I understand that this is a common swap, and have found some interesting how-to's on the internet, but I wanted to ask around to make sure that I get as much input as possible before I start throwing money (of which I do not have a lot of these days) around. So, I am looking to swap my cluth fan for an electric fan but need an efficiant, cost effective solution, with a minimal amount of modification. Something I can wire into the existing fan circut. As an example, the Taurus fan swap looks awsome, but then again all of the headache of trying to stuff those fans behind a 3 row radiator doesn't sound like fun. Some of the low cost fans like the ones from your local auto parts store seem to be lacking in CFM and quality in general. Therefore I am open to ideas if anybody has them. By the way this is an '01 XJ. Thanks in advance.

 

I personally would keep the mechanical fan. I have had previous experience with electric fans failing and resulting in valves warping from overheating. I think mechanical fans are far safer, even if not as efficient. I had a 84 Scottsdale with a built 396 that had about 500 HP, the electric fans failed while it was out in the parking lot while I was running an errand and it overheated, never ran the same again. Just my opinion...

 

For the price of a new HD fan clutch (+/-$40) u can't possibly replace the mechanical fan with an electric fan that will draw as much air.

 

Thanks for the input guys, that is kind of what I was afraid of. I mean, my motor is bone stock and I am not running high compresion like a 500hp 396. Also, I am not too afraid of the fan failing and overheating the car because I would catch it before then, due to the fact I always have eyes on the gauges. You are right though, mechanical fans are far safer and if they do fail they can always be mickey mouse'd trail side to make it back to camp. But that aside, djb383 is right, there would be a substantial out of pocket cost to buy an electric fan that would pull enough air to get the job done. Well, I guess I will just have to wait until I can come up with the cash to buy a high amp fan then.

 

.........and a hi-amp fan will put a serious load on the electrical system.

 

I am using the Flex a lite fan in mine I wish I would have popped for the double setup when I did.

There is the chance of failure but what I have found is an over heated engine is bad...not catastrophic... but even worse is to keep running it overheated.

I didn't have much choice with mine on my wedding day... we were already hours late for our own wedding... my motor doesn't run the same ... And it was not due to a failure just too damn hot out towing a trailer up I-70

 

That sucks car trouble on your wedding day, or maybe it might have been a sign like, DON"T DO IT! Just kidding. I do most of my wheeling in the low desert, sometimes I will head out to the high desert, but in the summer time if the car is running warm on the road you are going to be overheating on the trail. You know SpyderJeep, afer reading your post I got to thinking and then realized that not all Cherokees come with two fans. Correct? My car has both an electric and a mechanical fan and I belive that is called a Max-Cool package? Right? With that being said I would like to run a second electric fan in tandem with the first electric fan. I don't know if that changes anybody's opinion or not.

 

I too am considering an electric fan to replace my mechanical fan. I have already modified the stock fan mount to allow more room and I have purchased a Taurus fan from the JY for $25. I'm sure I'll need to modify the mount a little and will need some kind of controler for it. Two advantages I've heard I should get with the e-fan are a couple more HP from the motor and much quieter operation, both of which I would enjoy having.

Could the e-fan fail? Sure, but every Cherokee I've ever owned already had two fans, one mechanical and one electric, so you've already have a back up if the new e-fan fails. But I would not tie them together. The second e-fan is tied to a seperate temp sensor and only comes on when the motor is too hot or the AC is being used.

 

I went with a dual e-fan setup on my 98 xj sport. Guages stay low and even while offroading at the badlands with 95thorxj, had a/c blowing frigid air, temp only began to rise when still for a long time, it was hot that day too, and we were pushing pretty hard. I went with procomp 10"inchers and a derale controller/relay, dont draw alot of amps, and are 500000x quieter than stock crap. Even came with an a/c circuit to run when a/c on. $100 or so on ebay, maybe cheaper.

 

ya hes right. we wheeled hard all day. it was also 98 degrees and no wind at all. never had any problems at all. good upgrade for the hundo!!

 

That sounds like a viable option, my only question is why use the aftermarket controler when you can hook the fans up to the existing system? Also, did you have to move anything around or did the fans fit with everything being stock behind the radiator?

 

I think I answered my own question, you would need the seperate controller because you are replacing a fan (the mechanical fan) that wasn't controlled electrically to begin with. Duh! I have to lay off the television, I think it's rotting my brain. Well thanks for the suggestion on those controllers. I think what I am going to do is buy a 10 inch fan or a 12 inch if it will fit and run it on it's own circut in addition to the origonal electric fan.

 

so i want to know if it is ok to just run the main electric one all the time or do you need a temp switch so it turns on and off? if so what is the best one for when you replace the clutch fan with an electric one?

 

a temp sensor for the fan will make it warm up to operating temp quicker (a good thing) and will make the fan last longer cause its not running all the time. So yes, you should have one to turn it on and off, and MAYBE a switch to bypass the whole thing to give u piece o mind.

 

does anybody know where i could get a switch that automaticly turns on my fan at a certain temp and then turns it back off if the temp goes below that? for ex. lie a 195 switch that the fan turns on at 195* and stays on, but if the temp ever goes under 190 it will turn back off, then turn back on again at 195. do switches like that even exist? or do i just have high hopes?