electric fan or new fan clutch?

If you dont have any cooling issues, you can switch to a normal clutch to get a little more hp.
IMO I like the electric option, but you should consider an alternator upgrade at the same time. Then it gets expensive. Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?

You could also gain a few MPG to go with your freed up hp. You shouldnt need the fans when running down the interstate, and you can turn them off and save on alternator drag.

If you get a good electric, and not just something that will work, you will have full cooling at low speeds, in traffic when you need it. The best fan clutch can only turn 85% engine speed whrn engaged. 85% of 1,000 rpms in traffif is not enough. With something like a Mark VIII fan, you get over 4,000 cfm of cooling when ever you need it. I am using one on my 393, and it has never been over 185. I am using a 95 amp alternator.

An electric fan is hands-down worlds better than the mechanical stock setup!

I like my electric fan, it's a proform and i got it for 125$ out of Jegs. It has a thermostat so it turns off and on by itself. I however didn't upgrade the Alt. and i haven't had any problems what so ever and i also have subs. I haven't had any problems of charging.

Here's the best way to control an electric - and it will minimize the amperage you need to run it. Got one on mine - works great. www.dccontrol.com

You mentioned something about a "solid mount" - not sure what that meant, but I'd stay away from the non-clutched "flex" fans. Very few people with them seem happy with them.

Not to hyjack, but my 80 F100 with a 302 had a solid drive fan from the factory (because it had ac?). If I knew then what I know now, I would have had something else on that truck. That thing sucked some HP and boy was it heavy!

I've recently done a decent amount of research into upgrading my alternator. My recomendation to you is that even if you choose to not upgrade your alternator for the purpose of running your fan, that you should at least upgrade the wiring going from your alternator to the battery. I know what you're going to say Mike. hehe But extra draw of the fan on the charging system is going to make both the alternator (to it's maximum output) and the single 10 guage wire (it goes from 2 to one) from the alt to the battery carry more current than it was intended to and could potentially cause that wire or the fusable link to heat to the point of melting or catching fire. The fan by itself may not do that but the fan in conjunction with your headlights, heater blower, and whatever other accessories you might have could potentially cause a hazardous condition. It seems to be a fairly simple mater to install a heavier guage wire from the alternator to the either the positive side of the start solenoid or the positive battery terminal. The other benefit is that if you discover that your stock alt can not handle the enitre load, your wiring will already be able to handle the larger alternator and all the accessories you can throw at it. My 2 cents.

my metal fan and HD clutch sounds like a 747 when i hit ~2K and up.

as said, elec fan is nice if you have the alt to support it. and if you dont, it seems as though the DcControl unit is so efficient, it helps one to 'sip' juice from a lesser alt (had that been around when i did the fan work, i might have gotten a J/Y elec fan and tried it on my 2G alt).

i have to say, though it is winter, it is refreshing to see someone complain of a fan working too well.

Oh yeah, advice is spot on about ditching the clutch and running a spacer - it is less efficient cooling wise and can rob more HP.

good luck.

Make yourself happy and just go with an electric fan. It was going to cost me about as much to get a decent clutch and replace my cracked stock fan. Why not free up some ponies at the same time? Going electric was a good decision, I love it. I have a Proform and stock alternator, haven't had any problems as far as that goes.