[Tchernobyl]

Hi Everyone,
One last Autumn drive yesterday. At some point I started to hear a whining noise but since it seemed to disappear shortly after and since I had also put for the first time the heating + fan on, I did not find it too alarming.
Once in the garage, I noticed though that the fan shroud was not in place and that the fan had probably turned against the top of the shroud (for about 30 km / 18 miles).
The radiator has been reconditioned 2 weeks ago and I guess the shroud has not been properly reattached or started to show its age, having been removed / reattached.


(sorry for blurry pic - the shroud was not that low, it is my attempts at reattaching it which caused it to sit so low)

I don't see much damage but reattaching the shroud seem a bit challenging (I'll take a closer look in a less dark garage hopefully later).

I am also considering changing it for a new part but I understand the fan has to be removed also? Is this difficult or could a newbie like me do it?
The new part seems a bit different though (attachments)
The fan seems OK even though the edges seems to be slightly uneven.

What would you advise?

 

[ITALCAROZ]

be careful, there are 2 replacement shrouds on the market, one is not as deep as the old one. to get an idea Classic Alfa carry both. i'd be concerned about what happened when the radiator was flushed, there seems to be a large chunk missing from your shroud.

 

[Tchernobyl]

Thanks. Here's what it looked like when I bought the Spider a month ago. Then the radiator was rebuilt.

 

[spiderserie4]

I was going to say check your engine mounts, but you have just had those changed
(I wonder if the mechanic who replaced those for you, lifted the engine rather too much and broke the fan shroud....uhmm)

looks like the mounting hole on the shroud is bust....I'd get a new one, you do not want that contacting the fan at 70mph, as when bits break off the fan, they get shot up and can often dent the underside of the hood/bonnet and cause all sorts of damage.

 

[andylarry]

@Tchernobyl , to answer one of your questions, replacing the shroud is somewhat easy, if you have the correct hand tools and a bit of patience. And yes, the fan must be removed. The shroud is slotted for adjustment. Paint a bit of Never Seize on the shroud studs (attached to the radiator), for the next guy!

 

[Tchernobyl]

Quick update with better pics: yes, I confirm the mounting holes are gone.
It looks like the fan has filed the shroud... and even though it "looks" fine, I wonder how many millimetres are gone from the blades...


So I guess better to replace the fan itself as well...
So here I'm again facing a dilemma: trying to do it myself, the mechanically challenged guy, or driving the less-than-2km drive to the garage to get it properly done...

I guess those are the parts needed?

 

[Jim G]

Your car should have the deeper shroud.

The reason being you don't have the spacer between the waterpump and the fan blade that moves the fan closer to the radiator. If you had the spacer you would use the less deep one.

You will notice in your picture of what it looked looked like before. That the blade tips were only half way under the shroud. They should be all the way under.

The pulley spacer was used on cars that had more then one belt on them to move the fan forward so it would not hit the second belt. Like A/C or here in the U.S. air pumps for emissions.

Links showing the difference of the 2 shrouds.

WA041 PLASTIC RADIATOR COWL / SHROUD - 1968 ON

Buy any part for your Alfa Romeo classic car online. We are the largest supplier for classic Alfa Romeo car parts in the UK. We ship worldwide every day.

classicalfa.com

WA041/1 PLASTIC RADIATOR COWL / SHROUD DEEP- 1968 ON

Buy any part for your Alfa Romeo classic car online. We are the largest supplier for classic Alfa Romeo car parts in the UK. We ship worldwide every day.

classicalfa.com

 

[Tchernobyl]

Thanks, but I think on the 1st pic, there's indeed a chunk missing so it looks like the fan is not fully covered (but it was I guess when the cowl was new and it still is in the lower section).
Also confused because most European shops seems to have only one ref. for post 83, EU-specs, S3:
E.g.: Alfa Romeo ALFA SPIDER (105/115) RADIATOR RADIATOR 1966-89



And the deeper one seems to be for Spiders up to 1982 (mine is an 1986): https://shop.alfa-oldtimer.ch/acces...ausfuhrung-7-5-cm-bj-1968-82-mech-lufter.html

Confused...

 

[joelynbeach]

Your car should have the deeper shroud.

The reason being you don't have the spacer between the waterpump and the fan blade that moves the fan closer to the radiator. If you had the spacer you would use the less deep one.

You will notice in your picture of what it looked looked like before. That the blade tips were only half way under the shroud. They should be all the way under.

The pulley spacer was used on cars that had more then one belt on them to move the fan forward so it would not hit the second belt. Like A/C or here in the U.S. air pumps for emissions.

Links showing the difference of the 2 shrouds.

WA041 PLASTIC RADIATOR COWL / SHROUD - 1968 ON

Buy any part for your Alfa Romeo classic car online. We are the largest supplier for classic Alfa Romeo car parts in the UK. We ship worldwide every day.

classicalfa.com

WA041/1 PLASTIC RADIATOR COWL / SHROUD DEEP- 1968 ON

Buy any part for your Alfa Romeo classic car online. We are the largest supplier for classic Alfa Romeo car parts in the UK. We ship worldwide every day.

classicalfa.com

Interesting thread, I am now going to inspect the shroud on my 1986 Veloce due to some suspicions around the radiator cap. Didn't look at the shroud. My Sunday morning Alfa education continues.
Thanks,
Joe

 

[Jim G]

Thanks, but I think on the 1st pic, there's indeed a chunk missing so it looks like the fan is not fully covered (but it was I guess when the cowl was new and it still is in the lower section).
Also confused because most European shops seems to have only one ref. for post 83, EU-specs, S3:
E.g.: Alfa Romeo ALFA SPIDER (105/115) RADIATOR RADIATOR 1966-89



And the deeper one seems to be for Spiders up to 1982 (mine is an 1986): https://shop.alfa-oldtimer.ch/acces...ausfuhrung-7-5-cm-bj-1968-82-mech-lufter.html

Confused...

I was using your 3rd picture posted.

Also the shallow fan shroud might be correct for your car. But then you might be missing the spacer for the fan blade.

When its all together the blade tips should be covered by the shroud.

The only real way to know whats correct is to find a factory parts book for your model.

 

[spiderserie4]

OKP has many parts books online.....
their 86 parts book lists 2 numbers......60518756 followed by a big 'O' (2.0 injection)

and 60518407 (I guess for the carb models)

 

[Tchernobyl]

@spiderserie4 - thanks, this part #60518407 (for carb versions) looks like the one I was about to order in CH. (I'll make sure to bookmark OKP!)
@Jim G the spacer seems inexpensive so I guess I'll order it anyway - thanks

 

[yvesmontreal]

Do replace the fan itself also. They become brittle with age; they do a lot of damage if a blade flies off at speed (I've heard of a cracked battery and a busted rad core) but can be lethal if it does while somebody is using a timing light to adjust the distributor: his neck will be on the trajectory.

Assembly procedure is: slip the shroud on the water pump; install fan; slide shroud in place and attach to the rad.

 

[Tchernobyl]

thanks @yvesmontreal - yes that's the plan as I think the fan did suffer in the process too

 

[ARwrench]

@Jim G the spacer seems inexpensive so I guess I'll order it anyway - thanks

View attachment 1652959

That's not the spacer Jim G is talking about ...that's just the washer between bolts and fan.

 

[Jim G]

That's not the spacer Jim G is talking about ...that's just the washer between bolts and fan.

Hes correct.

Thats not the spacer. The spacer is aluminum and about an inch to an inch and half thick. Sometimes they go missing when the water pump is change out.

 

[Jim G]

2 liters had the 20 mm one.

For Sale - Fan spacers-

Two sizes, one 16mm and one 20mm with the thick washer that holds on the fan blade. $20.00 each domestic postage add $8.30 for small flat rate box. Respond through [email protected]

www.alfabb.com

 

[Jim G]

OKP has many parts books online.....
their 86 parts book lists 2 numbers......60518756 followed by a big 'O' (2.0 injection)

and 60518407 (I guess for the carb models)

View attachment 1652949

You might want to check the parts page showing the fan blade.

 

[spiderserie4]

You might want to check the parts page showing the fan blade.

good idea, I should have included that!

It is a bit confusing to interpret, but here it is, if it helps:

 

[ITALCAROZ]

be careful of the thinner shroud, they are not really correct.