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Flex-a-lite Fans??

W

wakedog

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I was thinking of getting a flex-a-lite flex fan. Does anyone know if it is a good was to spend money? I just replaced my water pump and i would like to have lighter fan on it and one that cools better. Thanks

<a target="_blank" href=http://www.bigredjimmy.iwarp.com>http://www.bigredjimmy.iwarp.com</a>
 
Keep your stock fan. The stock fan cools much better than a flex a lite. My buddy just put one on his 66 mustang and the only way it stays cool is if the rpms are over 3500. If you want it to cool beter than get an AC Delco heavy duty fan clutch. My Jimmy has the heavy duty and the stock fan and doesnt get over 210 in the dead of heat here in Phoenix in traffic for a hour. I also have gone rockcrawling in 110 plus and never got over 210. Cant bet that. BTW Gm motor are ment to run between 205 and 210. Fords like to run between 200 and 205. Thats where you get you best gas milage.

86 Jimmy 4"lift 35"MTRs Other cars 69Firebird w/525 hp,and 70GTO live in PHX,AZ<a target="_blank" href=http://www.geocities.com/modifierperformance>My vehicles</a>
 
Ive got one, Ive had no problems with it and it is deffinitly lighter and flow much more air at low RPM's.

Check out my 73 K5 <a target="_blank" href=http://www.geocities.com/xk5blazerx/73k5.htm>http://www.geocities.com/xk5blazerx/73k5.htm</a>
 
keept stock, spending money doesn't always mean upgraded, nor performance.

Tork DSR
I just got a winch, it takes the fun out of things.
 
I wish we could find that post of the fella who had fun with a flex a lite fan. I think it was a post on here. But anyways I was looking at some pics of someone who used that and one of the blades came loose on that and went half way through the hood! Just a little to think about there. If you're looking for more power than try an electric, if not stock does its job well.

<a target="_blank" href=http://www.geocities.com/bigkern76>http://www.geocities.com/bigkern76</a>
 
Well, i put in my order for one w/ the spacer (eliminates the clutch). I guess we will see. I ll try it, if it runs hotter then ill just return.

<a target="_blank" href=http://www.bigredjimmy.iwarp.com>http://www.bigredjimmy.iwarp.com</a>
 
If you need a new fan F-A-Lite has some very good fans they also sell crappy flex fans that do break and bend and are very noisy. I have their BlackMagig M150 electric and it is 2800cfm. I just started testing the HDcluch and steel fan kit they sell and so far my rig is almost too cool, i'm thinking I nneed a 195 therm just to keeep the temps up!!!!
You get what you pay for and if your stock part is dead...well there are aton of options...

72K5
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Led Zeppelin
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Rock ON!
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<a target="_blank" href=http://www.geocities.com/baja/5099>www.geocities.com/baja/5099</a>
 
flex-a-lite fans suck, my blazer has a four row radiator and I use the stock 7 Bladse fan with a solid clutch(welded) and mine ruuns about 190 hot or cold, and I get 16 mpg.

Never been stuck, just temporarily delayed.
<a target="_blank" href=http://hometown.aol.com/bcscrapper/myhomepage/index.html>hometown.aol.com/bcscrapper/myhomepage/index.html</a>
 
I'll take your stock on if you don't want it.......

C'moe

<font color=black>the blazer is "Back in Black"
 
That looks like mine now....except I don't think it's red.....here in AZ mine over heats..... Where your at it will probably work great......

C'moe

<font color=black>the blazer is "Back in Black"
 
i bought a flex for my chevelle a while back. didnt cool any better, but didnt do any worse.

its alot noisier than the stock fan. i think that since i have had it (since '94), the flex in the blades is wearing out. they dont spring back to their original position.

"If it is breakable, IT will break. If it is indestructable, I will find a way to make it breakable, and I will break it."--Knife
 
I've heard too much about blades onthe flex fans coming apart and shooting thru the hood, (i saw a pic of a blade 4inches through the hood of a chevelle. I have a problem with my stock fan chewing the shroud under flex, so im going to try a pair of 14" electrics, that way no more shroud destruction, and ill have complete control of each fan. i like that electrics can pull more air at lower engine rpm than stock, cause realistically, most driving and wheeling is not done at very high rpm, and once the truck is moving, the fans are supplimented by natural airflow anyway. maybe it will work. ill let you know.

--matt
<font color=blue>86, 350 crate, 33's.</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Lop Sop Doi Off-Roader</font color=red>
 
I had a friend who ran one and when he went through a high water crossing it bent back from the presure of hitting the water and cut open a brand new aluminum radiator! I agree they suck! I ended up towing him back to where a tow truck could get him (2 hours) Go with the stock fan.

1986 K10 TPI350/NV4500/Gen2 Doubler/D60(ARB)/14FF(Detroit)/4.56 gears
 
I saw some pic's of a Chevell taht had an Electric blade coming thru the hood.....

C'moe

<font color=black>the blazer is "Back in Black"
 
What about an Electric fan, does anyone have this or recommend it opposed to a Flex-a-lite or stock fan??

Know any GOOD Wheelin' in Northwest Jersey, let me know?
 
I'm running the Flex-a-lite 5200 cfm dual setup in my 97 Tahoe and love it. I'm actually thinking about upgrading my '86 K10 to the same setup.

Kinda spendy though. Around $400 from Summit.

1986 K10 TPI350/NV4500/Gen2 Doubler/D60(ARB)/14FF(Detroit)/4.56 gears
 
Nothing wrong with a GOOD electric fan setup. Look what just about every manufacturer is running in just about every vehicle.

Problem is that if you don't get an electric fan big enough for your application, you can have over heating problems. Extra wiring is not something *I* like either, but done right, it isn't a big deal.

Stock fans flow lots of air, and stall when the temperature and RPM's/drag is high, so that you don't lose a lot of power that way. There really is no reason to replace a factory clutch fan that I can think of, unless it fails. It "costs" a bit of power to turn, but its not much.

For you hardcore 4 wheel guys, is there any advantage on the K5's to "bobbing" the front end? I was thinking about that the other day, and figured there has to be..nothing to hit but front tire. : ) I know guys do the rear, and although the front would be a lot of work, (fabrication galore) you could probably shorten it up quite alot with an electric fan setup...would definitely be an interesting project.

Dorian
My tech/links page: <a target="_blank" href=http://www.dorianyeager.com/index2.html>http://www.dorianyeager.com/index2.html</a>
No anti-theft measures on your truck? No pity when its stolen
 
WOW 5200!! Dang I thought the BlackMagic at 2800 was the biggest I could find!!!
Flex-A-Lite just like any company has lowend products and high end products. All thease folks that had or heard of problems with F-A-Lite brand fan blades comming off or bending or very noisy were most likly using the cheeper or less quality product line. My .02c you get what you pay for....
The BlackMagic M150 by F-A-Lite has served me well for about 3+yrs now. As I mentioned I now have there HDuty cluch with steel fan and so far so good....

72K5
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Led Zeppelin
cool.gif
Rock ON!
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<a target="_blank" href=http://www.geocities.com/baja/5099>www.geocities.com/baja/5099</a>
 
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