Is a 16 blade VW fan the same as a 16 blade 356 fan ?

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Jim Stephenson
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Is a 16 blade VW fan the same as a 16 blade 356 fan ?

#1 Post by Jim Stephenson »

Just wondering if an early 16 blade VW 36HP cooling fan is the same as a 16 blade 356A cooling fan ?

Both look like a carbon copies in pictures, but I would like to know for sure.

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Vic Skirmants
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Re: Is a 16 blade VW fan the same as a 16 blade 356 fan ?

#2 Post by Vic Skirmants »

Pretty sure Porsche used the VW fan.

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David Jones
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Re: Is a 16 blade VW fan the same as a 16 blade 356 fan ?

#3 Post by David Jones »

The 16 blade fan is interchangeable with the VW 16 blade fan. To all intents and purposes it is the same. When it comes to the 28 blade fan you have to be careful. The early VW 28 blade fans will work but the later ones and especially those used with the dog house coolers will not work. Vintage Formula Vee racers like to use the 16 blade fans because of the reduction in hp imposed by the 28 blade fan.
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Alan Winer
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Re: Is a 16 blade VW fan the same as a 16 blade 356 fan ?

#4 Post by Alan Winer »

David Jones wrote:Vintage Formula Vee racers like to use the 16 blade fans because of the reduction in hp imposed by the 28 blade fan.
What extent of horsepower reduction would result from using the 28 blade fan as opposed to the 16 blade fan?
Alan

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Martin Benade
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Re: Is a 16 blade VW fan the same as a 16 blade 356 fan ?

#5 Post by Martin Benade »

Not sure how much but in FV even the tiniest increase is worthwhile.
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Chuck Allard
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Re: Is a 16 blade VW fan the same as a 16 blade 356 fan ?

#6 Post by Chuck Allard »

In an E Production 356 we used to cut out all but 4 blades on the fan and use ram air from the front headlight bucket to keep the engine cool. In addition, we gutted the generator and used a small crank pulley to reduce the revs of the fan. I'm not sure how much parasitic losses were reduced but with a front oil cooler, the engines never got too hot.

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Re: Is a 16 blade VW fan the same as a 16 blade 356 fan ?

#7 Post by Mike DeJonge »

typically 1 lb = 1 horsepower
so if you have a fan which is 4 lbs heavier you will lose 4 hp. not sure how much more the 28 blade fan weights but you certainly can notice the difference in weight when you handle them
also with the 28 blade fan, cavitation occurs, you will not blow any extra air.
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