EMPI Late Cooling Fan 36.9mm — Doghouse Shroud | 1971–1979 VW Beetle, Super Beetle, Ghia, Bus & Thing (98-2004-B)

EMPI Late Cooling Fan — The Wide Doghouse Fan for 1971-and-Later Air-Cooled VW

The cooling fan is one of the most important — and most overlooked — components on an air-cooled Volkswagen engine. Bent or cracked fins, a worn hub, or a fan that has gone out of round will drive cylinder head temperatures up and can take the engine with it. This is EMPI's stock-style replacement for the late, wide fan used behind 1971-and-later doghouse shrouds.

The late factory fan is wider than the early version and moves noticeably more air. It is compatible with any EMPI fan housing, stock Type 1 and Type 2 doghouse shrouds, EMPI 36HP-style shrouds and Ram-Air shrouds — which makes it the default fan for most street rebuilds and buggy motors built around a modern aftermarket shroud. It replaces VW part 113-119-031B / EMPI alternate 7X0-119-031.

Vehicle Fitment

• 1971–1977 VW Beetle (Standard)
• 1971–1979 VW Super Beetle
• 1971–1974 VW Karmann Ghia
• 1971 VW Bus / Type 2 (1600cc upright engine — the last year the Bus used the upright Type 1 engine)
• 1973–1974 VW Thing / Type 181
• Any air-cooled upright engine running a 1971-and-later stock doghouse shroud, an EMPI 36HP-style shroud, or a Ram-Air shroud

Late / wide style only. This fan will not fit a pre-1971 narrow non-doghouse shroud — for those engines use the early fan, EMPI 98-2003-B. Type 3 pancake engines use a different fan entirely and are not covered by this listing.

Key Features

• Correct late doghouse profile: 34.7mm inner fan width, 36.9mm outer fan width — the part the trade calls the "35mm", "36mm" or "37mm" fan.
• Wider than the early fan, so it moves more air through the shroud.
• Pressed steel construction with a corrosion-resistant finish.
• Fits stock Type 1 and Type 2 doghouse shrouds, EMPI fan housings, 36HP-style shrouds and Ram-Air shrouds.
• Direct bolt-in replacement — no shroud modification required.
• Sold each, without hardware.

Technical Specifications

What Else You May Need

Hardware is not supplied with this fan. Most installs also need the fan hub hardware kit (EMPI 00-8898-0, also cataloged as 111-198-123A), which carries the hub, spring washer, shims and screws. Fan-to-hub shims are used to set blade clearance inside the shroud.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know whether I need the early or the late fan?
Look at the shroud. A doghouse shroud — 1971 and later, with the oil cooler in its own cast box on the side — takes this wide fan. An early shroud with the oil cooler inside the housing takes the narrow EMPI 98-2003-B.

My Bus is a 1973 — will this fit?
Not on the original engine. 1971 was the last year the Bus used the upright Type 1 engine; 1972-and-later Buses moved to the Type 4 pancake engine, which uses a different cooling system entirely.

Is this the welded race fan?
No. This is the stock-style replacement. The welded, statically balanced version for high-RPM engines is EMPI 98-2006-B (bulk) or 98-2006-0 (boxed).

Will it work with my aftermarket shroud?
Yes — EMPI states it is compatible with any EMPI fan housing, all EMPI 36HP-style shrouds, and Ram-Air shrouds, alongside 1971-and-later stock doghouse shrouds.

Is hardware included?
No — the fan is sold without hardware. Hub kits and shims are separate parts.

Is this genuine EMPI?
Yes. Washburn's Metal is an authorized EMPI dealer, so this is a new genuine EMPI part.

⚠️ Prop 65 Warning

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. All parts legal for use on pre-pollution controlled vehicles only.