yeah, we aren't talking about anywhere near the same thing.....
I'm talking more like these modifications... http://www.240sxforums.com/forums/do...-tutorial.html didn't read through the thread, just scanned it quickly to see that it was what I'm talking about...

and "huge expense" is relative.

you're comparing a 20 dollar replacement clutch to 80 bucks for an alternator in addition to the cost of the fans themselves.
that alone is 4 times the cost. i would bet that anyone would consider something that is 4 times the cost to be a huge increase in the cost.

 

You're still considering a 20 year old $20 clutch, to be a reasonable replacement for your 20 year old clutch...

 

And still somehow considering a clutch fan setup to cool the same, or somehow magically better.

When the only comparison you can come up with, I can assure you wasnt done properly.

 

got those prices from a quick google for each, so I guess they aren't totally impossible.

and no, I never said they don't go bad. not sure where that came from.

point i'm trying to make, and you seem to be supporting, that the electric fans should only be an option if you already have an upgraded charing system. more than likely an upgraded radiator, and are looking to invest in a set of fans that move far more air than the stock clutch fan with the goal of being able to fine tune your running temps.

IF you are needing to step up your alternator just to install some fans you got from the junkyard, I don't see how that is worth it.
You're basically saying that if your stock clutch fan goes out, then you need to drop at least 250 bucks, if not more, to properly install a set of quality electric fans. otherwise you just need to get rid of your car because any other option is just a hack job ricer screw up.

 

only reason I'm saying to use the used clutch is because you're using a used alternator and a used set of fans in your argument.
So obviously, doing it as cheaply as possible is what you're going for, so the rebuttal to that argument is the 20 dollar used clutch.

so it is ok when you do it, but not when someone else does it.....
seems rather elitist to me....

 

You're still seeing the alternator as some sort of part of the fan upgrade, the stock 80A alternator is a joke, its something that should be upgraded anyway, and has nothing to do with the cost of the fan install. You're also used to seeing everyone say it works fine, thats running a hooptie pos, with no a/c, and barely even running right, if at all.

You want to use $250 as your comparison figure for an e-fan setup

Heres a fair comparison for a clutch fan setup, for a non-hooptie that you want to be reliable, and with a/c

OEM fan clutch, NEW $180~ shipped
OEM fan shroud $80 shipped

just those two are over your figure, and thats not even counting a decent condenser fan ...

In reality, the e-fan setup on a same-level comparison, might cost a hair more, but you'll be able to maintain more steady temps, and have an a/c system that works

Disreguard all this for the typical tampa hooptie, which is why most somehow think a clutch fan setup is "better"

 

You really expect a 20 year old fan clutch to be a better option than a 10 year old alternator and fans ?

Oh, and you're still including the alternator as part of the cost of the fan upgrade, when in reality, it's just something you should have done to the car already, whether someone wants to pickup a fresh one, or a lightly used one, matters not to me.

 

guess you have no idea who Dan is do you?
out of anyone that has done these comparisons, locally, and posted on TR about it, I would say Dan would be the one who did, do it right.
There are numerous other people on Tr that have done the comparison just to show that a properly functioning clutch fan does a better job at cooling.
There are numerous accounts all over the internet that go into detail about that same thing.

you can break it down yourself, comparing all the different aspects of the two set ups to prove it for yourself.
look at air flow and the HP losses of each
Look at the cost of install for the cooling ability
look at the actual amount of work and time required for each install.
hell, compare the weight of the parts of each install. the more it weighs, the more effective hp it requires just to be there.


unless the supporting mods are already done, electric fans just aren't worth it.

 

Altima fans 40
Relays 15
Wire 10
Fuse things 5

Blow like a mother

 

1. I'm damn certain dan wasnt running an upgraded alternator, and also damn sure dan wasnt running any of the fans i'd consider useful
2. Your interwebs accounts prove jack, as most are using shitty fans, and also fall into the improper installation category
3. You want to attempt to use one persons tests, or some interwebs junk, as a basis, well please feel free to point out some corvettes, 85-02 f bodys, ferraris, etc that just cant keep things cool without a clutch fan, ohh ooppsie thats right, they work just fine.
4. Are you really wanting to compare weight here ? Please feel free to come up with some sort of reasonable figures here on how the ROTATING weight of a clutch fan, is somehow going to be advantageous over static weight of a set of lightweight electric fans

Please, get a car together, with working a/c, 300+ HP, and then we'll have a comparison on which works better.