With all the gas saving needed today, has anyone considered taking the engine fan and tossing it to replace it with thermostatically controlled electric fans? A 20HP savings equates to better gas mileage ??

Terry

I did that on my old 454 powered SOB. The largest hp draw is from the alternator at full load. However by using the existing belts and just removing the fan and clutch and replacing with electric fans I did eliminate the roar and quiet the cabin. The electrics didn't need the big cowling either so that was dumped. Be careful though because the cowling routes air across the engine block and headers so if you want to be fully protected you have to make sure the electric fans discharge air to the engine block and that both wheel well inner fenders are in place to cool the exhaust manifolds.
The fans draw about 10 amps when running so be sure to add the proper size wire, the relay that comes with the fans and lastly be sure not to wire this to the power side of the air conditioning system. When the wind blows through the electric fan it becomes a generator and will energize the fan clutch on the air conditioning compressor turning on the cold air when you least need it.
Hope this helps

I thought about doing it until I read Flex-a-lite does not recommend using an electric fan for the primary cooling source on 4-core radiators. Other manufacturers have said the same thing. I wish Flex a lite would give me a 280 fan and let me try it for them. I like its variable speed.