What is correct fan color

[robertmark]

I’m working on my 69 E barn find. I’m leaving it completely original. It has great patina I do not want to lose. The engine is out and being rebuilt along with tranny. I hate putting the engine back in with the cooling fan not being painted though. We all know how they look with age. So this piece I would like to paint. What brand paint or color code is correct for this? I think a very patina’d car can have this one item looking fresh??

[proporsche]

originally there was never any paint....
Ivan

[bkreigsr]

Do a Pelican advanced search.
Someone here has duplicated the coating process the factory used back in the day. - couple of years back -
Bill K

[emcon5]

The correct color is a slightly corroded magnesium.

[Dpmulvan]

Originally Posted by emcon5

The correct color is a slightly corroded magnesium.

+1
Fan center removed and plated, fan left alone, squirted with Gibbs, or clear cerakote.

[James Brown]

powder coat pink and piss everyone off!!

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by emcon5

The correct color is a slightly corroded magnesium.

This.

If you have a show car that you take to car shows, paint it whatever color you like. 99.9% of the general population will think it looks better painted and never realize that Porsche left the magnesium unpainted from the factory. If you are a serious concours guy, don't paint it, as it is not correct and will take points off your score if it is painted.

Most any "paint" will chip off on the leading edges of the fan if you drive your car like they are designed. That paint will end up as chips on top of the cooling fins, causing issues with cooling.

Some modern coatings will last longer, but I can't imagine much of anything will look good after 50,000 miles. The factory original corroded magnesium is not pretty, but it is 100% functional and does not chip off into the cooling fins. My car is closing in on 170,000 miles and the fan is not pretty but sure will not chip off the coating.

In the end, it is your car, paint the fan if you want. It does look better for a while.

[Trackrash]

Originally Posted by Dpmulvan

+1
Fan center removed and plated, fan left alone, squirted with Gibbs, or clear cerakote.

Agree, except, cleaning the mag fan material is a PIA, but worth the effort. The trick is once in a while wipe it with Gibbs to keep the corrosion off. Any coating will chip and look like crap after a while if you drive it much.

[86 911 Targa]

[img]
^^^^^
Here is what I used.

Gerry

[RSTarga]

Here is what they should look like although with magnesium, and different weather conditions they vary.
If you keep it oiled it stays like this:

[bkreigsr]

Original fan paint/surface treatment

[robertmark]

Originally Posted by RSTarga

Here is what they should look like although with magnesium, and different weather conditions they vary.
If you keep it oiled it stays like this:

What would you use to clean it to get to the appearance you have with yours? Mineral spirits and a scotchbrite pad?

[Trackrash]

I used diluted ospho with a scotch-brite pad then with 0000 steel wool wet with Gibbs. If your fan is really bad, you may have to start with 240 sandpaper.

[robertmark]

Originally Posted by Trackrash

I used diluted ospho with a scotch-brite pad then with 0000 steel wool wet with Gibbs. If your fan is really bad, you may have to start with 240 sandpaper.

Thanks, that helps!! Man your fan looks good!!

[Shaun @ Tru6]

A 69 fan and housing should look like this one in a 73 RS I did a year ago. Owner of the car who was selling them when they were new said it's as close to original finish as he's seen. I developed my own prep routine and chemistry to surface the pieces after being disappointed with Dow 7 and other finishes. It's basically a blotchy dull grey.

[pwd72s]

Fan untouched...around 50,000 on the car at the photo time.

[needspeed]

Here's another pic from a recent engine rebuild:

[Quicksilver]

Originally Posted by James Brown

powder coat pink and piss everyone off!!

Winning!

[piscator]

Beadblasted and then brushed on some Gibbs oil finsh.

Robert

[Driven97]

I used a parts cleaner, bushes / pads and a little elbow grease. I wanted to clean the fan, but not destroy the hard earned patina. You can't get that back.