Fan Doesn't Fit with New Engine

[fiasco]

Ok, the new engine is in, and now that the radiator leak is fixed, I'm putting the radiator and fan back in. Problem is, with the new engine, the fan doesn't fit.

Here's what it looked like with the old engine. Note space between fan housing and timing shield.


Here's what it looks like now. The fan bracket hits the alternator belt and the crankshaft pulley.






So what do I do now? Can I buy a fan at Kragen and fix this quickly, or am I still carless until I can find a replacement OEM fan that will fit in the gap?

-- se

[lanciahf]

When Fiat moved the alternator to the drivers side they moved the fan to the passenger side of the radiator. That is why on 2000 spiders the fan look like such an afterthought.

Take your radiator to a radiator place and have them weld mounting tabs so you can mount your fan on the passenger side.

Or you can buy a universal fan as you suggested.

[fiasco]

I already have mounting tabs on both sides, and it won't fit either way.

-- se

[manoa matt]

Go to the hardware store and buy a length of aluminum bar about 1/8" think and 1/2" to 3/4" wide and 3 feet long. Attach a length of bar vertically to each side of the radiatior mount tabs using the existing mounting holes and bolts. The one side will be easy because it has two mounting holes. On the other side you will have to drill a hole in the lower tab. Then you can mount the fan housing to those bars wherever it will fit.

[lanciahf]

Take the radiator out, lay it flat, Take the fan off and flip it around, You will see where the new tabs need to go.

Matt has a good idea.

[fiasco]

What I meant was that the radiator has mounting tabs on both sides. I can mount the fan as it was, with the fan mostly on the driver side and the long bracket sticking out toward the passenger side, or with the fan mostly on the passenger side and the long bracket sticking out toward the driver side. Either way the fan assembly will not fit between the radiator and the crankshaft pulley.

-- se

[Gyuri69]

I just went out and checked mine..... the fan is on the pas. side and I think your problem may be that the long end that needs to be on the drivers side you have to make sure that it is srewed to the top hole, if it lines up with the lower hole then they not only changed the fan to the other side but they changed the fab. of the housing as well.

If this is the case, then you need a new fan....and if so write me because I'm changing out my rad and fan to an aftermarket on and you can have mine. P.S mine looks new, it's in unreal shape

[fiasco]

I have 2 3/4" clearance between the radiator and the crankshaft pulley. The Fiat fan is 3 3/4" deep, and will not fit no matter which way I turn it, move it, wiggle it, shift it, alter it, or mangle it.

So, I think I'm going with an aftermarket fan. Any recommendations for a good one?

Mark - am I going to have smog issues if I switch to an aftermarket fan?

-- se

[ICF]

An aftermarket fan is much quieter, much lighter and moves much more air. Also, the blades don't rub the radiator fins as it sometimes will with the stock fan.

10" Hayden fan will work about right. I have one in my show car.

-Jerry Lee Phillips
Vick AutoSports

[So Cal Mark]

Steve
no emission issues with an aftermarket fan, and I have them at a fraction of the price the parts stores charge. A stock fan should fit though. Call me

[pope]

It looks like your crankshaft pulley has three v-grooves. That is what is extending it outwards. I think you only need two. I didnt know that the Spider ever used three belts. Is the last one bolted on? Can it be removed? Maybe you can swap it with the one from your old engine.

UPDATE: I checked my pulley and there is three v-belt grooves. Never noticed it before.

[rlux4]

Good call Pope. Steve, the guys were commenting on your crank shaft pulley having the extra groove in front, wondering if it was for A/C. It's probably just a matter of a regular pulley without the extra groove.
Ron

[kilrwail]

I haven't re-read all of the threads dealing with this project, but I suspect your fan is not mounted high enough and I don't know why. On my stock 1978 1.8 L, the fan is on the passenger side and the top of the shroud is at the same level as the top of the radiator. Yours appears to be a couple of inches lower than the rad, so it won't fit. The smallest clearance I have is between the fan motor and the water pump pulley, at about 1/2". You may need new brackets on the rad, or an adapter as someone suggested. Here's mine:

[pope]

I see what happened. Your old engine had the alternator on the passenger side. Your new engine has the alternator on the drivers side, so the v-belt goes across the engine the previous one did not. I believe that the alternator was put on the drivers side in 1979. Dont know how many groves the old crank pulley on your old engine had, but the newer ones have three , which puts it in line with the location of the old fan alignment. Newer fans were raised and reversed and had a different fan bracket. The easiest solution is to get a slimline fan for the radiator, unless you want to reverse the alternator and get a smaller crank pulley. Also my '80 fan bracket is different than your, the length of the support posts are longer.

Classic case of using parts from different years and get them to align. Newer style engine setup and older style radiator and fan support.

[fiasco]

Peter - If I mount mine where yours is it hits the water pump pulley. There is 3 1/2" clearance between the radiator and the water pump pulley, and the fan is 3 3/4" deep.

Mark - I will call you at some point today. Not sure when because I have to take my other car to the insurance adjuster - someone hit it in the parking lot yesterday and bent back the drivers door.

-- se