The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Where did you get your electric fan?

My 49 Chevy truck only has 3 5/8 inches between the SBC and the stock radiator core. A standard fan on the small block would only draw through the bottom half of the radiator so an electric looks like the way to go. I'm looking at a Flex a lite #118 and a Brothers shroud. Any other suggestions?

I use an electric fan on two built up Stovebolt's and both work great. My reason for the use was the same as yours. Make sure you get an adjustable thermostat with it so you can setup the temps you want the thing to come on and shut down. Make sure the diameter you select will actually fit too.
Normbc9

I used one off a 94 Buick Century, it covers the whole rad. with the shroud. Looks like it was made for it.

I used a flexalite pusher fan, and thermostatic controller - works great

Hate to admit it but Ihave d dual fan off a toyota, reversed it and hav it pushing thru the radiator. Threw away the shroud.

Thanks guys!
I ordered the Flex a Lite and shroud. The pusher would have worked except with the AC condenser and trans cooler both in front of the radiator, I didn't see a good way to mount the fan in front of all of that and still maximize air flow. The #118 is only 3 3/16 thick so it should fit into the 3 1/2 inches between the eng and rad.

Thats a lot thiner than the Buick at 4"s Good to know

Yeah. I only had 3 1/2 inches AFTER moving the eng and trans back 2 inches from the stock mounts. That put my distributor within 1/2 of the firewall. Thought I was going to have loads of room replacing the 6 with the SBC, didn't work out that way.

I bought the highest CFM flex-a-lite I could find that would fit my application. It's a 16" that I'll be using as a pusher and pushes 2500 CFM. I wanted a good brand name because I don't want to have cooling issues.

not sure why more don't follow gazim and find something from a scrap yard, there's a lot of "brand name" ones available, my local yard had a 50' long wall full of all sizes, all pre-tested, guaranteed and less than 1/2 new price

Bill

i used a early 80's fan wired it so it comes on when the key is turned on has worked good for the past 15 yrs cost about 20 at the u pull it yard

Because I needed something that I knew would work (I mean fitment wise), would cover as much of the rad as possible, and could push as many CFM as possible. I also didn't want something with a factory shroud, as it would obstruct airflow in my application. As cooling is a big concern for my application (and any rod), this isn't an area where I cheap out.

Same here. The summers get hot here and with the AC going I wanted to give the stock radiator as much help as possible.
Also the salvage yards in my area have earned the moniker "junk yard" as what they typically have is not worth messing with unless you are desperate. Wish we had a good wrecking yard in these parts.

I don't think gazim and I [or others above] 'cheaped out' for our applications, rather, after measuring up what would fit the same as you did, we did some foot work to find what would fit at a yard instead of in a catalog .... certainly cooling is a big concern with my 30,000# "rod"

Bill

the only two electric fan companies that I found to actually make claimed air flow are Spal and Tri-Pac.

when they say it moves 2500 CFM with a 1.4" restriction core, it actually does.

Spal and Tri-Pac are the choice for most OEM off-road manufacturers when it comes to electric fans.

any fan will work on a vehicle that does not tow. also, a fan is not needed if you drive faster than 25mph, because above that speed, ram-air is moving more air thru the radiator than any fan would be able to. If you tow, an engine driven fan is recommended.

I couldnt agree more Scott, I installed a 16" Spal Fan back in 2008 and I live in Las Vegas, were the summertime temps can reach 115+ and even with the stop and go traffic I haven't had any problems.

but you have dry heat in vegas......................................just joking with you

Lol!! Yeah it's a dry heat alright....

When I was trying to decide on mine, I did a little bit of research and found that alot of the hotrodders use the Lincoln Mark or Taurus fans. They're shrouded & can pull a ton of air and are reasonablly priced in the salvage yards. I think I picked up mine on Ebay for around $40.