great. I live in Fairbanks, Alaska, so I need quick warm ups and cool downs as well. I contacted Brian Herter at PCMforless.com and he'll sell you a slick wiring harness to hook the fans up to your PCM and add a toggle switch in your cab. Trick is, you have to program your PCM to turn the fans on at what ever temp you'd like. You don't get the 60%-100% variable speed control when you use your PCM to control it, but it's more reliable. Total install time is a couple hours.

Also, call Flex-a-lite and get the correct fan model # for your truck before you order through Summit. Chances are, there are some direct fit applications for your truck. Summit sent me the wrong fans twice and then tried to stick me for the bill. One call to the Flex-a-lite rep fixed it. I'll never order anything from Summit again.

If you want, I can send you pics of my install.

Kgry · August 19, 2005

Don't the new 05's come stock with electric fans? I would think you could just purchase some kind of kit from GM that includes everything.

BlueTahoe · August 19, 2005

The '05 electric fans fit only the 34 inch radiator. Most 1500 trucks have a 28 inch radiator. This is the width of the finned area NOT the tanks. The only pre-05 1/2 tons with the larger radiator I believe are the SS, Sierra Denali, and SUV's with rear heat and air. You will have to put in the larger radiator if you want the 05 fans. Just measure between the tanks to verify which rad you have. I'm installing my 05 fans tonight. I got my harness from nelsonperformance. Pretty much the same as the pcm4less mentioned above.

kewlgye · August 19, 2005

Installed a flex-a-lite fan on my Silverado and it works great. I live in Fairbanks, Alaska, so I need quick warm ups and cool downs as well. I contacted Brian Herter at PCMforless.com and he'll sell you a slick wiring harness to hook the fans up to your PCM and add a toggle switch in your cab. Trick is, you have to program your PCM to turn the fans on at what ever temp you'd like. You don't get the 60%-100% variable speed control when you use your PCM to control it, but it's more reliable. Total install time is a couple hours.

Also, call Flex-a-lite and get the correct fan model # for your truck before you order through Summit. Chances are, there are some direct fit applications for your truck. Summit sent me the wrong fans twice and then tried to stick me for the bill. One call to the Flex-a-lite rep fixed it. I'll never order anything from Summit again.

If you want, I can send you pics of my install.

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Yeah, please send some pics of the install, and thanks for the warning about Summit. My email right now is [email protected]. Thanks a lot