[NorthGaRob]

I finally got the parts I needed, including the missing fan shroud that goes on the back of the alternator. It's a 1983 911SC.

But now that I am trying to get it all back together I am having some real problems getting the fan to spin without grinding.

When I get the alternator, fan, and fan housing all together it spins fine. But then I hooked up the wires and as soon as I tighten down the nuts that hold the fan shroud on - which presumably tightens up the fan to the fan housing - I get some grinding.

A couple of thoughts...

If I put the 6 nuts on the fan housing (on to the 6 bolts of the alternator), I have to really finesse and adjust them just right to keep the fan from grinding, and when it is grinding I can see that it is the ends of the fan blades on one side. Tighten the opposite side and the fan will spin freely. I can get them on with some work in a balanced way that ends up letting the fan spin freely but it does take some work.

But, those nuts need to stay off until I get it in there and get that (new to my car) shroud on the back of the alternator. Once I tighten those nuts down, I am back to grinding.

There are a couple of cracks in the fan housing and I am wondering if those are making it uneven, causing my problems.

I am starting to wonder if that is the reason that the shroud was missing in the first place: perhaps a previous owner had the same problem and left that shroud off because of it.

I really need to get this car running ASAP, so any advice would be massively appreciated. Including opinions as to whether I can go ahead and leave that fan shroud off, which would allow me to more effectively get that fan spinning freely without messing that balance up by tightening up those nuts with the housing almost installed, as you have to do to get the wires connected and the shroud on.

Thanks very much in advance for sharing your opinions and expertise.

Rob
1983 911SC