fan swap

[ViolentBlue]

is it possible to swap a 11 blade fan to a 5 blade fan? I'm told that there are different sizes if 11 blade fans and some will not fit.
what years/partnumbers will swap across?

[RickM]

Isn't the swap usually the other way around?

[masraum]

You can trade a 5 for an 11. The usual trade is to put an 11 where a 5 once was, I assume that you are asking about that, yes, you can. If for some reason you are asking about a trade the other direction, then it should be the same only in reverse. Waynes new book details part numbers etc to perform the swap.

[Rot 911]

Yes he wants to go 11 blade to 5 blade for the engine in his VW. Here is his post on the classifieds board:
"the fan is on a 914 engine in my beetle, the 5 blade pushes less air, the 11 balde is overkill for the 914 engine plus the 5 blade looks a little more old school"

[Rot 911]

And check out the engine in his VW!

[weber92037]

Will the 11 blade fan fit an 87 Carrera? I'm looking for a nice one.

[masraum]

If you have an '87 Carrera you should have an 11 blade fan. I think the 5 blade only came in 75 or 76.

[RickM]

Steve is right, 11 blade was stock in '87.

[weber92037]

Yes, I have an 11 blade fan, but it is dirty and corroded and I have not had much luck with various polishes, cleaners, etc. Figured it will be easier to replace.

[Bones]

Originally posted by weber92037
Yes, I have an 11 blade fan, but it is dirty and corroded and I have not had much luck with various polishes, cleaners, etc. Figured it will be easier to replace.

Bead blast , polish and clear coat it .

[RickM]

Or send to Al Reed....His fan work is beautiful and inexpensive. A search will yield tons of info on this.

[ViolentBlue]

polished magnesium dosn't like to let anything stick, the clearcoat is on there but takes nothing to chip off, then it begins oxidising right away.

anyone know what the part number of the 11 blade fan is that will swap readily with the 5 blade?

[pjv911]

I replaced the 5 blade with a new 11 blade 2 years ago. The porsche receipt should be at work in a very large overstuffed receipt folder. I will see if I can dig it up. You must also get a larger diameter pulley to slow the fan speed down when you go to 11 blades(or vise versa if going from 11 to 5 blades). I will get that part # too. BTW its not very easy to remove the fan from the alternator shaft(dont use a hammer).

Kurt Williams

[jazzbass]

Originally posted by weber92037
Yes, I have an 11 blade fan, but it is dirty and corroded and I have not had much luck with various polishes, cleaners, etc. Figured it will be easier to replace.

I don't know - I tried to remove my fan when I had the alternator out to replace the VR, so I could clean it w/o worrying about the alternator. It was a b**ch - I never did get it off for fear of ruining my alternator. I think I read you need to get it pressed off. In the end I stayed with the dirty look.

[ViolentBlue]

ya, I bunged up the threads on my alt the first time I pulled the fan, they retapped no prob, but I 'm not entirely sure about pulling it again.