Flex-A-Lite Monster Electric

[BigBadDodge]

Anybody know were the cheapest place to buy a Flex-A-Lite monster electric fan would be? Summit came in at around $389 looks like the model 290 will work at 5,500cfm.



http://www.flex-a-lite.com/auto/html/monster-electric.html



BBD

 

[vssman]

BBD,



I'm running 2 electrics from a late 80's Park Ave. Camaro's and some Chryslers also have thin but equally large diameter fans. Make sure you pull the wiring with the relays too. It works great - heats up quickly and the temp gauge stays at 190. Now I wouldn't try to pull a 25,000 lb 5'er out of death valley, but it's got plenty of cooling ability for most other uses. The AC clutch switches one fan on a 1/2 speed via a relay that activates the clutch. Fans turn on/off via a universal temp gauge with a probe fed through the upper hose/neck connection. I mounted the fans to a "modified" stock shroud. Cost a little under $60. 00 total.

 

[GO 4LO]

J. R. Adkins has a setup that he puts together for pulling trucks, I think. Might check with him for a price...



Chris

 

[JCrockett]

I am looking at the same fan for my 97 comversion. I am getting mixed opinions about CFM for the 97. What is reccommended? I have heard 1500CFM to 5000CFM. I just want to do this once and do it right.

I found one at JEG'S.com for about $390 + S&H

 

[1dslram]

I did a search and Summit and Jegs are the cheapest I could find.

Bruce

 

[willyslover]

Scotty. . I have looked several times [for the CJ7]... Summit is a good price

 

[RWood]

I was wondering how the install was for these fans?

Thanks

 

[TRCM]

Try this place... ..... dccontrol.com

 

[RWood]

Does anyone know how much a third generation fan will flow at 3000 RPM?

Thanks

 

[DBazley]

Electric cooling fans a great idea !

Anybody know were the cheapest place to buy a Flex-A-Lite monster electric fan would be? Summit came in at around $389 looks like the model 290 will work at 5,500cfm.



http://www.flex-a-lite.com/auto/html/monster-electric.html



BBD

Just curious if you ever did install the electric fans on your CTD ? With fuel prices spiking, we're going to have to get going on these fuel saving measures !



I'm putting the Flex a lite "Black Magic X-treme" on my Ram Van conversion van with 318 V-8 (similar drivetrain to gasser ram trucks) to try to:



1) Save 2- 3 mpg, which many report when ditching their inefficeient stock fan & fan clutch



2) Gain some HP - the guys with the V-8's say about 17 rear wheel HP gain by using going to the electiric fans.



If my experience on the Ram Van is good, then I'll do the '97 CTD 2500, too. On the Ram Van, I'm using the heavy single fan unit, which generates 3300 cfm, but on the CTD Ram Truck I think one like you mentioned (the Flex a lite # 290 or # 295) double fan set up is needed as it tows way heavier than our Ram Van.



Take Care all, David B 'Ram truck & van man'

 

[Cooker]

Just curious if you ever did install the electric fans on your CTD ? With fuel prices spiking, we're going to have to get going on these fuel saving measures

In my experiences there is very little, if any, fuel savings when going to an electric fan on the CTD.

 

[BigBadDodge]

Good timing here, I just installed it Sunday. I used the #290 with varible controller, took me a while to fabricate brackets as it's a universal mount fan, we know what that means any way it was way easy to install wiring is really easy but if you plan on installing an override switch like I did it doesn't come with one. Just to clear things up, I didn't install mine for fuel cost savings, just trying to maximize cooling while sled pulling. I can flip the switch and it will be at 100% right away. It is a tight fit though, only about 3/4" from the crank but if you secure good enough should't be any issues.



BBD

 

[DBazley]

Electric Cooling fan good idea ....

Good timing here, I just installed it Sunday. I used the #290 with varible controller, took me a while to fabricate brackets as it's a universal mount fan, we know what that means any way it was way easy to install wiring is really easy but if you plan on installing an override switch like I did it doesn't come with one. Just to clear things up, I didn't install mine for fuel cost savings, just trying to maximize cooling while sled pulling. I can flip the switch and it will be at 100% right away. It is a tight fit though, only about 3/4" from the crank but if you secure good enough should't be any issues.



BBD

Good to know, sir !



Love to hear your report once you've lived with it for a while. I know the other gentleman posted that he didn't think it would help much MPG wise, and maybe he's right.



For me, there are other issues: efficiency, noise - that oversized mechinical 'flyswatter' going all the time when not needed.



From what I have read is that at road speed, 55 + you're being cooled by ram air - the force of oncoming air, not your engine fan at all. Yet it's turning all the time, consuming energy that should be driving your wheels forward.



It seems like us CTD guys are always looking for more RWHP, right ?



[That's why my BHAF parts are arriving today and I'm installing them tomorrow, btw !]



Just some thoughts on this idea... . thanks for reporting back Big Bad Dodge, and when I get it done on my Ram Van B-2500 gasser 318, I'll report, too



Take Care, David B- Ram Truck & Van Man

 

[RustyJC]

From what I have read is that at road speed, 55 + you're being cooled by ram air - the force of oncoming air, not your engine fan at all. Yet it's turning all the time, consuming energy that should be driving your wheels forward.

If your thermal or electric fan clutch is working properly, its energy consumption is negligible.



Rusty

 

[nps]

From what I have read is that at road speed, 55 + you're being cooled by ram air - the force of oncoming air, not your engine fan at all.

May be true when crusing on flatland empty, but not when you are towing uphill. The fan most definitely is needed and does make a BIG difference, even at 55mph.

 

[DBazley]

More electric fan feedback....ideas !

If your thermal or electric fan clutch is working properly, its energy consumption is negligible.



Rusty

Rusty, if that is so, why do folks testify that they've gained from 1 to 3 mpg increases upon installation of an electric cooling fan ?



I searched the forums at DodgeTalk.com and the guys who've done them on the Hemi gasser rigs and V-10s like Ram trucks, Durangos & Dakotas say this. I think even the Viper V-10 has electric fans stock (they can be adapted to our trucks with some effort... . )



I'm sure it's true that a 'negligible' increase is open to definition and subjective - to some 1-2 mpg and 15 more HP to the rear wheels is truly insignificant.



For example, my CTD probably makes near 350 HP (or will once it has BHAF & 4" straight pipe) and 900 ft lp of torque, so the improvement is minimal and thus it's a 'negligible' increase.



On my gasser Ram Van - a high top conversion van with the Dodge small, small block V-8 318, with only 235 hp, and minimal torque (compared to the CTD), the improvement should be 'significant' - and I guess that's my main point here.



Out of curiosity, I did a search on the forums and found Big Bad Dodge had asked recently about this same conversion of the stock fan to electric cooling fan (a larger model of the Flex-a-lite than I am doing to the Ram Van) so as I also have a Ram CTD truck, I was intrigued that some were considering doing this to their CTD trucks - Why ?



It seems too, that if a person adds up a few 'negligible' HP and MPG saving increases, they add up to something greater that the apparent sum of the parts.



For example, I hate tonneau covers, but when diesel hits $ 4 per gallon (maybe $ 5 by midsummer, ugh !), if I install one, and maybe the electric fans, could I get 5 more MPG (and more HP - he he he) ?



I was surprised a bit by what BBD said, that he wanted increased cooling from the electric fans, 'cause on my Ram CTD it has never seemed to need better cooling - my towing conditions must be quite different than his.



One thing I've learned from the TDR is that as nice as Dodge / Cummins made these rigs, there is ALWAYS room for improvement.



I for one am truly grateful for these forums so we can each benefit from and share with others what we've discovered ... . Oo.

 

[RustyJC]

I tried a Flex-a-Lite Model 350 dual puller setup on my 1996 V-10/47RE dually. I noticed no gain in fuel economy and found that the 0. 8HP (50A x 12V = 600W = 0. 8HP) could not move enough air to cool the truck when towing a large 5th wheel in Houston traffic during the summer or when towing through the Texas Hill Country. There's no way that 0. 8HP can move the air that 8-20HP (depending on whose numbers one believes) of the engine fan can move when the fan clutch is engaged. When the fan clutch is not engaged, the fan is basically free-wheeling with only a bit of drag from the viscous fluid in the case of the thermal clutch.

I for one am truly grateful for these forums so we can each benefit from and share with others what we've discovered ...

Yep, I'm sharing my $450+ mistake with this forum. I bought my education. :{ You can be the free beneficiary of it if you so choose.



Rusty

 

[nps]

I was surprised a bit by what BBD said, that he wanted increased cooling from the electric fans, 'cause on my Ram CTD it has never seemed to need better cooling - my towing conditions must be quite different than his.

BBD is sled pulling. A short run at high power, followed by shutdown, all while never exceeding 10mph. Hardly enought time for the stock fan to kick in before the run, and no time to cool down due to the drop in RPMs and thus CFM at the end of the run. Heck - the clutch may not even get hot enough to kick on the fan.



The elec fan can be turned on before the run even starts, and kept on even after going back to idle after the run.



Quite a bit different than towing on the road where RPMs stay up, temp comes up slowly, airflow from vehicle speed is present, and once cresting the hill the motor gets a chance to relax going downhill while RPMs and airflow are still good.

 

[vssman]

I really didn't find much of an MPG gain when converting to electrics. Too much variablility for me to say with any certainty. I can say that my set up cools fine when towing. I recently pulled a loaded car trailer (first time towing with this rig) over 400 miles through the Pocono mountains in PA and the temp gauge never went over 190. As I posted earlier, I changed mine over for faster warm up in the winter and cold A/C when at traffic lights. Would I do it again? In a minute.

 

[RustyJC]

I can say that my set up cools fine when towing. I recently pulled a loaded car trailer (first time towing with this rig) over 400 miles through the Pocono mountains in PA and the temp gauge never went over 190.

What was the ambient temperature?



Rusty