Electric Fans, Worth it?

[Rocket Man]

I bought aftermarket fans and my harness was from www.ls1fans.com. I'll look up the fan info if you want. They're pretty quiet and were recommended here on the forum.
Edit: they're Flex-A-Lite fans.
Edit to the edit: they're Dorman 620653 fans, as recommended by members here on the forum.

 

[ScottyBoy]

Tony, if you can get a good set of fans AND an OEM harness for $100, then I would jump on that in a heartbeat. I've seen the OEM harnesses sell all the time for $100 on up. I actually have sold a few harnesses myself on the forums to make a few extra bucks. When I see a good harness in the junkyard that hasn't been damaged by an accident, I will buy it and clean it, replace all the wire loom and then sell them on different truck forum sites (this one included) for about $100 shipped. A lot of people have had problems with aftermarket harness melting the relays or else the relay plugs, so they LOVE it when they can find a good deal on a clean OEM harness. Plus the fact that the OEM harness has the relay block that mounts onto the underhood fuse block, so it looks 100% stock. I have had my OEM harness on my truck now for over 5 years, and I've had absolutely zero hiccups out of it. And the way its all installed, not one single person who has looked under my hood has been able to tell that my truck didn't come from the factory with the electric fans. Even several shops have commented to me about it. One mechanic was baffled as to why I didn't have a clutch fan. I explained it to him, and he said that EVERY vehicle he has ever seen that has been converted to electric fans has had some janky looking wiring with a very obvious temp probe mounted to the engine or radiator hose or something. The thing that most astonished him was the fact that the factory computer is what triggers the fans on and off, and Blackbear is actually responsible for make that part happen. LOL

 

[ScottyBoy]

Also, just in case you didn't know...
You can get a set of aftermarket replacement Efans from Rockauto for roughly $150-$160ish shipped. They have two or three brands to choose from, like Dorman and a few others. So if you end up not being able to find a used OEM set locally, that's another option. Just be sure to look it up under a 2006 Silverado 1500 truck with a 5.3 engine to find the proper fans. You could also look under a 06 Tahoe or Yukon with a 5.3.
A guy on another forum was having trouble finding a set, and he finally said that he was searching for a 2006 Silverado 2500HD. The HD trucks had clutch fans, so the Efans won't be listed. Just keep that in mind.

I've also heard that the NNBS Efans are also a direct fit (but I can't speak from personal experience) and some of the NNBS fans have two seven blade fans instead of one seven blade and one five blade fan like the 05-06 fans have. Will two seven blade fans cool any better than a 5/7 combo? I can't answer that, as I have no idea.

 

[Tonyrodz]

That's one of the reasons I'd like to get a stock setup. I like doing mods that people look at and can't tell what's been done. I like the sleeper look. The guy with the fans has flaked on me. I text him occasionally, but nothing. Then I texted a guy in Pa who parts our vehicles out all the time, he has nothing either. So I'm trying to patiently wait it out. Thx for the info. I've seen after market setups, but I'm not crazy about them. If I can't find anything that's reasonable I'll just leave it as is, for now anyway.

 

[Rocket Man]

. A lot of people have had problems with aftermarket harness melting the relays or else the relay plugs, so they LOVE it when they can find a good deal on a clean OEM harness. Plus the fact that the OEM harness has the relay block that mounts onto the underhood fuse block, so it looks 100% stock. I have had my OEM harness on my truck now for over 5 years, and I've had absolutely zero hiccups out of it. And the way its all installed, not one single person who has looked under my hood has been able to tell that my truck didn't come from the factory with the electric fans. Even several shops have commented to me about it. One mechanic was baffled as to why I didn't have a clutch fan. I explained it to him, and he said that EVERY vehicle he has ever seen that has been converted to electric fans has had some janky looking wiring with a very obvious temp probe mounted to the engine or radiator hose or something. The thing that most astonished him was the fact that the factory computer is what triggers the fans on and off, and Blackbear is actually responsible for make that part happen. LOL

OK, now for all those reading this that might want to go with an aftermarket harness but were just scared away by @ScottyBoy , let me step in here and say that while there ARE junk aftermarket harnesses that might be problematic and/ or look "janky", there are quality harnesses available that look OEM, and although the relays don't mount to the fuse block, they do mount out of the way so you don't see them. LS1fans are quality. You can look on their website and see they use only factory connectors, etc. So before you go trash talking every harness that's not OEM, just keep an open mind. I also like the fact that my relays are the exact same ones used in the OEM harness but they're brand new, not 8 years old. Same with the fans. Myself, I have taken a brand new Harley Davidson Street Glide and rewired half the bike in order to add air suspension, stereo, etc. , with factory Deutsch connectors and you can't tell my wiring from stock. My Ls1 harness blends in and you'd be hard-pressed to tell it from stock. It's been in a year and no problems. I'm not here trying to sell for them, but just want members here to have a clear opinion from someone who is also very picky about their ride who went aftermarket. The fans I bought were a stock aftermarket replacement set also. Here's an underhood shot of mine. Don't be scared to go aftermarket, but be sure it's quality.

 

[ScottyBoy]

@Red Rocket , I wasn't specifically trying to trash talk Ls1fans, I was just mentioning that many people have had trouble with aftermarket harnesses. I know the fans draw a LOT of current, so obviously those harnesses didn't have the proper relays or connectors to continuously handle that much current, and they ended up melting. I have no clue what seller they got their harnesses from, they could be generic eBay harnesses to all I know. All I know is I've seen peoe upset that their harnesses were melted. The only brand I can think of specifically is Blackbear. They used to sell Efans harnesses but ended up having so many complaints about melting relays, that they stopped selling g them all together. I've heard people also mention that harnesses from Nelson performance were melting at the relay plugs. As far as any other brand, I don't know. That's the only two names I have heard mentioned in connection with the melting issues.
But just like anything else, do your homework. Search the internet and look for reviews on the vendor and their product. So far, I've heard nothing but good things about LS1fans.com

 

[Rocket Man]

@Red Rocket , I wasn't specifically trying to trash talk Ls1fans, I was just mentioning that many people have had trouble with aftermarket harnesses. I know the fans draw a LOT of current, so obviously those harnesses didn't have the proper relays or connectors to continuously handle that much current, and they ended up melting. I have no clue what seller they got their harnesses from, they could be generic eBay harnesses to all I know. All I know is I've seen peoe upset that their harnesses were melted. The only brand I can think of specifically is Blackbear. They used to sell Efans harnesses but ended up having so many complaints about melting relays, that they stopped selling g them all together. I've heard people also mention that harnesses from Nelson performance were melting at the relay plugs. As far as any other brand, I don't know. That's the only two names I have heard mentioned in connection with the melting issues.
But just like anything else, do your homework. Search the internet and look for reviews on the vendor and their product. So far, I've heard nothing but good things about LS1fans.com

Yeah sorry about my rant but I just wanted to let people know the whole picture. Also from what I understand from all I've read ( and it's been a lot) there was a problem initially with some aftermarket fans drawing too much current and melting any harness that was there. Ls1 fans specializes in EFan conversions for GM trucks and SUV's. It's all they do and they wouldn't be in business if they had melting harnesses.

 

[Tonyrodz]

@Red Rocket , where'd you find your fans? We're they reasonable in price?

 

[Rocket Man]

@Red Rocket , where'd you find your fans? We're they reasonable in price?

I just looked up my ordering info, and it turns out they're Dorman 620653 fans. I read here on the forum they're a direct factory replacement and draw less current than others. I got mine on Amazon. Here's a link to the thread where I got my info on the Dorman's. The entire thread is good info but around page 16 is where they start discussing the newer fans. The first page has a how-to on the installation process.
http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/how-to-install-e-fans.9400/page-16

 

[Tonyrodz]

Nice. Thx