Speedster fan set up

od - You've got me wondering. Instead of having the tin or f-glass surrounding the engine to block engine heat what would the effet be if it was removed and a fan like this was mounted under the hood under the grill. The volumn of air it produces would blow past the motor effectivly discharging the hot motor air below while the VW fan would pull what it needed from the cool air coming in topside of the motor.
Also, the cool air coming in would also assist in cooling the motor as it blows past also exacuating the hot air. Hmmmm!
One thought! The optional fan thermostats have a small probe that is pushed inbetween the rediator fins, water temp and turns it on.
I'm wondering where said thermostate probe would be attached on an air cooled motor. Top of the hotest cylinder maby?

As to that particular fan I coulden't find a brand name anywhere. I have only used Flex-O-Lite as I believe them to be the best. Compair $$$$ at your local Advance Auto Parts or equivilent.
Also, When the fuse block shorted and melted on the 502 crate motor I contacted Flex-o-lite and a new improved fuse block arrived UPS "Next Day Air", no charge.
Can't beat service like that.
I'm sure others here will have good thoughts and openions pro and con.
Mike

I've seen at least one Speedster replica (in Arizona) that had a set up such as the one you describe. The fiberglass rainguard under the decklid grille was removed and an electric fan was mounted in its place. It will certainly work favorably in supplying a larger volume of cool fresh air into the engine compartment for cooling and the carbs but you still need to have all your engine surrounding tin in place because you need to isolate the top of the engine from the bottom. If you don't you'll be recirculating hot air.

Recardo - Well, my point was, with the tin surrounding the motor removed and the fan installed where the rain guard is would that not push fresh air down through and past the motor and at the same time push the heated air down and out.
I don't see how hot engine air could rise up against the downward force of the cool air blowing downward past the motor.. Hmmm

It doesn't work like that. Air,water, elctricity (and me) take the path of least resistance. Tin (Shrouding)is placed closely to the item
you want cooled (Cylinder fins). This "forces" the air to go between the fins and gather more heat. Without the "direction" air would blow through the widest gaps and not cool evenly.

I agree with Bruce; otherwise the VW engineers wouldn't have spent a single dime on useless parts, right? Your best bet would be to keep the engine tin and use your proposed fan set up which will improve your fresh air flow into the compartment. That way you'll have the best of both worlds and the engine would work marvelously.

I got a 2in deep, 9in pusher fan, but my intention was to add a dash switch, so whenever I am sitting in traffic, or an awfully hot day I could throw the switch and keep fresh air (vapor lock) flowing into the carbs.

That's a good idea too.

Hmmmm Haden't thought of it in that way. Makes sense. There's a logical answer to everything if you can just figure out the right question to ask
So, I wonder how much the free flow of air would be reduced by mounting and an aux fan where the rain guard is?
I have seen a Speedster with a set of additional louvers cut in on either side of the existing OEM grill. I wondered about that!

I would really love to find a dual grill deck lid. did they make one for a CMC? Would another builder deck lid fit? anyone have any leads?

Actually removing the rain guard will definitely increase the fresh air intake but will leave part of your engine exposed to the elements. With regards to the louvered decklids those started with the 356 Carrera GT's precisely to increase the fresh air intake to the 4 cam engines. If I'm not mistaken Kirk at Vintage Speedsters (and probably John Steele at JPS) sells those types of decklids in fiberglass. Depending on your car make you might need to tweak them to fit.