Clutch Fan

[bill #36445]

Re: Clutch Fan

Thanks Michael!

Sure enough, my car has 2 sets of holes. The '65 core support holes are empty and there are 2 new holes approximately 3" forward of the valance edge as you described.

For now, I think I'll leave the '66 shroud and support in there until I'm ready to pull the body off and do a full restoration; I'll just leave the hood closed when I'm at any local car shows.

Bill

[Jack H.]

'65 was first year for BB...

and there were few options. You couldn't have A/T, couldn't have A/C (both produce heat and tax the radiator and the 'big' Harrison aluminum radiator was close to its limits just handling the engine!).

The BB was POPULAR and for '66, Chevy cut the number of SB engine configurations and upped the BB configurations. You could now get creature comfort items with a BB like A/C and A/T....

To solve the problem of gross thermal dissipation, they went to a BIG brass radiator and tilted the core support so a higher/taller radiator could fit in the existing nose of the car (who wanted to redesign the fiberglass front end!!!). It's easy to spot the difference...

In '63-65 the bottom of the rad support will be right behind the front lower valance panel while in '66 and later the bottom of the rad support is tilted up behind the front valenance panel. That's a small point many restorers overlook.

The core support was in the nose of the car (for rigidity) when it went through the paint booth and there OUGHT to be body color overspray on the bottom of the core support IF there's any kind of paint coverage on the lower valance panel. Not quite true for '66 and later because the lip of the front valance acted as a natural paint 'mask'....

[Bill #36445]

Re: Clutch Fan

Thanks for the tip Paul. I checked this evening and my fan seems to spin quite a bit when I shut the engine off, regardless of temperature. It does look like my fan clutch is shot!

Where did you get your new one? I'm going to check into sending mine to Fred Oliva for rebuild but that could take months, based on some threads I saw in the archives. I'll probably rebuild the original and keep it as a spare and buy a new replacement clutch for now.

Bill

[Richard D.]

Re: Clutch Fan

Bill -

While you're sending yours out to get redone, you can install a cheap fan clutch from AutoZone (I know they have them under a couple tradenames - Ready-Aire, Hayden, Imperial), and they have thermal and non-thermal versions ranging from $18.00 - about $40.00 each.

Advance and Napa also sell fanclutchs for about the same price range also.

At least you'll be able to drive your car while yours is being restored, as I understand that could take some time until you get it back.

These replacements though are set for for a 190 - 195 degree kick in, not like the origninal 180 degree, to my understanding, except for the "non-thermal" types which I believe are RPM activated and controlled (will be looking into that this weekend). I am still looking into getting the specs on these non-original type replacements, so you may want to confirm that if you go this route.

Hope that helps -

Rich

[John H.]

And.....

The '66-'67 lower valance panel had BOTH sets of holes in it for the 1/4"-20 phillips screws for the brackets, but only the forward hole was used on each side; the pre-'66 rearward pair of holes was still in the panel, but they were unused.

[Paul Reynolds]

Re: Clutch Fan

Bill, got mine from GM Parts Direct. Part #3916141. $134.54 including shipping. This is a service replacement part but it fit and works fine.