crack in fan housing

mepstein · 07:02 PM

I bought a running 3.2 from a pelican member a couple months ago. I started taking apart the injection and fan to do some cleanup and powdercoating and found a pretty good size crack in the fan housing. I'll need a replacement. What's the going rate for this part? Thanks, mark

scottb · 01-11-2011, 07:39 PM

The housing is NLA. You might try some of the popular used parts places or check the Pelican classified ads.

There are aftermarket housings out there, but some have reported fitment problems with them.

Deadeye · Deadeye's Garage

Not an easy find. I've been on the hunt for awhile. If only one support is cracked, it will still work, but monitor for signs of the fan rubbing on the housing.

euro911sc · euro911sc's Garage

you may be able to have a competent welder 'spot' weld the crack in two places to hold it together. You may also be able to JB Weld it. Then if you paint it no one will know, but you... and the buyer once you tell them

mepstein · 01-12-2011, 07:20 AM

I might as well look into welding, I have nothing to loose. This is for my engine, I would never sell a defective part. If I can't get it fixed properly, it gets recycled.

CCM911 · 01-12-2011, 07:23 AM

I could have sworn I saw an ad in Pano for this very item. If I recall correctly, it was expensive, about four or five hundred bucks. We had a guy in the club go through this several years ago, and luckily, he was able to find a used replacement part.

I guess we will see you at Hershey then?

mepstein · 01-12-2011, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CCM911

I could have sworn I saw an ad in Pano for this very item. If I recall correctly, it was expensive, about four or five hundred bucks. We had a guy in the club go through this several years ago, and luckily, he was able to find a used replacement part.

I guess we will see you at Hershey then?

Yes, but I'm sure one of the recyclers or parts guys will have what I need. They made alot of these engines. Thanks, mark

Deadeye · Deadeye's Garage

"V*rt*x" sells an after market unit but it's closer to $600.00 Also, I was told it's magnesium and you don't want to try to weld that stuff.

sjf911 · sjf911's Garage

I spent a long time trying to find a usable OEM 3.2 housing and finally went with the V*****x aftermarket replacement. So far it has held up well. The finish is crude and the TDC mark is off by a few degrees but it works. I did have to grind off some of the lip over the crank pulley because of interference.

mepstein · 01-12-2011, 10:08 AM

I pulled off the alternator and found more cracks. I placed a WTB in the classifieds. Thanks for everyones help and let me know if you come across a spare housing. Mark

scottb · 01-12-2011, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mepstein

I pulled off the alternator and found more cracks. I placed a WTB in the classifieds. Thanks for everyones help and let me know if you come across a spare housing. Mark

If it were me I'd buy the unit from "V" and make the necessary modifications to make it fit properly. If you buy a used one, even if it looks OK now, you won't know if it's 100 miles from cracking. Metal fatigue is a b!tch. Ask me how I know...

My $.02.

aualexa2 · aualexa2's Garage

I agree with scottb. I just noticed a crack in my fan housing, and the Vtex replacement should be delivered today. Will let you know how it fits.

mepstein · 01-20-2011, 09:38 AM

aualexa2- How did the repro fan housing work out for you?

aualexa2 · aualexa2's Garage

I got it in the mail, but I haven't had time to install it yet. It is a little different from what people have described previously...there's no "Vtex" labelling on the outside of the housing. I should get some time this weekend to put it in. I'll let you know.

Alex

oneblueyedog · oneblueyedog's Garage

Find a new or low mileage housing.

I tried having it welded. I could never get a tight belt. The welder (aircraft parts welding company) said that the part was oil impregnated most likely but he gave it a go. He welded the crack, but the problem was flow of the whole part over 30 years that's why it split. After welding, I still could not get a tight belt. Bought a fan housing off a PP classifieds.

rusnak · 01-20-2011, 03:14 PM

You might try another brand of belt, or a 911SC belt.

scottb · 01-20-2011, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aualexa2

...there's no "Vtex" labelling on the outside of the housing.

Others in the past have discussed how they ground off the labeling. I wonder if the one you got is "Version 2.0," with fixes for the fitment issues that some people have reported.

Please let us know how the installation goes.

Laneco · 01-20-2011, 04:41 PM

+1 on this.

I've got two engines with cracked houses that we've repaired with JB weld. No question that JB works (we did good prep work) but in the back of my mind I'm always thinking about it eventually failing and then having no housings either in my parts stash or in Pelican parts stashes...

So I've really got an interest in the aftermarkert fan.

angela

Cattler · Cattler's Garage

I had some fan blade pinging and replaced the housing in August. Went with the same company mentioned in post 8. My mechanic installed it; no issues and it looks / works fine. Why take a chance on a catastrophic failure by ignoring it or trying a patch job? Why buy a used part and probably have the same problem down the road?

David

aualexa2 · aualexa2's Garage

Just a follow-up. I had my mechanic do the fan housing installation. It took quite a bit of work to fit the alternator into the housing. I pick the car up tomorrow and will find out just how much work it was $$$$$. I've contacted Vtex to express my concern that their advertising continues to say no modifications needed, yet so many people report problems. Will let everyone know what their reply is.