Thread: Electric fan question

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I have a 1980 el camino with a 350. A four core radiator. A am trying to decide what electric fan will work. More importantly how much CFM will i need to pull to keep it cool. 16inch tall and 26 1/4inch wide are the dimensions. I have looked at the flex a lite 295 but it is expensive and it is 27 1/2 inches wide. I dont think it will fit. I called flex a lite and they told me that the 295 will fit, they are wrong. I am doing this to free up hp. What should i do??
Thank You

I doubt that you'll get much sympathy on this forum from the old guys to do with electric fans. Most of us have "been there, done that" and come away from the experience less than satisfied.

The first thing the cooling fan has to do is to cool the motor. If it can do that and use less horsepower doing it, GREAT!! I went onto Summit's site and looked at the 295 you mentioned. I costs $370 and they claim it moves 4,600 CFM. While that should be enough air to cool your Chevy, it is a little pricey. How much would a few horsepower be worth to you?

If you used a steel, 18", 7-blade OEM fan with a close-fitting shroud and a thermostatically-controlled fan clutch (yeah, just like stock), you could cool the motor for sure with a lot less outlay of legal tender. I mean, can a few horsepower be worth three hundred and seventy dollars to you?

Here's an alternative electric fan system that will also cool the motor for sure for less money. It's the OEM system out of a Lincoln Mark VIII.....
http://streetmachinesoftablerock.com...topic.php?t=82

I agree with the other two posts. Use a mechanical fan with a clutch, they are very effective. I have a mechanical fan and an electric fan wired up as well for when I get into traffic on those really hot days...otherwise it doesn't see much use.

I personally run a electric fan on my 48 GMC w/a 350. I use a Lincoln 2 speed fan. It pulls around 2500 cfm on low & around 4500 on high speed. I use a 40 amp relay for low & a 80 amp on high. It is w/out a doubt the best fan for the money. I paid $25.00 for mine.

Do a search & you will find tons of info on this baby.

Don

I have a 3 core instead of a four, my bad! I know that they 295 is to big. Richard you are right and it is was to expensive, so i figure i could get the Perma-Cool 19115 it pulls just shy of 3000 cfm. I can make a shroud easily. Will the 3000 cfm be enough to keep it cool?????

Let me tell you one more time....after market fans are not the way to go. The Lincoln Mk vIII is far superior, puts out more air, Has a shroud that matches the Camaro radiator, but has a high amp pull on high speed.

Please do a goggel search on this item...you will find tons of info. It's the most popular fan out there amoung the racers.