Many of our Flex-a-lite electric fans include a Flex-a-lite fan controller already, but the fans are also available without any controls.

Here’s a breakdown of what each of our controllers do so you can choose the one that’s best for you…:

The Adjustable Temperature Sensor is Flex-a-lite part number 31147. In addition to acting as a relay, it lets you vary the temperature at which the fan or fans turn on from approximately 180-240 degrees Fahrenheit with a simple knob from. It uses a stainless steel probe that inserts in the radiator fins to sense engine-coolant temperature. This module is rated to manage 20-amps at fan start-up. The Flex-a-lite Cooling Control Module is ideally suited for many Flex-a-lite single fans such as the Trimline, LoBoy and Lo-Profile product lines.

 The Cooling Control Module is Flex-a-lite part number 31149. It provides the same function as the 31147 Cooling Control Module with a higher amperage rating (40-amps at fan start-up). It also has an integrated air-conditioning control which turns the electric fan on whenever the air conditioning is on. The Flex-a-lite Cooling Control Module is ideally suited for any Flex-a-lite single fan, and can be also be used with some of our lower-amperage dual fans such as part numbers 330, 365 or 412. It should not be used with fans that draw 28 or more continuous amps, such as Flex-a-lite part numbers 290, 295 or 480.

The Variable Speed Control also acts as a relay and lets you vary the temperature at which the fan or fans turn. Additionally, it sets the fan speed from 60-100 percent, depending on the coolant temperature. This reduces the electrical load when the fans first start, and only draws the amperage needed for the temperature of the engine coolant. This controller also keeps the fan or fans running for 30 seconds after the key is turned off. This module is rated to manage more amperage than the Cooling Control Module; 45-amps at fan start-up. There are several part numbers available:

Part # 31163: Variable Speed Control with the threaded sensor

Part # 31165: Variable Speed Control with the stainless steel temperature probe

The Variable Speed Controllers can be used with any Flex-a-lite electric fan; single or dual.

Additionally, we offer two versions of the Variable Speed Controllers with a feature that we call Quick Start: They start the fans at 100 percent power instead of varying the power to the fans between 60-100 percent.

Part # 31173: Variable Speed Control — Quick Start with the threaded sensor

Part # 31174: Variable Speed Control — Quick Start with the stainless steel temperature probe

All of our electric fans are designed to work with our Variable Speed Controllers – both single and dual fans. You only need one fan controller for Flex-a-lite dual fan setups.

Auxiliary Switch (Flex-a-lite part # 31148) lets you control or override the electric fan function. This switch can be wired to turn on a fan regardless of the engine temperature (overriding the temperature control feature in the Flex-a-lite controller) or it can be wired to turn the electric fan off (useful for water crossings during off-roading). The switch has a 10-amp rating, and it can be used with Flex-a-lite controller part numbers 31149, 31163, 31165, 31173 and 31174.

At Flex-a-lite-blog.com, you can learn how to install an adjustable thermostat fan controller, complete with a video.

The original Flex-a-fit radiator for this application positioned both the inlet and outlet on the passenger side, just like the original. However, many people swap later-model engine into these popular pony car which requires the outlet to be on the driver side. The Flex-a-fit radiators are available both with and without a Flex-a-lite 3,000 cfm electric fan (part #160) pre-mounted from the factory.

Part Numbers:

50064              Radiator only – ‘64-‘66 Mustang, passenger side inlet & oulet

50164             Radiator with electric fan – ‘64-‘66 Mustang, passenger side inlet & outlet

50064R1         Radiator only – ‘64-‘66 Mustang, driver side outlet & passenger side inlet

50164R1         Radiator with electric fan- ‘64-‘66 Mustang, driver side outlet & passenger side inlet

50067              Radiator only – ‘67-‘69 Mustang, passenger side inlet & oulet

50167             Radiator with electric fan – ‘67-‘69 Mustang, passenger side inlet & oulet

50067R           Radiator only – ‘67-‘69 Mustang, driver side outlet & passenger side inlet

50167R           Radiator with electric fan- ‘67-‘69 Mustang, driver side outlet & passenger side inlet

Flex-a-fit radiators are manufactured in the U.S. with a 2-row, all-aluminum core hand welded to the side tanks with patented “T” channels to dissipate heat more efficiently. Radiator mounting brackets are included for direct bolt-in fit to the stock location, and the “T” Channels provide a more secure attachment for these mounting brackets. The inlet is 1 ½ inches in diameter, and the outlet is 1 ¾ inches. Both are 2 ½ inch long.

Flex-a-lite now offers over 130 Flex-a-fit radiator applications, including ’64-’66, ’67-’69 and ’79-’93 Mustangs. You can also custom order a radiator, using easy-to-follow order forms at www.flex-a-lite.com/auto/html/howtoradiator.html. Customers can choose from eight radiator core sizes as the start of their radiator, and custom configuration options provide flexibility in the location, size and angle of the inlet and outlet. Other options include single- or dual-pass, threaded bung location(s) and filler neck location and angle.

Is your car running a little hot in traffic or when you’re moving slow? Is your truck or RV running hot when you are towing up a hill during the hot summer months?? Consider adding an auxiliary electric fan to help your primary cooling system.

At slow speeds or while sitting in traffic, you have very little or no ram air coming through the radiator, and typically, the engine is running at a lower rpm, which means the belt-driven fan isn’t moving much air either. In some applications, this can cause the engine to run hot or overheat because there isn’t enough air moving through the radiator.

Adding an auxiliary electric fan to the front of the radiator can overcome this problem. Flex-a-lite makes several fans that have an open shroud design to allow for airflow, which is ideal for this use. Part numbers 112, 114 and 116 range in size from approximately 13-16 inches and create between 1,105 and 2,215 cfm of airflow. Part #119 is a 16×16.5 inch fan that moves an impressive 2,500 cfm and is only 1 ¼ inch deep at the shroud. These fans can be operated with a toggle switch for manual control (Flex-a-lite #31148), or with Flex-a-lite part #31147 Adjustable Temperature Sensor to automatically turn on when needed, and you can adjust the activation temperature from approximately 180-240 degrees Fahrenheit.

Here are some selection and installation tips to help you get the best results:

• Find an auxiliary fan that covers as much of the radiator core surface as possible
• Don’t use a fully-shrouded electric fan: Shrouds on the back of the radiator are good, but you don’t want to block air flow with a shroud on the front of the radiator
• Make sure the auxiliary electric fan comes set up as a puller (such as Flex-a-lite part #119) or that you switch the blade direction and wiring if the fan is reversible (such as Flex-a-lite part numbers 112, 114 and 116)
• If you have an auxiliary transmission cooler in front of the radiator, you may have to move it forward in the vehicle to mount the auxiliary electric fan directly to the radiator core
• Consider installing a transmission cooler with integrated electric fan (such as Flex-a-lite part #4190) to move this heat source somewhere other than in front of the radiator

We’ve seen an auxiliary electric fan help many types of vehicles keep their cool. This includes off-road vehicles that are moving slow on a trail, hot rods at big events where there is a lot of traffic, tow vehicles carrying a heavy load up a steep grade  and commercial delivery vehicles that spend much of their time parked and idling.

Visit our electric fan applications page at flex-a-lite.com for a complete listing of fan sizes and cfm ratings to find one that will work best in your application.

The tour will be marked by a specially prepared motor home, trailer and 2010 Camaro. The Camaro will feature two of the latest Flex-a-lite products: the Flex-a-fit^® direct-fit radiator and direct-fit transmission cooler. The rolling display will be a combination of historical milestones from the company’s legacy and its newest products that demonstrate the commitment to performance cooling.

The planned tour dates and stops include:

In addition to this 50-day tour during the summer, Flex-a-lite will also have its mobile museum and latest products on display at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, October 30 through November 2, 2012.

The company has been family owned during all of its 50 year history, and continues with the third generation of family at the helm.

Innovation and makin’ it in the USA will continue at Flex-a-lite. Since the recession hit in 2008, the company has developed 105 new part numbers. Forty-two new items in the past 12 months include Flex-a-fit radiators, electric cooling fans, Mojave heaters, oil coolers, Flex-a-Chill radiator additive and promotional items, all of which are featured in the Flex-a-lite commemorative 50^th anniversary catalog.

Follow our tour on the Flex-a-lite Facebook page and look for updates here on our blog.

This radiator offers three times more cooling surface and twice the core thickness compared to the stock radiator for significantly better cooling. The radiator is all-aluminum and hand welded for better construction than the original composite radiator. The electric fan comes pre-mounted from the factory and utilizes the original fan wiring. Kit includes all brackets and hardware for the radiator, as well as a new radiator cap. The radiator is available by itself (part # 56418) or as a radiator and fan combination (part #56488) which includes a dual Flex-a-lite X-Treme S-Blade 3000 cfm electric fan (part #480).

Flex-a-fit radiators are manufactured in the U.S. with a 2-row, all-aluminum core hand welded to the side tanks with patented “T” channels to dissipate heat more efficiently. Radiator mounting brackets are included for direct bolt-in fit to the stock location, and the “T” Channels provide a more secure attachment for these mounting brackets.

Also available for the 2010-2011 Camaro is our direct-fit Flex-a-lite transmission cooler. Part #4116C includes a bracket system, fittings, hose and hardware needed for a clean installation in front of the radiator.
Please visit www.flex-a-lite.com for more information.

But we’re here to spread some good news. If your vehicle has a belt-driven engine cooling fan, you can install an electric fan and realize a fuel economy improvement and free up some power for an overall better driving experience.

An electric fan completely removes the mechanical load of spinning the fan from the engine. This means less work for the engine and better fuel economy. Another benefit of converting to a Flex-a-lite electric fan is quicker warm-up times. An engine at its designed operating temperature also runs more efficiently, providing better more miles per gallon.

How much more fuel economy? Trev Burt installed Flex-a-lite part No. 264 on his Dodge Cummins truck and reported a fuel economy improvement of 2 ½ mpg! Diesel Power magazine did a similar test and found a 2-3 mpg increase in fuel economy. That’s more than a 10 percent improvement with their specific test truck!

The technology works with gasoline engines too. In fact, we’d love to hear how much improvement in fuel economy you find after installing a Flex-a-lite electric fan. Leave a comment below, or post it our Facebook wall.

Visit our electric fan applications page at flex-a-lite.com for a complete listing of fan sizes and cfm ratings to find one that will work best in your application. We also offer direct-fit applications for Camaros, Mustangs, pickup trucks and more.

The Mojave installation kits include “Y” tubing connections, a shut-off valve, hose, clamps and grommets. Flex-a-lite offers three variations of the installation kit that make it easier to install the Mojave in place of a failed factory heater core, in a new installation where there wasn’t any heater previously installed and in UTVs that use smaller diameter connectors.

The new plenum (part #655) for the Mojave heater is shorter in depth to help it fit in smaller spaces. It is just 2 ½ inches deep and snaps onto the face of the Mojave heater for directional heating. The original plenum (part #650) is still available, which has additional ports for connecting a duct for defrosting

Mojave heaters tie into the existing engine-coolant source and outputs 12,000 BTU. An integrated electric fan moves 130 cfm, drawing 8 amps. The overall unit measures 12.12 x 9 x 5 inches. A 3-way switch and wiring necessary to complete the installation are included with the Mojave heater (Part #640).

Mojave Part Numbers:

640 Mojave Heater – 12,000 BTU heater with 3-way switch and wiring

650 Mojave Plenum – Two vents and two ports for defroster vent connection

655 Mojave Plenum – Two vents in a slim unit for compact spaces

660 Mojave Install Kit – Lets you replace a failed factory heater core with a Mojave unit

661 Mojave Install Kit – Designed for a new installation (no heater previously installed)

662 Mojave Install Kit – Engineered specifically for UTVs with smaller diameter connectors

Visit www.flex-a-lite.com for more information.

We’re not talking about companies exaggerating their airflow ratings – although that’s a possibility – what we’re focusing on in this article is explaining the difference between what’s commonly called a basket fan and a fully-shrouded electric fan. Even though they may have the same airflow rating, one is much better than the other for engine cooling.

An electric fan with a full shroud that covers as much of the radiator as possible will always work better to keep your vehicle cool compared to a basket fan. There are several reasons for this.

Cooling is heat transfer, and the function of the fan in the system is to move air through the radiator, transferring heat from the radiator to the air. A fully shrouded fan covers more radiator core surface than a simple basket fan. A basket fan will move air that looks like a doughnut; only moving air in a tight circle around the fan blades, and there will be a hole in the middle of the airflow blocked by the fan motor. A shrouded fan that has the motor mounted 2-3 inches away from the radiator surface will pull air through the entire area. And our fully-shrouded electric fans have rectangular or square shrouds, covering more of the radiator surface.

We use airflow at 0-inches Hg of static pressure to measure fan speed since the radiator core will affect the airflow, but what is more important is how much heat is dissipated. Even though an electric fan may have the same or only a slightly higher cfm rating, the ability of a fully shrouded electric fan to pull heat out of a radiator is much higher. We tested a Flex-a-lite 16-inch fan assembly (Part #396) and the same fan assembly in a fully shrouded assembly (Part #180) and found 40-percent more heat dissipation!

Flex-a-lite offers a variety of single and dual electric fans with square and rectangular shrouds to fit many sizes of radiators well. We also realize that space constraints can be an issue, so we offer a line of slim-profile electric fans that still offer good shrouding, although the fan motor is moved closer to the radiator surface. Visit our electric fan applications page at flex-a-lite.com for a complete listing of fan sizes and cfm ratings to find one that will work best in your application.

Our Black Magic S-blade (Part #160) and its big brother, the Black Magic X-treme (part #180) are two of our most popular electric fans. The #160 moves 3,000 cfm of air the #180 is rated at 3,300 cfm, and both use a 15-inch blade. The cooling advantage of the Black Magic design is a rectangular shroud that covers more of the radiator surface and having the electric motor mounted farther from the surface to reduce an air eddy affect.

Our LoBoy fan (Part #118 for a puller and #119 for a pusher) also has a 16-inch fan blade and moves 2,500 cfm of air, only about 17 percent less than the #160 fan shown above. And it is only 1.25 inches tall at the shroud. It’s a great fan for tight clearances, but it will not work well as the primary cooling fan for your 1939 Ford with a 500-horsepower engine.

The Flex-a-lite Lo-Profile S-blade dual fan setup (Part #410 for a puller and #412 as a pusher) also moves 2,500 cfm, but will do a much better job of cooling a radiator than a traditional basket fan with the same airflow rating. Even though the airflow rating is the same, it’s spread out over a much larger surface area of the radiator. It’s ideal to cover at least 70 percent of the radiator surface with the fan shroud.

Owners of ’72-’86 Jeep CJs know how hard it is to find a performance cooling system that is as capable and durable as their Jeep. That’s about to change as Flex-a-lite is now shipping its all-new, bolt-in Flex-a-fit radiator and electric fan combo for these vehicles! And there are configurations available to fit CJs with stock engines and also to accommodate the popular GM and Ford V-8 engine conversions.The core of this combo is a Flex-a-fit radiator featuring dual 1-inch all-aluminum radiator core that is hand-welded in the U.S. to the Flex-a-fit sidetanks patented “T” tank technology. The “T” channels offer a durable mounting system for the radiator, electric fan and optional oil cooler or expansion tank. The radiator core is protected while off roading because the electric fan is mounted to the Flex-a-fit sidetank and not through the radiator core. The Flex-a-fit system also eliminates the risk of the belt-driven fan contacting the fan shroud when the body and chassis flex while off-roading. With this latest introduction Flex-a-lite now covers thirty years of Jeep CJs and Wranglers.

The Flex-a-fit radiator is available with or without a fully shrouded 15-inch Flex-a-lite electric fan that moves 3,000 cfm and comes pre-mounted to the radiator from the factory. The fan draws 19.5 amps and includes a control module for adjustable temperature setting and air conditioning relay. A terminal on the controller allows you to connect a manual override switch to turn the fan off for water crossings. Our optional 20-ounce overflow tank (part #32013) can be added to the sidetank channel as well.

Part Numbers:
51008 Radiator only – Jeep CJ ‘72-‘86 LH inlet, GM V-8 conversion (non-LS)
51009 Radiator only – Jeep CJ ‘72-‘86 RH inlet, stock engines and Ford V-8 conversions
51168 Radiator and fan combo-Jeep CJ ‘72-‘86 LH inlet, GM V-8 conversion (non-LS)
51169 Radiator and fan combo-Jeep CJ ‘72-‘86 RH inlet, stock and Ford V-8 conversions

Please visit www.flex-a-lite.com for more information on this product.

You may have seen the popular posting on Facebook called, “Christmas 2011 – Birth of a New Tradition,” urging people to buy American. We like the basic message of thinking about different ways that you can use your Christmas shopping to help the U.S. while minimize the exporting of American dollars to other countries.

Some of the suggestions offered were gift certificates from your local hair salon or barber, a gym membership and a gift card good for a car detailing. All good ideas, but they focused on services.

Going beyond services that keep local citizens employed, we’d like to point out that some products are actually still made in the U.S., such as what we manufacture at Flex-a-lite. We punch the steel, mold the blades and shrouds and do all of the assembly work in our facility in Fife, WA, for our belt-driven and electric fans. We also hand-weld our Flex-a-fit aluminum radiators and do all of the manufacturing processes for our oil and fuel coolers on site. Watch the video above for a good overview of what we do.

Sure, we could save money and increase our profits in the short-term if we had all of our products made off-shore, but that’s not who we are. We are an innovative manufacturing company. We take pride in the performance cooling products we create, from the patented ideas all the way through to the parts we make. We know the importance of making products on site, where we can make changes instantly and we can continuously check and improve our quality. We also put a lot of value in the people who count on us for work…some of our employees have been with us for more than 30 years!

For your Christmas shopping – and long after – we encourage you to think about where your products are made and who they are supporting.