Funny, I was just about to update an old thread with recent info.
http://forums.procooling.com/vbb/sho...&threadid=7400
I picked up the blower at a used auto parts shop, for $20 US (It would have been cheaper had I payed cash: you figure it out
).
The thing is... you'll have to be careful with these automotive blowers, and keep an eye on them. Although they're designed to run for many, many years, under the worst of conditions, here's what I found inside mine:
Yep, nasty looking dust!
Probably not much to worry about, but some WD-40 sure helped a lot!
That particular blower wheel is 147 mm max diameter, so it's not an easy fit, inside a case (no external solution for me!). Wheel height is about 55 mm.
Case clearance: 180 mm...
If you can get your hands on one, a motorized impeller would be an easier fit, but I haven't found one for less than $75 US.