I have a vw 1300 beetle of 1970. Can I use a electric fan motor for cooling?

Question

I am hoping to replace the generator with a present time alternator that is not equiped with an engine cooling fan. I have decided to replace the belt driven cooling fan fitted to the back of the original generator with an electricaly driven cooling fan. This is an air cool engine

Answer 1

Sounds like an awful lot of modification just to change the generator to an alternator. The belt drive fan is a pretty efficient design, I am wondering why you want to change it? I guess if you wanted to reduce the drag on the engine by getting rid of the fan, it would be one thing. I guess you could modify the fan to run on an electric motor. I wouldbe really careful to do your homework, though. The belt drive fan fluctuates with the engine speed, so it gives off a higher velocity of air at higher speeds, thus cooling better than if the engine were idling, and not putting off as much heat. By putting a constant speed fan on there, you could thoretically cool it too much at low speeds, and not cool it enough at higher speeds possibly damaging the engine.

Good luck,

Stevo.

After re-reading this question, I think I see that you aren't talking about the engine cooling fan but rather the generator itself, right? As stated, the question is a little confusing. If you are talking about the fan at the back of the generator, you need not worry aboiut cooling the new alternator your are contemplating installing. They usually have what they need to keep them cool built right in. The fact remains however that ther won't be as much air rushing past it as in a conventionally mounted engine with air coming in through the radiator, and around the engine. It shouldn't be too much of a problem though. If it is a big concern to you, simply add an electric fan and point it at the alternator. You can hook it up to power on as soon as the key is turned, or get a bit more industrious, and run the power through a thermostat of some kind, that turns the fan on at a certain temperature.

Good luck!

Stevo.

Answer 2

Sure... but you will spend a lot of money and a lot of work and you will end up with exactly what you have now... an air cooled engine.

so the big question is why?

Considering all the work you are going to do, why not just swap the smaller 1300 engine for a larger and easily obtainable 1600 or 1700. Those have alternators and the cooling system is just fine.

If you want to keep it cooler, consider investing your resources in a supplemental oil cooler instead.

.

Answer 3

mmm you can just go and buy a 12volt one out of a late model transporter.
And your motor is oil cooled not air cooled ok so dont change it cause your electric fan is not up to it and you willhave to get anew motor if you do cause it will over heat

Answer 4

If you don't want to leave it original, please sell it to a serious collector and go buy something you are more happy with, and don't destroy a vanishing species.

Answer 5

it can be done