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Electric fan anyone?

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Old Dec 2, 2014 | 09:00 PM
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Default Electric fan anyone?

HI all!,

Looking into cooling for my 69 vert 454 pushing 550 at flywheel.

want to go electric fan, but am hearing there is an issue with fitting them on/brackets.

i am interested in the flexalite part #180 on summit racing.
looks good for cooling, but concerned on fit/mounting....

what did you guys do?

Thanks,
Ron
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Old Dec 2, 2014 | 09:17 PM
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Dewitts. Get their radiator and cooling fans and you will never worry about it again. I have installed many of these on various cars and they work. Recently installed their brushless fan and radiator combo. Nice setup. Yes they are not cheap but quality never is.
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Old Dec 2, 2014 | 09:21 PM
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Installed Spal dual fans & BeCool aluminum radiator on my '71 LS-5 15 years ago. Still going strong, no problems.
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Old Dec 2, 2014 | 09:22 PM
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I installed one from a 84 Z28 , same as 84-89 Corvette. It had no problem cooling a 500+ HP 406 in My Camaro . See pics in this thread : https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-lq4-swap.html
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Old Dec 2, 2014 | 09:28 PM
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I have the Flex-a-Lite 180 on my '69. Best fan I've ever had, keeps my 628hp small block at 180° on the hottest days idling in traffic. It also has very low current draw for its 3300 cfm. I just used metal straps cut to size with bolt holes on the ends, and attached the fan/shroud assembly to the radiator bracket using the stock bolts on top and bolts/brackets provided with the fan on the bottom.

This pic is limited, but it shows the top attachment...

https://www.corvetteforum.com/g/picture/1264055
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Old Dec 2, 2014 | 10:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Gordonm
Dewitts. Get their radiator and cooling fans and you will never worry about it again. I have installed many of these on various cars and they work. Recently installed their brushless fan and radiator combo. Nice setup. Yes they are not cheap but quality never is.
The only thing with the dewitts / dual spal setup is the average mounting hardware. The 2 Z bars top and bottom are held on to the RAD with self tapping screws / pre-drill holes your self. The bolts holes to hold the fans to the Z bar's is difficult to install while in the car ( problem if you need to remove and re-install. I dont think the Z bars will do well with multiple remove / install's. I purchased my Rad / Fans at seperate times so hopefully there is a complete kit for both with better mounting hardware.
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Old Dec 3, 2014 | 10:35 AM
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great info!

thanks!


C3 stroker.....decently easy? one of the reviews on summit said did not work.

gonna look into the dewitts too... like the 180 b/c it is complete with relay adjustable.
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Old Dec 3, 2014 | 03:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Factor

C3 stroker.....decently easy? one of the reviews on summit said did not work..........
.......Don't believe that negative review......see my pic and believe your own eyes. I mounted the relay next to the horn relay. Also installed a toggle switch for a manual turn/on and shut/off if wanted.
Brackets are supplied and I used them to attach to the bottom rad bracket underneath at the bottom. I cut them to size at the top so I could attach them to the stock existing bracket bolts. It really is as simple as it looks.

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Old Dec 3, 2014 | 07:01 PM
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Originally Posted by cagotzmann
The only thing with the dewitts / dual spal setup is the average mounting hardware. The 2 Z bars top and bottom are held on to the RAD with self tapping screws / pre-drill holes your self. The bolts holes to hold the fans to the Z bar's is difficult to install while in the car ( problem if you need to remove and re-install. I dont think the Z bars will do well with multiple remove / install's. I purchased my Rad / Fans at seperate times so hopefully there is a complete kit for both with better mounting hardware.
You are right about multiple installs, the tek screws would probably be loose or even strip out. We use the tek (self tapping) because of the variable gap between the A-Arm and we want the customer to be able to make an adjustment if necessary. One thing you can do once the final location is determined is remove the tek screws and pop rivet the brackets to the channel. That would make it permanent.

Also, you never want to remove the hex bolts that hold the fans to the brackets because of the free nut in the back side. You loosen those only, and then tighten after the tek screws are tight. It's not a bad system and it has worked for us for many years. It looks a lot better than the other over/under brackets systems that cost about 4x as much.
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Old Dec 3, 2014 | 07:09 PM
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C3 Stroker - is that the stock copper/brass rad? For my planned 427, I am debating either an aluminum rad vs doing the same thing you appear to have.

In my case that would be upgrading my electric fan and pulling more cfm with my existing 4-row copper rad. I like the Flex-A-Lite 180, and it seems to me that a 3300 cfm fan with a good clean copper rad should work.
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Old Dec 3, 2014 | 08:31 PM
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http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...2/DSCN0120.jpg

The dual 12 inch fans from summit work great for the price. If you don't have AC they also work great as pusher fans. Almost look factory the way the 27 inch fans lay in the radiator between the tanks.
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Old Dec 3, 2014 | 08:48 PM
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Originally Posted by cooper9811
C3 Stroker - is that the stock copper/brass rad? For my planned 427, I am debating either an aluminum rad vs doing the same thing you appear to have.

In my case that would be upgrading my electric fan and pulling more cfm with my existing 4-row copper rad. I like the Flex-A-Lite 180, and it seems to me that a 3300 cfm fan with a good clean copper rad should work.
It is a BeCool aluminum radiator.
This one (for automatic trans).....
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/bc...model/corvette

I painted it with Eastwood Radiator Black paint to keep a stock look. I installed this set-up over 10 years ago, but now it is available as a kit for C3's if you wish to change your rad.

Here...http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/eng...n/viewall.html
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Old Dec 3, 2014 | 09:20 PM
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Originally Posted by C3 Stroker
.......Don't believe that negative review......see my pic and believe your own eyes. I mounted the relay next to the horn relay. Also installed a toggle switch for a manual turn/on and shut/off if wanted.
Brackets are supplied and I used them to attach to the bottom rad bracket underneath at the bottom. I cut them to size at the top so I could attach them to the stock existing bracket bolts. It really is as simple as it looks.

Hmm... Those uppers looks strangely familiar. Always more than one way to skin a cat!

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Old Dec 3, 2014 | 10:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Patro46
Hmm... Those uppers looks strangely familiar. Always more than one way to skin a cat!

I know I wasn't the first to do this.......just the laziest!......yours look great
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Old Dec 4, 2014 | 12:41 PM
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NICE setup!

R
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Old Dec 4, 2014 | 05:48 PM
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C-3 Stroker get a damn hose out and wash up .. Never go out in pubic looking like that again .......... LMAO
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Old Dec 4, 2014 | 09:26 PM
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Originally Posted by diehrd
C-3 Stroker get a damn hose out and wash up .. Never go out in pubic looking like that again .......... LMAO
........Nah....gives the engine compartment that "sleeper" look
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To Electric fan anyone?

Old Dec 4, 2014 | 09:28 PM
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Originally Posted by C3 Stroker
........Nah....gives the engine compartment that "sleeper" look
I would go for a lazy look LOL ...
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Old Dec 6, 2014 | 09:24 AM
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Be careful of clearance to the A arms. On a SB Dewitts system that I ordered with the fan premounted, I had to remove the fan and slide it over to the passenger's side. On the BB pictured, I used a fan from a 69 camaro and had to trim the plastic housing on the passenger side and had very little clearance on the driver's side.
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Old Dec 7, 2014 | 07:03 PM
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wow! thanks!

got the flex180 this weekend...should be test fitting on wednesday afternoon...will let you know!

thanks!!
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