Oil cooler fan installation on a 86?

[moazam]

From what I've read it seems that Porsche introduced some sort of electrical fan to the front oil cooler in 1987.

I have an '86 and would like to add this fan. I've looked at the 101 Projects book (pg. 78 I think) but it talks more about the whole oil cooler installation more than just the fan. Does anyone have an articles or general tips on the fan installation? Also..which fan to get and from where?

[vash]

the fan is the easy part. just getting the damn horns out of the way is the only pain. oh, i didnt have so much fun getting the wires into the trunk area. factory grommets! i think pelican sells everything you need. but for the cheap, i would call the two big salvage yards in our area. let me know if you want to see my fan.

cliff

[kqw]

If you have a regular Mechanic/Technician, I recommend that you have them install this assy. To do it correctly, the oil cooler, lines, shroud and shield should be removed. Also, the assy should include a thermo-switch which needs to be wired correctly. Any additional gromets etc needed, your shop will have them on hand....my opinion....

[greglepore]

There is the factory way, and then there's the cheap way. If you search on oil cooler fan, you'll find that there are a few of us using a surplus 12v 350cfm +/- computer fan in this application. Mine works great-its wired to switch I mounted between the two A/C switches in the console, and I just turn it on in traffic when its hot. It works very well. It requires removing the front bumper/valence to get access, but the thin fan doesn't require removing the horns. I was able to fab a bracket out of hardware store stuff that uses existing bolts etc. Its a much more cost effective option.

[emcon5]

All it takes to move the horns is a $3 piece of metal from the hardware store and a pair of pliers/bench vice.

Is the computer fan weatherproof?

Tom

[greglepore]

Tom, as I cross posted in the other fan thread, its been on for a year with no problems, and I do drive in the rain. The rear of the motor seems pretty well shielded.

[kepperly]

I sold a crap load of the fans (108) about a year ago that I bought at Boeing surplus from a co. in California. They were from Airtron. good stuff still have the original protype on my slant nose with oil cooler mounterd in the right rear brake duct. Knocks the temp back about 20 degrees on my installation.

Keith Epperly 87 slant nose turbo look carrera cabriolet

[TC_SJ]

Any one has a picture of the fan installed on 1987, and where to by this type of fan

Thanks

[Mike Feinstein]

I have a nearly new Derale 7" weatherproof cooling fan that I used with my small Setrab cooler. I've since added a center mounted cooler, so it's been relegated to the basement. Can be installed in either push or pull mode. If interested, let me know. Heck...if you want the cooler that the fan is currently mounted on, that would be fine too.

mikncath@bellsouth.net

[SpeedracerIndy]

What type of oil cooler does an 86 Carrera have? Is it a radiator type or the brass tube type?

[kepperly]

I would post mine but mine has a Mocal cooler located in the right rear brake cooling duct of my slant. I simply attached the fan to the oil cooler with heavy duty nylon high temp ties.

Keith Epperly 87 slant nose turbo look carrera cabriolet

[fintstone]

Check out these threads:

Oil Line and Cooler Installation
oil cooler fan thermoswitch

[Wil Ferch]

I've done this to my 85.
You don't need to take all this stuff apart...remove the RF bumper bellows, maybe the stiffening structure berhind that. That then allows you to remove the sheet metal painted panel alongside the bellows and you have fine access to what you want to do.
Use a SPAL 7.5" fan. Italian made and of very fine quality. Moves 440 CFM , I believe at low static head pressure. Buy the mounting nibs and use one on the side which mounts conveniently to the drilled hole in the cooler flange. Rubber spacer is good too for vibration protection. Then, use the bottom two mounting locations on teh fan, and fab a small piece of strap steel and bend into a "U" to capture the lower two bolts that hold the oil cooler in-place. Total of three bolts works fine. The two OEM trumpets are temporarilly removed during the install process and can be shifted slightly to fit, using one ( of two) OEM bolts.
For the electrics, look under your fuse cover and you'll see an open space for a spare round relay. Get one from our host and wire-in accordingly. Run wire along drivers side to front, across front and to RF fender. Feed wire through pre-exisiting grommet used to wire the fogs on RF of car.
In the cabin, look and feel for a pre-exisiting hole ( under the upholstery) between the two left gauges/bottom. There is a square hole there that would be used for the rear wiper switch. Buy a lit, colored switch from NAPA that fits pefectly ( I used amber).
Although fans were first used by the factory in 87+, the 85+ cars had the similar radiator cooler but didn't have the threaded bung on the cooler top header for a temp switch...that's why the amber manual switch was used.
Nice, sanitary install........
---Wil

[RickM]

Nice description, Wil.

[Wil Ferch]

Rick , thanks...
Wish I could "do" pics...I wired this up so that both the control *and* power circuits are fused...and improvement on the stock 87 wiring where only the power-side is fused.

You should see the moon-shaped label I had made up that fits alongsde the gauge "oil cooler fan"....white on black background....very factory looking.

Gotta get a digital camera and learn how to post

--Wil