Any recommendations on a good E-fan for 4th gen 5.7? Will any do and if so what size?

 

You'd have to check on fitment in a 4th Gen, but the Flex-a-Lite 183 is a damn good one. I've had the one that preceded it in the line-up (model 180) since June of '05 with NO issues whatsoever. Have towed 7700 lbs. in south Georgia 100* temps and my temp needle has never come close to the halfway line...

 

my 09 hemi has both the mechanical fan and an electric fan in front of it, that kicks in with AC on hot days. not sure what would the best way to handle that or if it would create and electical/computer issues.

from some of my other projects, the best fan out there to be had is the factory lincoln fan for a mark 8 (viii). their big but that shouldnt be a problem in the truck, but they flow more then any aftermarket fan that is available by a good margin.i think some of them are two speed, so you would be able to wire the factory electric fan circuit into the high speed side and use a radiator/coolant temp sensor for the low side.

 

The problem I have with the Taurus/Mark VIII fans is that they pull A LOT of amps. On low they aren't terrible on amps with an average draw of about 30 but the CFM is on the low side (about 2500 cfm) for a big truck. On high, the CFM rate is easily high enough (about 3500 cfm) but the amp draw is up there as well at 40 amps and they can easily spike over 50 amps at startup.

By comparison, a Flex-a-Lite draws 18 amps with a very low startup spike and flows at 3300 cfm. I'm not trying to talk anyone out of doing a pick 'n pull fan setup, many guys run them and it is very economical to do, but there are advantages to a new fan kit, IMO...

 

ahh, didnt realize they had a flex a lite that could pull 3300 cfm... been a few years since i looked into all the electric fan information.

 

Mounting Surface Required
21 1/2" x 17 1/2" x 4 3/16"

Fan Assembly Diameter
15"

Fan RPM @13.5VDC
2450

Number of Blades/Fan Blade Angle
8/variable

Airflow-Cu. Ft./Min.
3300

Amp Draw
18

Adj. Thermostat 160º-240º

Air Conditioning Relay

Hell, I think they have some dual fan setups that pull something like 5500 cfm...

 

This is one mod I planned on staying clear of with the Ram. Nothing but problems with the controllers on the F150. Not sure of the brand but I had a stage 2 package installed by Troyer Performance. I did it for performance and it appears to have a better off the line launch with them.

 

So is this a good idea or not so much?

 

That's gotta be your call. I installed mine myself (and I really can't fathom why someone would pay for an efan install). A MPG or two gain, about 15 free'd up RWHP, and in MY case I can keep the engine a LOT cooler when crawling off-road on hot days (same can be said for backed up traffic in 100*+ heat when a clutch fan is barely spinning but my efan still pulls that 3300 cfm).
Another benefit I have is that I installed a manual cut-off switch, so if I'm in water or really deep mud, I can kill the fan til I get across, thus keep my fan from sucking all kinds of sh*t into my radiator fins. - now I've not been anywhere deep enough to need it, but I just like that it's there, LOL.

Installed in June of '05, still works fine, still using the controller that came with it (which btw can be bought by itself for $29 at Autozone).

But like any other mod, there are down sides and up sides. You blow a fuse or have a controller go and you have a problem (of course it takes about 2 mins to spin the clutch fan back on - mine lived in my tool box on the truck for probably the first three years I had the e-fan). Clutch fans can go bad too.

What was it they used to say during those commercials during football games when instant replay first started being used? Oh yeah - YOU MAKE THE CALL...


You wanna do some research, hit up the 2nd & 3rd Gen Ram sections. Vehicles have been around longer and tend to be more "home made" mods done. I know a slew of guys with e-fans...

 

i like to do all my own work. i will not pay some one good money to do work on my truck when i can do it in less time and if it breaks i learn something new instead of being out however much on labor because of shotty mechanics. But in any case if it helps my truck in any way and the price/gain ratio is acceptable i would like it to be done. I like the idea of keeping the original fan glad you said that just in case. i will do some asking around and see what i get back before i do this deal.