Cracked 3.2 fan housing (help)

[75Carrera]

After removing the fan and housing we found the fan housing on my '86 3.2 is cracked in several places. Anybody have a 84-89 fan housing around for sale or a good source for a used one? We already tried 20th Street with no luck. Ant help would be greatly appreciated...

[chuckr]

There is a company that sells aluminum repro housings....
do a search here or rennlist.

[75Carrera]

Bump
Can't find any threads so far. Somebody has to know where I can get a used 84-89 fan housing...

[ZOA NOM]

Just get it welded.

[David E. Clark]

Don't know if you are a fan of Ebay but I did a quick search and found a new one for your car here and a used one for an early car (which might fit) here. I have no connection to either of these sellers so caviet emptor.

[RickM]

I beleiev Ben mentioned he welds them up....MB911

[jbrinkley]

can someone confirm they're MG and not weldable?

[RickM]

They are a Mag alloy and are weldable by a competent welder.

[Porschekid962]

If the cracks are not too bad, hopefully isolated to a small area than it can most likely be welded without problem. Not sure if you know but magnesium is welded with a process called heliarc welding wherein helium is substituted for oxygen, at lease I believe thats how it works.

Bummer to have that happen, hopefully you can have it fixed up without need to look around for a replacement. You could always call up local shops or dismantlers to see what they have to say.

[id911T]

Mag alloys can in fact be welded using a TIG welder. Done it before. Straight argon or helium can be used for shielding gas. It's best to weld larger areas in a gas tent, but small sections can be welded in standard atmo.

[75Carrera]

P-kid962
Thanks. I'm not having much luck locating a used replacement. I did find a TIG welder who will weld it but my wrench is concerned about how it will effect the shape and strength. Others seem to feel welding is the easy fix. I'm still looking...

[cicsprog]

Unless Pelican does not have one, check Vertex in Miami. I believe they make a reproduction - $389.00. Ouch!

Jason
88 911 Cab

[kqw]

Post a pic....

I got mine from TREMOTORSPORT in N. Hollywood. Dave B. has a few on his shelf.

[75Carrera]

Thanks Joesph!

I talked to Dave at TRE. He suggested an easy (cheap) fix would be to get an earlier fan housing and take it to machine shop to have it turned on a lathe. The alt. ring can be machined to work he told me. This would be a great fix I think. The earlier housing are far more available and the machine work shouldn't cost that much... Thanks again, good contact and a probable solution.

[Thunderbone]

Once unheard of, cracked fan housings are appearing as 3.2 Carerra's go in for engine work. Bruce Anderson covered this topic in a recent issue of Excellence. I ended up getting the replacement part from Vertex. I paid $275. It is the same casting, only in aluminum, so it is somewhat heavier. One the webs on my original ('87) fan housing was cracked from front to back. This was noticed by the powder coater who was painting the housing in my quest to bring a little bling to my bigger bang: the 3.2 is now a twin plugged 3.4.

[75Carrera]

Yea, mine was splitting in three or four places. The delivered Vertex unit will run $350 today! If this machining of a 2.7 housing will work, those are fairly common. I was surprised to hear (time after time from dismantalers, dealers and several top wrenchs) that the 3.2 housing were highly sought after and becoming rare. I found one for $300 but thought for another 50 the alum. unit is stronger and far less likely to fail than any used part with an established history of failing. There is no straight line to Porsche health! But we do it cause we love em...

[David]

I bought one from Vertex. It's not as smooth or light as an OE one, but I won't have to worry about cracks. I'd be worried about an even older one. It's probably more likely to be cracked or about to crack. I polished (sort of) it since the casting was kind of rough.

I got another aluminum one from another vendor but it looked even worse than the Vertex one so I sent it back.

If you want to find a used one, I recommend Partsheaven or DC.

[75Carrera]

Dave,

Aren't the older ones alum? I'm not sure. I agree on the alum. vs a used one.

[David]

I believe they're all magnesium.