[MBZ] 9 Blade Fan

[P. D. Ferguson]

               Following up on my question of last week, I bought a 9 blade 
radiator fan from Rusty for my 1983 300TD after he advised that it should 
fit the stock visco clutch--it did.  My unscientific tests of its cooling 
effectiveness included chugging around town with the ac on, and going up my 
favorite Italian tune up hill, I90 climbing west out of the Mississippi 
River Valley.  Around town, the temp guage stayed slightly below 
90--previously, it would have been at 90; and on the Italian tune up, the 
temp maxed out slightly below 100(ac on) whereas it usually would slightly 
top 100 on that run.  So I think it is a little better for cooling 
effectiveness.
               I have not so good hearing(too much hunting) so the fan 
noise has never been an issue with me--I did compare operation of the clutch 
when cold and again at the top of the hill and could hear more air blowing 
when hot, so I think the clutch is still working as intended.
               Peter Ferguson
               1983 300TD