Mike C.

One of my fans is starting to make bad bearing noises (220K miles though). I figured it might be worth upgrading to the 6 blade fans. Has anyone done this already? I'm not sure that the connector is the same and I don't want to splice in a new connector. Any info appreciated and if anyone has a pair of these to sell, please let me know.

Charlotte944

6 bladed fans will fit, but you need to be careful with the passenger side fan. If you do nat watch what you are doing the passenger side fan will cut the lower radiator hose.

If you only need to change one fan, then put a 3-blade in the passenger side, and a 6 blade in the driver side.

jpk

The fans are pretty much interchangable. The only issue is the newer connector comes out at a 90 degree angle compared to the old one. The connector is the same otherwise. I was running a 6 blade on the driver's side for a while, then just last weekend switched the other old 3 blade over.
You can fold the old connecter back over and zip tie it to the support arms of the fan mounts to keep it and the wires out of the way.
The only other issue I had was the new fan on the pass. side was hitting the lower rad hose (from the thermostat housing). I couldn't figgure out how to hold the hose back, so I nipped off about 6-7 mm from the tip of each blade using a pair of side cuts.
With both 6 blade fans in, it's much quieter now. I also changed the fan switch over to a lower temp one (75 deg C vs 85) I'd highly recommend doing that also. The temp gagae doesn't go past half way now, even in traffic.

eohrnberger

Wouldn't that cause the fan blades and motor to vibrate? Wouldn't this unbalance the fan blades?

dmjames

How'd you make that temperature change, out of curiosity?

Sam I am

6 blades is not always better than 3. You need to look at the flowrate for each fan at a given speed, you want the one with the higher number. I haven't looked at the difference between the stock one and the 6 blade, but I would check into that before I replaced them.

Sam I am

Orbix, You can by a Temp switch for the fans that activates at lower water temps. I believe there are three different ranges and I am pretty sure Pelican carries all of them.

KuHL 951

I converted the twin 3-blade set-up on the 83 almost 3 years ago. I went with a complete turbo fan set-up from an 86. The fans and shroud cost $40 and took less than an hour to install. I just swapped the whole thing. I eventually bought the later style radiator hose that clears the passenger side fan better but still ran the old hose with it pulled back with a hose clamp for 2 years with no issues. The electrical connectors just got Ty-Rapped against the fan support since they stuck out further.

I feel it's the best cooling upgrade for the early cars out there. The car does not temp cycle as much and the noise is barely noticeable now compared to the old 3-blade leafblowers. Personally I don't recommend a lower temp fan switc; I tried one with the new fans and it made them cycle too often without any appreciable reduction in operating temps. The 6-blade fans move much more air the the 3-blade models.

Go for it

Mike C.

Thanks for the tips guys. Steve, was there any obvious differences in the fan shrouds?

KuHL 951

I believe the early fan shroud was shallower making the 6-blade fans stick out more towards the rear if you swap the fans only. It's much easier I think to replace the whole set-up.

SoCal Driver

Get a new replacement radiator to water pump hose. These have been revised-formed different to clear the later six bladed fans. The three bladed fans are not made any more so you will get a six blade when ordering new. The older harness will fit the fan connectors. Just be sure of your wire polarity so that the fans turn the proper way. Really worth the soldering and shrink tubing to splice in the later harness.

FRporscheman

I like the noise from the 3-blade fans. It makes the car sound like it's activated its hover drive or something. My friends used to tell me they sound like jet engines but I think that was a stretch.

When my passenger side fan broke, my parts guy sold me a 6-blade off of a turbo. Same connection, but I noticed the blades were slightly rubbing against the coolant hose, so I twisted the hose away a little bit and tightened the clamp. It's been going fine for almost a year. A better hose (which clears the fan) would be best.

Mike C.

Sounds like I should get the shroud and a post-85 radiator hose. Thanks again.

Eyal 951

I have a pair of fans from a 951 to sell if you want them.

bearone

going to 6's will be one of the best/cheap/easy upgrades you can do.
i did it on ramps and changed out the thermal switch 1st.

it turns out there was a small crack below the switch so the 2nd time i did the rad and fans w/shroud.

get the fans/shroud together if you can.

87951