MP Viscous Fan Package

[LAA66]

 Does anyone have an opinion or experience with the Mopar Performance Viscous Fan Package? I have a flex fan on my small block now and would like to get a more stock appearance. They (Jeg's) claim up to a 15 HP increase over the flex to boot.

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_10002_746971_-1_11207

 On a side note, since MP has no warranty when purchased direct, do companies like Jeg's and Summit sell MP parts "as is" also? 

[Aussie Challenger]

  My small block has a flex fan fitted, however the engine temp went up in the desert in Arizona at very slow speeds. No problem at cruising speeds.
  I have already bought a MP Viscous Fan as it should draw more air in at lower speeds and at higher engine speeds reduce the HP drain on the motor and also remove the loading on the water pump.
  According to my parts book the Hemi uses the same Viscous Fan as the small block.     

[Chryco Psycho]

Flex-a-lite has a better 6 blade clutch fan & you can buy the clutch anywhere including Flex-a-lite , , I would get the temperature snsitive clutch Not the rpm clutch , probably will work out cheaper them the Mopar & with a warranty + mthe Mopar unit is only 5 blade

[LAA66]

 Found the Flex-a-lite on the Summit site. 15"-20" diameter with clockwise or counterclockwise rotation. Trying not to seem too lazy but which one would be used in a 70 Challenger?

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=FLX%2D5655&view=64&N=700+400226+4294887720+4294908110+4294908104+4294840100+4294925081

[dodge freak 2]

If you have the cash, a dual electric fan is the best for saving engine power. Most new cars have that set up.

Depending on where you live you might get away with 1 fan but not too often. Duals are the best but the nice ones that have a shoud around them are over $200, maybe $300 now of days.

[Chryco Psycho]

18" clockwise rotation is what a Chall would have
 as for the electric fans I have found they are far less efficient than a good clutch fan , I have removed electrics & installd clutch fans to solve heating issues int he past

[LAA66]

 Thanks for the info dodge freak 2 sounds like the electric fan is a good setup for racing.  My goal is to get back to the stock appearance though. The claim of an extra 15 hp was kind of a bonus.

Thanks Chryco. I would bet the MP clutch fan is the same as a flex-a-lite just the number of blades would be different. I assume a 6 blade was the original fan configuration? What would be the reason/benefit for 5?

[HP2]

15 hp may be an optimistic claim. I think one of the mopar rags did a test on these a couple years ago and on a mild 440, the difference was maybe 8-10 hp. The advantage of the mopar unit is it is a thermostatically coupled clutch, so its speed can vary based on temp and/or engine speed. You could also pick up the clutch unit at most parts stores if you already have a fan for it.

Same deal on windage trays. They work, but the benefit is typically at higher rpm ranges.

[Chryco Psycho]

7 blade si stock , I have not found a repop of the 7 blade though , I have sucessfully trimmed down the larger C body 7 blade fans & used them but you have to be extremely careful to cut the same amount of each blade or it will be unbalanced & fail

[Jacksboys]

I am not trying to hi-jack the thread, but if I just needed a new clutch and wanted to keep the original fan, would the Flex-a-lite fit like a stock replacement?

[ksierens]

I think the new 5 bladed fans currently sold by Mopar were found to be more efficient than the old 7 blades.

[Chryco Psycho]

the FLEX A LITE clutch should fit perfectly , oir you could just buy the clutch locally
 I have not heard anything about the efficency oif the 5 blade vs the 7 blade but they do not look right

[74 340 4speed]

I got my mopar performance viscous clutch fan package from jegs.  I switched from a stock, non-clutch type 4 blade fan to the viscous fan, and I noticed better cooling before I did my other cooling system upgrades.  Car felt like it had more pull in the higher rpms too (car has a well built 340).   Afterwards, I also upgraded to a mopar performance 6 blade impeller wp, and a 22" custom mancini racing aluminum radiator, and it never goes over 180*  The car does not have a shroud. 

[dodge freak 2]

Get a shroud, it works much better with one and its very risky not to have one on there. Just think if your girl friend or some other lady was looking at your motor with the hood up and running and her long hair got caught in it...

[74 340 4speed]

I had the rad buttoned up when it was still in the low 90s here in Georgia, and humid to boot.  The car never went over 180*.  I see your point, but I really don't see a need for a shroud at this time.  I may install one just for appearance reasons when the car is getting closer to completion.  They look better with a shroud.