Black fan vs. red/orange fan (fan clutch)

[Sharky001]

Could anyone tell me the difference between the two. I've seen both on 6's and am wondering is the orange one an upgraded part? Just wondering. Read posts today about exploding fans and wanted to know if there was a difference or reason to go with one or the other.

Thanks,
Danny

[tschultz]

Red/orange is generally earlier engines like M90/ M30B32/M88-- production before about '84

[hornhospital]

Red/orange is generally earlier engines like M90/ M30B32/M88-- production before about '84

That ^^^
My 633 is production date 12/83, and has the red fan.

I don't think either color is more prone to cracking that the other.

[Sharky001]

Awesome. Thanks for clearing that up guys!

Danny

[dwcains]

I'd avoid the super-cheap parts you see listed on eBay, and I also think you;d be hard-pressed to find a new red fan even if they were better. When I was researching which fan was "correct" for my car, it seems the red fans were replaced by the black sometime in '85 or '86.

[tschultz]

No '85 model I have seen has had the red fan.

[dwcains]

I'm keeping the red fan, on a technicality, as my car's production date is 10/84. Many of the later M635's seem to have a red fan, too.

[GRNSHRK]

Dean, did you paint your fan or is it really that "red"

I "think" my '80 came with a red fan but has since been replaced with a black fan as part of a Metric Mechanic maximum cooling package from back in the day when they were selling that kinda stuff

[dwcains]

viewtopic.php?t=26368

Caught, red-handed.

[GRNSHRK]

Hah

Red handed, literally

It does look better than just the red plastic, which tends to fade over time

[dwcains]

The satin top coat makes it look very original. I have another red fan that came in the spares when I bought the car, but it had some chips at the end of its blades, so I deemed it unreliable.