Is the mech/elec fan debate settled?

[rover67]

I'd stick with mechanical...

 

[zuluzeugma]

74FJ, where are you dude? This is your favorite argument...

 

[Tinker]

Ditto Isotel & Mace: If it ain't broke...

I'm completely stock on my '83 but have an electric fan & solid state controller on my SBC '84. It's about to get a Contour setup with a 2nd Flex-a-Lite controller, 1 for each fan, set at different temps. From what I've read that should be the end of my slow-speed, high-altitude cooling problems.

Couldn't get any electric fan to cool the 4-row brass radiator on my '56 F100 with the 460 so went back to a mechanical flex fan (sorry, Jim) & the most expensive custom fiberglass shroud in existence. Word of caution: don't ever have your employees do stuff to your truck that they have never done before. I thought anyone could figure out how to fab fiberglass over cardboard. Not so!

 

[DirtyLittleSecret]

Being in the Chevota business, I deal with this every minute of my life. I've been giving the same advice for 38 years now, and nothing has made that advice change to date.
(a) The only problem I have with electric fans is that normally the only ones with high enough cfm to cool your rig are too big and won't fit inside your engine compartment. Consequently guys run 2,000 to 3,000 cfm when they actually need 4,000 cfm.
(b) There is nothing I like, or ever will like about flex fans!!!!
(c) I like big bad-ass, chain saw massacre, engine driven air conditioning fan blades that have the torque of the engine behind them. You need a gosh darn hurricane to blow out your engine compartment oven, and nothing is going to do that better than an engine driven fan!!!!!
Now, new subject---DO NOT put any portion of a fan blade up inside a fan shroud. That's the number one problem I see every day. If you need, or run a fan shroud, make it end at the front edge of your fan blade!!!!!

Great to see Downey on the board! Wish other providers/retailers would be responsible to the Cruiser community.
Kudos.

 

[MiniPigg]

I know this is a... hmmmm... bit late on a reply but been away.

1989 FJ62 with 2-FE conversion in 100+ F temps.

Here is my experience with the Ford Contour twin electric fans. First they are a sweet sweet fit on the stock FJ62 radiator. Mates right up like it was made for the cruiser. I have mine hooked up as two different fans. I still need to install fan control switches. When I am driving around normal I keep the low speed fan on and it cools the cruiser just fine. When pulling the one steep 6% grade hills I throw the auto into low and turn on the high speed fan. I have never over heated. The fans aren't any louder then the engine. Fact is I dont notice them on. Then again I have some hearing loss. When the temps reach 110F it still did not over heat. I can run both fans if need be but I run one or the other.

After I installed the fans I took a piece of paper and held it about 8 or 9 inches from the front of the radiator. I dropped the paper and it sucked it directly to the grill.

This is by far the best mod I have ever done.