In what direction should the plastic, 8-blade, aftermarket replacement for the metallic OEM fan turn when installed?

You will have to find this part is a salvage yard as it's obselete new. or you can remove the fan altogether and install an aftermarket replacement fan complete. make sue it's blowing in the correct direction if you do as they'll blow either way if you put the wires on backwards.

Instructions

Things You'll Need
3/8-inch drive breaker bar
Metric sockets
Serpentine belt

1 Open the hood and inspect the flat surface on top of the plastic fan shroud for the belt routing diagram. Follow the diagram instructions to route the new belt.

2 Locate the serpentine belt self-adjusting tensioner on the front of the engine block. The tensioner has a pulley on the bottom of the tensioner arm, which the belt travels under. The tensioner can only be rotated from the bolt that secures the pulley to the tensioner arm.

3 Rotate the tensioner in a clockwise motion with a metric socket and the breaker bar to loosen the tension from the belt. Then, pull the belt off the top of the tensioner pulley. Release the tensioner pulley and pull the breaker bar off the pulley bolt.

4 Pull the belt out of the accessory pulleys. Then, slide the belt around each fan blade and out of the engine bay. Rotate each fan blade to the top side of the engine to get the belt around each fan blade.

5 Match both the new belt and the old belt together to make sure that the new belt is the correct size. Then, route the new belt around each fan blade and around the crankshaft pulley. The crankshaft pulley is the big pulley at the very bottom of the engine.

6 Follow the routing directions from the belt routing diagram to install the new belt around the other accessory pulleys. Once the belt has been routed around all of the pulleys, look over the belt and make sure that it is secure inside all of the pulleys.

7 Crank the 1998 Dodge Caravan and let the motor run for about 15 seconds. This will finish seating the ridges of the new belt into the grooves of each accessory pulley.

8 Shut the motor off and close the hood.

Visit your local library and take a look at their motor manual collection for general instructions for this procedure.

The fan has an arc to the individual blades. The inside of the arc goes to the rear, and of course the outside of the arc points to the front. Imagine if the blades were cut out of a very large piece of metal tube, the arc or curve of the blades would still be visible as you look at the individual fan blades. This is the arc I was speaking of. The part of the blade that would have been the inside part of the very large piece of metal tube, the blades cut from faces the rear, and the part of the blade that was the outside of the tube faces forward.

Hi, 5.2L Engines

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. The viscous fan drive and blade assembly is threaded into the water pump hub shaft. Remove the fan drive and blade assembly from the water pump by turning the mounting nut counterclockwise as viewed from the front while securing the water pump pulley. Do not remove or unbolt the fan drive and blade at this time.

Fig. : Fan blade and viscous drive (click for zoom)


The threads on the viscous fan drive are right hand threaded.

1. Remove the 2 fan shroud-to-upper crossmember nuts.
2. Remove the fan drive, blade and shroud as an assembly.

WARNING Do not place the viscous fan drive in a horizontal position. If stored horizontally, silicone fluid in the viscous fan drive could drain into its bearing assembly and the assembly would have to be replaced.
CAUTION Do not remove the water pump pulley-to-water pump bolts. The pulley is under spring tension.

1. Remove the 4 bolts securing the fan blade assembly to the viscous fan drive.
   

To install:

1. Install the fan blade on the viscous drive. Install the bolts and tighten them to 17 ft. lbs. (23 Nm).
2. Position the fan shroud, viscous fan and blade into the engine compartment as an assembly.
3. Position the fan shroud to the radiator. Insert the lower slots of the shroud into the crossmember. Install the upper attaching nuts.

Ensure the upper and lower portions of the fan shroud are firmly connected. All air must flow through the radiator.

1. Install the fan drive and blade assembly to the water pump shaft and tighten the nut.
   

Ensure there is at least 1 inch (25mm) between the tips of the fan blades and shroud.

1. Connect the negative battery cable.

Take care

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO RATE!!!

Rear Turn Signal, Brake, & Marker Lights

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
   
2. Open the trunk.
   
3. Unfasten the nuts or other retainers from the rear trim.
   
4. Unfasten or release the housing cover retainers.
   
5. On some vehicles, you may have to remove the rear fascia/body panel and light assembly to get to the sockets.
   

On some vehicles, such as this 1986 Grand Am, you must remove the rear body panel with the lamp

Depending upon vehicle application, remove the lamp socket either by rotating it counterclockwise (approximately 1/4 turn) until the plastic tabs disengage, or by squeezing the metal tangs while pulling the socket from the light assembly


Remove the lamp socket assembly by turning it counterclockwise, then pulling it out

Generally, side marker lamps use small bulbs with flat, blade-type bases, and tail lights/turn signals use larger, round-based ("bayonet") bulbs.

1. Remove the bulb from the socket using the appropriate method. Bulbs with blade-type bases pull straight out, while those with round bases and protruding pins (bayonet-type bulbs) must be depressed, then rotated counterclockwise (approximately 1/8 turn) before pulling out.
   

Remove the side marker bulb from its socket by pulling straight out

To install:

1. Secure the bulb in the socket using the appropriate method. Bulbs with blade-type bases push straight in, while those with round bases and protruding pins (bayonet-type bulbs) must be inserted, then depressed and rotated clockwise (approximately 1/8 turn).
   
2. Install the lamp socket using the appropriate method. Depending on the type of socket, either engage the plastic tabs, and rotate the socket clockwise (approximately 1/4 turn), or push on the socket until the metal tangs engage.
   
3. Install the housing cover nuts.
   
4. If removed, install the rear fascia and light assembly.
   
5. Install the rear trim.
   
6. Connect the negative battery cable, then check the operation of the rear lights.
   

you are changing the blade not the arm oem connector dont need to be touch

* Fan operation can be checked by spinning the fan by hand.
* A noticeable wobble or any blade that is not in the same plane as the rest indicates that replacement is in order. The fan can also be checked by removing it and laying it on a flat surface. If it is straight, all the blades should touch the surface. Never attempt to straighten a damaged cooling fan. Bending it back into shape might seem easier (and cheaper) than replacing it, but doing so is risky. Whenever metal is bent, it is weakened.
* Fan clutches use a fluid-filled chamber (usually silicone) to turn the fan. Obviously, loss of the drive fluid will render the fan useless.
* One of the simplest checks is to visually inspect the fan clutch for signs of fluid loss.
* Oily streaks radiating outward from the hub shaft mean fluid has leaked out past the bearing seal.
* Most fan clutches offer a slight amount of resistance if turned by hand when the engine is cold. They offer drag when the engine is hot. If the fan freewheels easily hot or cold, replace the clutch.
* Another check that should be made is to push the tip of a fan blade in and out. Any visible looseness in the shaft bearing means the fan clutch should be replaced.
* Fan blades are balanced at the time of manufacture but can be bent if handled carelessly.
* Likewise, fan clutches are machined very accurately to run true. However, rough handling at the time of pump replacement causes nicks and dents on the mounting faces. This can cause the fan blade to be installed crookedly. Serious trouble might follow soon after the car is back in service.
* Therefore, handle fan clutches and blades with care and be sure to file away any nicks, burrs, or dents someone else might have caused. Obviously, if any fins have been broken off the fan clutch, it must be replaced.

The condensor fan is on the left (passenger side) should have 4 blades.

dis-connect the negative battery cable
remove the upper fan shroud
use a large cresent wrench and place it on the nut just behind the fan and unbolt it
reverse to install new one.