2004 crew cab 4.7 V8 electric fan recs?

Just had my fan clutch go out and before replacing with OEM, is there a comparable quality cheaper after market? or recommendations for an electric upgrade?

Thanks,
Jason

 

There's really no substitute for OEM. Buy once, cry once.

 

Nope. Oem

 

Aisin Brand makes a lot of the OEM cooling parts for the 1st gen

check rockauto for your correct part number

 

I would love to run electric personally. Would free up some power, and remove another major source of noise which would be welcome. I’ve seen people on here use setups I think @FrenchToasty is one of them?

Anyway, I usually went with Permacool or Flex-A-Lite setups for LS/LM/LQ swaps. They probably still have a system that lets you zip-tie through the fins for install. I usually bought or built or repurposed a shroud, sometimes if the inlets and outlets are right on the donor vehicle, you can simplify modify shroud from any other vehicle and use its fan.

But yeah. If you decide to go electric, it needs to be high CFM (3k+) fan and you should probably double up, you will want to exceed the OEM mechanical fan’s air volume by at least 50% if not double it IMHO. If you replace the assembly, stick with OEM part as advised already. And be ready to fight some of the bolts, or if in the rust belt, be prepared to hack some off … start penetrant sooner than later.

 

AISIN from Rock Auto.

 

Electric fans are noisier than our mechanical. Especially if you want a high cfm fan. That completely negates a quiet fan. You would also need to figure out how to wire the fans to communicate with the coolant temp sensor to know when the thermostat is open, as well as kick into high when you turn the ac on, and go from low to high based on engine speed and temperature when unloaded and loaded. It’s not just plug and play when the vehicle isn’t designed for it. I’ve had more issues on vehicles with electronic fans than mechanical. Plus, it’s not going to free up as much power as you think it will.

 

If you tow, skip the electric fans. Buy OEM equivalent, not some cheap aftermarket, you will regret that.

Aisin fan clutch on RA - $85

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...26935,cooling+system,radiator+fan+clutch,6812

 

Thanks for the feedback. Going with the Asin clutch. Is it worth or good idea to do the bracket also? The shop I took it to that diagnosed the issue wants to do the clutch and bracket, but I think the noise, issue is more in the clutch itself .... the clicking noise comes and goes. Seems like the bracket problem would be consistent. I want to do this myself and save the cost on labor. But swapping the bracket is a bit more involved to remove some stuff out of the way. is it recommended to do both together?

 

If you got the room in the engine bay

Clutch fans > electric fans

for simplicity and efficiency.

 

if I recall, the bracket has a bearing. If true, yes, do the bracket also. Someone else recently did this, and the wobble they were having was from the bracket itself, I’m quite certain.

 

I originally installed electric fans on my jeep CJ7 (that i swapped in a GM Ramjet 350 crate engine). I hated everything about electric fans. The noise was #1. The poor cooling was also #1. The extra amp load on the alternator was #2. After i swapped to a mechanical fan and clutch (and a somehow perfectly fitting fan shroud that was out of a mid-80’s ford ranger 4.0 v6), i did notice quite a bit of performance loss. The engine didn’t have the same quick snap that it did prior. That being said, i still wouldn’t go back to electric fans…ever.

 

yes, actually after looking at it more, there is wobble and noise even when the clutch is not engaged, so seems to be the bracket bearing. once it warms up and the clutch engages and loads the bracket bearing more, it gets worse. going to do the bracket and then see what I got since the clutch is much easier to remove and replace later if I need to.

 

Ford Taurus (like mid 90s?) electric fans absolutely slap. They're like $90 on rock auto and include the whole fan shroud and pump a ton of air, they also have two speeds. Just to throw out there as food for thought. They draw a lot of juice, 30+ amps, but are really good and really cheap. Pretty common in the off-road/custom vehicle world. I have 3x of them spread across various setups.

For wiring you can get a temperature switch, but you would have to add the sensor in somewhere (not a huge deal). Electric fans are very doable, cheap, and you shouldn't overheat if done right. With that said, just replacing the clutch is a lot simpler and probably more reliable.

 

Also the jeep grand Cherokee efan from 1999-2003, CBG4F250, put out about 4000cfm.