I created this post as a general bucket for Electric Fan conversions that are meant to replace the stock, mechanical fan.
The oldest post regarding the CRD is made by poppie and this is the link:
viewtopic.php?f=98&t=62129My alternative came few years later, and started with this post:
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=74419&start=20Overall, the best ready to mount option currently available that I know of, is getting a FF Dynamics fan and shroud from ebay (seller
spikedcollardogs -
http://www.ebay.com/usr/spikedcollardogs).
He has a setup already made for CRD, but the shroud is about 18x18, rather than 20x20. Price for the kit (including switches, relay and some wires) is 270+40 shipping.
Another alternative would be to buy just the fan (he sells them separately) for about 125 + 20 shipping, and create your own shroud. You can buy a shroud from summit, 20x20, but what I found till this moment 20x20 from summit came with a 14 inch fan hole, so to install the 16 inch there is some additional cutting (not a big deal to be honest). The beauty of getting an FF Dynamics fan is that is has lifetime warranty, all other brand names do not. Overall, not too many options available, I chose getting the FF Dynamics fan and the shroud only from EBay for 260 shipped (that does not include wires, relay, switches, but it does come with some fan motor adapters - the original kit has some adapters that secure the fan motor on the fan grille that are too deep, and using the setup as it comes from the seller would cause the fan motor to touch the bolt where the mechanical fan is mounted – so the extra slimmer adapters must be used instead of what the fan comes with). BTW, I am not affiliated with the ebay vendor and Brianawd was kind enough to post about this kit, and this is how I found about it.
I also used a variable speed controller from summit, due to being easier/smoother on the electric system and also allowing theoption of overrides: always on, always off, on the top of the command it gets from the thermostat it comes with.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/flx-33054/overview/Price is about 105 with free shipping for orders over 100. Trust me, this little baby it’s worth the money!
Below is my post from a previous thread, slightly edited. It includes some pictures of the ebay fan and shroud, with the variable speed controller installed on the jeep:
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 18x18, edge to edge. Which is not a show stopper but I expected a fan with a shroud as big as the radiator.
- 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 have 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 105 for the variable speed controller, plus solder, couplings etc. For some people may be too pricey... Jeep feels a little bit more responsive, but may be just my mind playing games...
On the highway, I have confirmed about 2+ MPG increase, the best I got before was about 27, now I best get 30. City drive, I maybe got about 1+ mpg, but city drive is not a good indication since sometimes you are stuck in traffic, or stop lights, or stop and go traffic.