Ive done it both ways. My current truck is on the stock fan with no shroud. been that way for a few years without any issues even in the middle of summer in bumper to bumper Los Angeles traffic.
I like the e fans better just because it looks better, you dont have to worry about the upper...
Its possible but the design of the arm doesn't make it an easy task to shorten. It would be easier to build narrowed tubular arms or order some from a shop.
In theory it shouldnt matter. But these type of parts aren't built to precision standards. If a part is off by 1/4" no biggie. It would be hard to notice. Then you add a part for a different company that might be off 1/4" also you're looking at a 1/2" and that's noticeable.
Honestly I have no idea. My buddy owns a shop that repairs high end audio and visual equipment and he uses it there. I just ask him to bring some home lol.
I bent a tube to go around the diff housing and welded it to the axle tubes. One link from each side of that going to the center of the modified gas tank crossmember. Mounted those ends with a long bolt. 3 link would have worked the same and taken half of the time. This was in about 1999 so you...