I called on a flex-A-Lite black magic fan about a month ago but didnt have the $$$ to buy it. Anyhow I emailed the guy this morning curious to see if he still had it and well he did and forgot about it. Anyhow its a flex-a-lite 150m fan brand new. The box was gone but all the parts were still in a sealed bag. Ive checked prices earlier and was suprised to see them priced at 250 and up. Well I got this one for 100 cash and tomorrow I am gonna slap it on and see how it does. Im sure it will cool just fine or a hope so. This is the only place ive found thats still sells them.
http://www.sfxperformance.com/parts/FLE150.htm

 

I run the 165 (http://www.flex-a-lite.com/auto/html/black-magic.html) and its a great unit. Way better than the clutch fan IMHO.

 

Ok so I got a little bored and decided to throw it in and see how loud it was since that was my main concern. Yes it is loud but I am gonna build a switch so I can adjust the fans rpms. The main issue tho is that I cant seem to get the thermostat to kick in and turn the fan on. Ive had to direct wire it in order for it to work. I need to go look up how to test it to see if thermostat isnt working. Other then the that it cool great. Not all that much better when I am driving on the freeway but at idle and low speeds it deff helps.

 

Well, did you try putting a lighter on the element? It has a mechanical actuating mechanism that powers the fan. I fried mine, so I bought a digital control from Advance Auto. WAY better.

 

I will have to try it when i get to the shop again. I am thinking its bad and if so I will see if I can pick up a another sensor. I am not sure how to wire in the digital sensor tho unless your running it off the manual switch terminal and have the digital sensor in that. Maybe running off the actual temp gauge sensor.

 

I pulled all the mechanical crap out of the fan so that all that was left was motor wires, basically: power and ground. The new digital thermo kit has instructions on how to wire it up. Pretty simple, way more accurate and easier to adjust.

 

I remounted the fan today and then bench tested it. Got it working fine as of now. Its nice to have it turn on once in a while compared to all the time. I am gonna wire a pot into the wiring so I can turn the fan speed down. 2200 rpm is just too much. Atleast it wont be as loud and prob cool just as well at like 1500 rpm. Radio shack should have what I need then well see how it works.

 

Is it really THAT loud? lol! I guess I can't hear mine over my exhaust/stereo/tires/wind... Hell, I put in a LED indicator light just to see WHEN it comes on!!

 

i have a electric fan (its a flex-a-lite but not sure of the model) and my dad took it off because he doesnt trust it..he thinks it will conk out and quit workin..im wantin to put it back on..because after he took it off and put a clutch fan on it..i noticed the truck wouldnt climb hills on the interstate as well....

so how many of you guys have actually had an electric fan conk out on you???

 

I have. I've had it short out, broken blades and locked up. I've since fixed the issues and my fan has never let me down...yet. If your fan gets beamed into space or shoots out underneath the truck, if your cooling system is GTG you'll be fine.

Do I still have my OEM clutch fan, you betcha!

 

The oe fan is more reliable but the electric does a good job. Imo its better then stock and may help me save on a little fuel.
When I am driving down the freeway I cant hear the fan but when I am around town I hear it and its pretty dang loud to me. Tho I do tend to like things quiet anyhow so adding this little extra noise isnt something I fond of. Well see how it works with the fan at like 60%.

 

I dunno, the clutch fans can be pretty obnoxious too.

 

a clutch fan is just as likely to go out as an electric fan isnt it???

im wantin mine back on there because i DID notice a power difference on hills..and mpg difference...so i kinda want it back..but idk if dad trusts it..lol

 

youd have to blow a belt...

 

i dont think so??...

idk if its the same..but my buddy with a '97 F150 (square body style) has a rebuilt 302 in his rig..and its never given him any problems until yesterday..his clutch fan went out........no belts were hurt...mechanic said the clutch fan went out..threw a new one on and everything is fine now he was drivin in this mornin...........

 

When the fan clutch goes out the fan still turns, just not as fast as it normaly would. When the fan clutch goes out you normaly run hot at a slower speed because there is not enough air to cool the radiator.

And I never heard of a square 97 f150, 96 was the last year of the square body and the last year of the 5.0; the 97' and up has the 4.2, 4.6, and 5.4