Cutter67

I have a complete 1987 S4 donor car and just bought a 1985 S2 and I think the fan clutch is making a little noise in it. I was wondering do I have everything to do the swap or is there custom work that would have to be done besides a wiring issue. I am doing a timing belt and other things to the S2 and figured if I could upgrade it to the electric fans I would but don't want to get into some fab project.

Alan

Electrically the biggest issue is controlling the fans. If you wan't the multi-speed options - probably best to get an aftermarket dual fan controller and use that, retrofitting the stock control system is just too hard (and its not so reliable anyway). This will create a significantly higher current draw, even at idle when hot - you may find you need to upgrade the alternator to handle this...

Alan

Cutter67

Alan, thank you the electrical issue isn't a problem I understand that. just wondering on the fan delete if its clean and if the radiator mounting points are the same or is just the same rad. just trying to get a idea before I order the parts for the S2 and get a new clutch for the fan

danglerb

I wouldn't use S4 fans or controller, but there are several electric fan conversions that work.

OTOH the messy pulleyland of the stock clutch fan works fine for decades and doesn't put an extra 25 amp load on the electrical system.

Cutter67

very true

if it aint broke don't play with it. I just like the cleaner look and the better access to the front of the engine in the S4 if I didn't have the donor car I would even think about it and if I wasn't doing a timing belt it would even be farther from my mind. it just everything has aligned to do this swap if I wanted too

69gaugeman

Sell the S4 setup and spend less than half on one that basically fits. Then have a night drinking with the rest of the money. Do a search, there are several examples of which ones to use.

danglerb

WYAIT, While your already in there, its tempting to add optional work. Sometimes great, sometimes fubar as you sort out which of the too many changes at once is causing a problem. Messing with the fan is best done when you are certain the rest of the cooling system is working correctly.

James Bailey

Actually the S-4 set up is harder to work on as the shroud is much harder to remove and limits access to the cooler lines etc.. And as mentioned often has problems. You can add silicon to the early fan clutch to get it functioning correctly for a few dollars and some time...and you need the mount for all your throttle cables anyway on the 85-86.

Cutter67

After removing everything from the S4 i agree there is no avantage for the swap. It would not help in cleaning area up at all. So the parts will just go on the shelf

928NOOBIE

I worked with some great folks on eBay and they sold me a nice electric fan kit upgrade for my S3. I'm in the process of doing the conversion now and the product is very nice.

The product replaces both the clutch driven fan and the front pusher fan. The vendor advertises that their system uses no more current than the pusher which makes it nice if it's truly a wash.

I'm fighting exactly what James Bailey mentions am in the process of removing the fan pulley and fan clutch shaft/bolt because of the dependency the throttle cable setup the S3 has on the fan mount.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/110883891770

The item says S4 because it's a dual fan unit...they sell a larger, single fan unit as well..I think another Rennlister purchased that one for use in Texas or somewhere warm.

Nice product and good people to work with. I needed some additional pieces because I'll be remounting the fan system on a new radiator soon and once they verified my order info into my mailbox came 3 more sets of Radiator ties not a week later...