What to do?? 3.2 fan and Housing problems

jjemg · 01-07-2013, 07:36 PM

I have been in search for a cooling fan for my car without any success. As it seems many have had problem with these fans and housings before and locating a good used one is tough! I have been reading about Vertex's fan and for the obscene amount of money for that part I would think it would be made a little nicer.
Not trying to just complain. Really interested in other thoughts on how to address this problem and where to locate a good used one .

A horse with no name · A horse with no name's Garage

Hi..They are hard to come by for if the car has been rear ended they are usually toast but try someone like this... Los Angeles Dismantler for Porsche 911, Boxster, Cayman & Cayenne - Home

Most wreckers will put out a 'search' for you - Try it and see what happens- I would think that if one could be bothered, you could buy a complete wreck for a couple of thousand and part it out and you would get your money back but that is not to much fun unless you need other parts off of it.

It's worth a try to check the states above you where Hurricane Sandy hit.

quote: "The number of vehicles damaged by the storm is not known, but estimates range from 250,000"

Manheim and ADESA are huge national auctioneers

Video of auto damage- Sandy
https://www.nicb.org/theft_and_fraud_awareness/multimedia/video_and_audio

Cheers

jjemg · 01-08-2013, 03:58 AM

That is a great idea to call north east areas! I knew someone could get the ball rolling. I called LA dismantlers and they gave me no hope for finding a good used one. Thats what sent me on the vertex searches. I will hunt up north.
Thanks
Jimmy

kodioneill · kodioneill's Garage

Have you tried the PP classified?

jjemg · 01-08-2013, 07:02 AM

Got one up right now.. hopefully I will find one.

Chuck.H · Chuck.H's Garage

I had a small bubble in my fan housing, which went me down the Vertex threads... It seems from what I read the first gen was not so good, but the newer ones seemed better cast/machined?

In the end I sanded down my bubble that was touching the fan (at WOT only) so I didnt' get a new housing...

Does anybody have a recent Vertex housing and can report the condition?

Chuck.H
'89 TurboLookTarga, 344k miles

David · David's Garage

Buy Vertex and be done with it.

jjemg · 01-08-2013, 12:25 PM

I am looking to the vertex parts. I would like to know if someone has bought one recently had any problems with the fit. 1k is a lot for a fan! Don't need another POS.

Tony Carrera · Tony Carrera's Garage

I broke down and bought the Vertex about a year ago for my 1987 3.2 after reading reviews from one end of the spectrum to the other, but I went in without modification and looks just fine! Very happy with it so far.

lpsalsaman · lpsalsaman's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Carrera

I broke down and bought the Vertex about a year ago for my 1987 3.2 after reading reviews from one end of the spectrum to the other, but I went in without modification and looks just fine! Very happy with it so far.

+1, my fan housing had 2 real bad cracks and another one in its way. I tried to have a reputable machine shop do the a spot weld but the calamine was to weak and old to handle the job. So I got a Vertex, did a few adjustments as mine was a bit rough from the box but nothing major, and it is in my 85 Targa for the past 4 years without any issues!

JAR0023 · JAR0023's Garage

Oklahoma Foreign shows to have one in stock. DC Automotive shows no stock but they do have a 'contact me' feature that will email you when one is in stock. I've bought from OK F and would use them again. Closer to us deep south folks than the west coast vendors. -J

jjemg · 01-09-2013, 08:40 AM

I called them they told me they did not have one. Also called LA dismantles and parts heaven.
I guess I need to save the big fan bucks!

TDIDog · TDIDog's Garage

I looked around for a while, even bought a used one, so called no cracks. Got it home, open the box, guess what, cracks. Seams everyone has different opinions of cracks! Shipped back, and got a Vertex housing, using my old fan. Had to aline the bolt holes slightly, otherwise, looks perfect. Not much more $ than some of the used housing prices. A bit heavier.

lpsalsaman · lpsalsaman's Garage

Here is the link to when I installed the Vertex, again I had to do some adjustments but the finished product was worth it. It is very hard to find a used Fan Housing that has no cracks. Also because this parts are made of calamine and are old, sometimes they can not withstand soldering as happened to mine. Anyway here is the link and good luck!

V****x housing adventure!

jjemg · 01-09-2013, 02:03 PM

Fan looks great! I will have go put my change in a bucket to save up....and the dollars too!

lpsalsaman · lpsalsaman's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjemg

Fan looks great! I will have go put my change in a bucket to save up....and the dollars too!

Thanks man! Yeah I guess the cost has gone up since I did mine, but I think as our cars get older, it will be harder to find parts that are in almost excellent condition. This is one part that will have cracks as time passes, so I want to have my ride for a while. I also saw post of someone P car that his fan housing supporting legs gave completely out and his alternator went every where within his trunk! He posted the pics and it look like someone took shots at his back lid and his engine compartment was crapped out! That did it for me right there! Anyway good luck and hope you can get yours fix soon!