Next upgrade: efans or 3" Elbow?

JohnRardin

JohnRardin

JDM 7MGTE
Apr 4, 2006
110
0
16
Radford, VA
I can't seem to decide which would be the best buy for the money ($120): a set of dual electric fans from a SVT Contour or a 3" turbo elbow. I know the elbow will yield the most power gains and give me much better throttle response and spool up time, but I've heard that electric fans can give almost 1MPG better on gas mileage.

Anyone have any info on just how much better electric fans improve HP and MPG? I'm pretty much ready to buy the elbow, but I wanna concider these fans since a set of dual flex-a-lite fans would cost twice as much (not that it wouldnt be worth it). Anyone out there think I should go with the fans?
 
robbo185

robbo185

New Member
Apr 6, 2005
693
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Chicago
when i got my 3 inch supra sport elbow when i had my car i noticed a different. My spool on the turbo actually started up 2-300 rpm's earlier and stronger
 
steven89

steven89

Member
Jul 8, 2006
892
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16
Houston, TX
id stay with the factory fan as ive heard it pulls quite a lot of air and that you have to go for a pretty expensive e-fan setup to match it. Id go for the turbo elbow :D
 
bwest

bwest

Drafting, not tailgating
May 18, 2005
502
0
0
HippieTown, CA
I say efans. But I'm biased...

going from the stock elbow to a 3" is a great mod - it was one of my favorites.
 
R

Ric

Setting the standard
Feb 22, 2007
1,432
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0
Central Florida
www.1jzgte.us
I run a Contour E-Fan. It draws ALOTTTTTTTTTTTTTT of amps. A standard 30amp electric fan install kit will not work and it will burn out. You need a 50 amp setup. Trust me.
 
M

mkIIIman089

Supramania Contributor
Mar 30, 2005
3,061
0
36
Ohio
You seem to want the fans.

If you have proper ways of measuring coolant and oil temps, and will spend the money on a good relay and wiring, I say go for it.

In light of what Ric posted, might I suggest finding something a little more efficient. Such high current draw will not allow you to run them for very long after the car is not running, and will diminish some of the benefits from losing the mechanical setup to begin with; from the extra strain on the alternator.
 
R

Ric

Setting the standard
Feb 22, 2007
1,432
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0
Central Florida
www.1jzgte.us
It's a 2 speed setup. I will highly reccomend you make use of that. Just using high speed draws insane amounts of power, and low speed isn't always quite enough for 95* sitting in traffic with the A/C on.

Honestly, go aftermarket. Heck, you can have my fan if you just pay the shipping, i'm going back to my trusty clutch fan.
 
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pimptrizkit

thread killer
Dec 22, 2005
1,572
0
0
vancouver Wa
i think the elbow for sure, but if possible find a whole 3inch down pipe that get's ride of the elbo altogether,

there a little harder to instal, but you wont need to replace the expenive gasket each time you do motor work on that side of the car , and then all you would need is a 3inch cat back and you would be set.
 
Wills7MGTE

Wills7MGTE

( . )( . )'s RULE!!!!
May 12, 2006
1,077
0
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38
Jackson, MO
www.myspace.com
I went with flex a lite fans, and it runs close to 8 degrees cooler in traffic than with the facotry setup, have had it 2 years now, dual 12 in FAL set. I have the elbow to though lol but the fan increased my mileage a lil bit but helped my off the line throttle noticeably so, the exhaust made it that much stronger, both are good mods and neccessary, it really doesn't matter what order you buy them in.

Buy one now and one next time, I'd go aftermarket buying shit thats made for other cars is stupid IMHO and why waste the time when they make good aftermarket alternatives, You're not mcgyver after all. LOL

Good luck,
Will
 
Aspec

Aspec

Supra uber alles
Dec 22, 2005
261
0
0
Surprise, AZ
JohnRardin said:
I can't seem to decide which would be the best buy for the money ($120): a set of dual electric fans from a SVT Contour or a 3" turbo elbow. I know the elbow will yield the most power gains and give me much better throttle response and spool up time, but I've heard that electric fans can give almost 1MPG better on gas mileage.

Anyone have any info on just how much better electric fans improve HP and MPG? I'm pretty much ready to buy the elbow, but I wanna concider these fans since a set of dual flex-a-lite fans would cost twice as much (not that it wouldnt be worth it). Anyone out there think I should go with the fans?
Click to expand...

Neither . . .

Assuming everything else is up to par (plugs, wires, fluids, hoses and all other maintenance) save your money and do a full 3" downpipe with integrated elbow. It's one of the best "seat of the pants" bangs for the buck you can do. I love mine. Even with a new elbow you still have the restrictive stock downpipe so it's kind of a waste imo.

As for electric fans I'm in the "no" camp on that idea. Unless you go full custom cooling system upgrade and no a/c etc., you can't do better than the stock fan for cooling. Fuel mileage can be better addressed with proper maintenence and driving style.
 
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Matce

Matce

european inside!
Sep 19, 2006
74
0
0
40
former Austria, now SoCal/Rowland Heights
www.op-imports.com
Aspec said:
Neither . . .

Assuming everything else is up to par (plugs, wires, fluids, hoses and all other maintenance) save your money and do a full 3" downpipe. It's one of the best "seat of the pants" bangs for the buck you can do. I love mine. Even with a new elbow you still have the restrictive stock downpipe so it's kind of a waste imo.

As for electric fans I'm in the "no" camp on that idea. Unless you go full custom cooling system upgrade and no a/c etc., you can't do better than the stock fan for cooling. Fuel mileage can be better addressed with proper maintenence and driving style.
Click to expand...

true ... if you go with the elbow, also buy the downpipe and install it all together !
 
M

MA70Snowman

New Member
Oct 17, 2006
374
0
0
San Diego
between the TWO options. elbow.

however i would say do the exhaust all at once. the elbow you really will not notice w/o supporting mods.

I had a 3" dp back exhaust(mandral bends) for awhile, then I bought an aftermarket elbow w/ a WB bung already plumbed (dual purpose purchase) and noticed a definate differeance. get the exhuast, then the elbow. then others. realy save the fans for almost last, (if at all)

FYI i'm still running stock fan.
 
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