Can I ditch the fan on a 2003 Z71 5.3?

[grollins]

I have a 2003 Z71 Silverado short bed extended cab with a 5.3L V-8, auto trans. I keep wondering if I can ditch the radiator fan and use an electric fan instead. The fan is loud, and I figure it has to kill some gas mileage. Is it at all possible?, or would it be too expensive to do? I’m guessing that the water pump would spin too freely. Did GM opt not to put an electric thermostat controlled fan because of the cost factor?

[barrow6]

You can probably remove it but you will have to install an electric fan with a thermostat controlled switch. The gas mileage that you will possibly gain is not worth the time. The only way I would remove the factory fan is if was being drag raced regularly. The gas mileage on the sticker includes the fan being on the truck. I would not remove it. I removed one on a 95 Dodge Dakota V8 5spd but I also raced it at a drag strip on the weekends.

[Slowprocess]

The easiest and cheapest route is to buy the ls1fans(the fans used in late model camaros, trans ams, corvettes). You can usually pic up a set from a salvage yard and ebay often has them. You just have to make a bracket for them and buy the control unit from the flex a lite website. These fans work the same as the flex a lites, and you can usually pic up some for around $100.

[The Ladies Man]

i bought the flex a lite universal fans $230 for my 2000 5.3 and put them on. its hard to say what gas improvemnts i 've had because it isn't my primary vehicle any more (1998 ranger 205,000 miles) so on the nice days i take it out and basically race anyone that will race me. still waiting for the HEMI. i average about 13mpg city. they weren't that hard to install either.