I installed the fan from the e-Bay guy, with my variable speed controller. So far, so good. It barely starts, runs for 10-15 seconds and then stops. I'm sure the fan is going to be great for normal driving and it may even be OK for towing. But then the temperature outside was mid 60s... Couple thoughts:
- the fan shroud is smaller than our 20x20 radiator. Its more like 17x17 (edit: after a proper measurement, the shroud has 18x18, edge to edge). Which is not a show stopper but I expected a fan with a shroud as big as the radiator.
- the fan it has is a procomp fan, it costs probably 50-ish (edit: after further research, found out it's not a procomp, seems a little better done, not that procomp is not a decent one... ) . Which is not necessarily bad since a spare can be outsourced for cheap.
- the brackets it comes with: it has some guiding brackets on the top which is cool. You're supposed to use a pliers and secure it to the upper lip of the radiator, which I didn't (made my own brackets - read below) . It also comes with that plastic tide-ons that any e-fan comes with, this junk:
The shroud has some holes made in it where you're supposed to insert the plastic ties. I personally try to stay away of stuff like this, don't trust them as I trust a metal bracket. I'd expected a shroud to include some metal brackets in this price. The shroud though has a nice finish. I ended up making my own brackets that I secured the shroud where the plastic fan cover used to be mounted:
Was thinking to make some other one for the guides under, but the fan shroud is so rigid, I dropped the idea.
Those are the upper brackets the shroud comes with:
This is where I installed the probe from the variable speed controller, don't like the idea of pushing it through the fan fins...
And this is the fan controller:
Which once I find the "sweet spot" for when I will ha e it start, ill move it inside the air box, away from dust and humidity.
Overall, I'm happy so far with the purchase, but I paid 260 for the shroud and fan only, plus another 100 for the variable speed controller, plus solder, couplings etc. For some people may be too pricey... Ill follow up wit a mileage report. Jeep feels a little bit more responsive, but may be just my mind playing games...