Good day all. Has anyone had a Fan Clutch done by Fred Oliva recently? I'm just looking to see, for my 63 fan clutch, what his current pricing is and the time frame for completion.
Cheers
Harry
Cheers
Harry
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Re: Fan Clutch Rebuild
Just sent a check out today, for my '65, price was $199 plus shipping, I think I sent it out about 4 months ago.Bill Clupper #618 -
Re: Fan Clutch Rebuild
Harry
Fred did mine 2 years ago. Looks great and is still working. Mine was $169 + s/h.Time frame, very very slow but I would use him again.
BillBill Lacy
1967 427/435 National Top Flight Bloomington Gold
1998 Indy PacecarComment
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Fred Oliva??
For those of us not familiar with Fred Oliva..... Is he like a John Pirkle or White Post for Fan Clutches? Can someone share how to get a hold of him? Are there others to consider for rebuilding a fan clutch? Thanks in advance for any suggestions offered!!Comment
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Re: Fred Oliva??
Yes, I guess it would be fair to call Fred the "Pirkle" of fan clutches. This is the second one I've had fred do, and the first is still working just fine in my '62, look on the web at http://www.gate.net/~foliva I recommend him highly.Bill Clupper #618Comment
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Re: Fan Clutch Rebuild
Thanks Everyone..
HarryComment
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Re: Fred Oliva??
There is another gent advertising in the Driveline. Do not know this gent or quality of his work. Fred restored my 66 SB fan clutch and I'm happy. However, competition is good.
Dave K.Comment
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Re: Fred Oliva??
Is rebuilding a fan clutch that difficult ? Can the average motor head do it and what needs to be rebuilt on the unit? Always interested in learning new tricks.....JoeComment
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Re: Fred Oliva??
After a lengthy discussion with Fred on the topic about 10 or 15 years ago, (in which he freely discussed the steps necessary) I would only say "GOOD LUCK" and remember, the wrong failure can either strand you somewhere, or take out the expensive reproduction radiator you just paid for. As for me . I gladly pay for some services, and the fan clutch is one of them.Bill Clupper #618Comment
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Re: Fred Oliva??
Joe,
I, like most I guess, are more than willing to tackle a job on my own if it's within my capablities, but I spoke to Fred about the process and learned it's not a job for me. If it were as simple as removing the shaft, bearing and seal from the rear, replacing the silicone, parts and reinstalling, we'd all be buying rebuild kits and doing it. Fred has to machine the front cover off of the unit to fix what's behind it, than reweld it, making sure it stays in balance. The new weld bead is about twice as wide as the original, and that is the only externally noticable difference between an original and one he has rebuilt (according to Fred).
I wish it was as easy as rebuilding a water pump, but it's not.
VerneComment
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Re: Fred Oliva??
There are two types of fan clutches (Eaton and Schwitzer) and the internal details are different. Fred and his father (a senior fellow ME from IBM) spent a LOT of time researching the technical details of how to go about rebuilding these. Along the way they got some help from a Rocky Mtn Chapter member who'd been district sales manager for Torrington Bearing and had some working knowledge of these fan clutches.
Bottom line, if there's somebody else rebuilding fan clutches out there, you'd best CLOSELY query him on how he's qualified to do the job right. Both the hydraulic fluid and the bearings used in the application are specialty items are are NOT offered to the general public as 'off-the-shelf' components....
As previously mentioned, do the job kinda-sorta right and the rebuilt fan clutch will work... But, will it have the originally designed-in RPM vs. temp vs. %-slip characteristics? Will it have the appropriate longevity profile?
Hey, you get what you pay for sometimes and the dice you're rolling here have the down side of taking out a radiator, radiator shroud and/or hood panel...Comment
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Re: Fred Oliva??
Fan in radiator? .. This one brings back some memories! .. Needless to say should this happen to you, you will mostly likely be stranded because of parts unavailability. That's what happened to me.
Driving back to CA from ID (in a Toyota) there was this big 'thump' noise that came out from under the hood. What the heck was that? .. Pulled over and popped the hood to discover that the water pump impeller shaft had just snapped in half! .. .. For good measure the fan went sailing right into the radiator. "Murphy" wasn't done with me, just yet. It was 2 a.m. and COLD. .. A town could be seen off in the distance - Carlin, NV. ..
After removing what was left of the fan and letting the engine cool down enough we drove the 2 miles to town before the engine had a chance to overheat.
Getting parts turned out to be fruitless. No luck at the local FLAPS. Hitched a ride back to Elko, NV. with a drilling crew. The Toyota dealer there said, '5 days out', for parts to arrive .. Two Greyhound bus tickets later we were on our way back to the Bay Area. Breaking down far from home is just the pits if hard-to-get parts can't be located in a reasonable time frame, say a few hours. Overnighting the parts might have been an option. Having to be back home the following day nixed it.
When it comes to the Corvette I would spare NO expense in making sure that the parts residing under the hood are the best available just as 'insurance' against a possible major breakdown and all the hassle that ensues should it happen. Fred Oliva's fan clutch rebuild service is a sound investment, IMO.
I figure to buy the GM replacement fan clutch for use while sending the original to Fred to have it rebuilt. The water pump on my engine is a replacement aluminum style with a nice FAT 3/4 inch impeller shaft. I feel better having it for long distance driving in the Corvette - Poulsbo, WA .. ..Comment
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Re: Fred Oliva??
Bit the bullet and sent the clutch to Fred today. I had a few emails that indicated his backlog is about 8 months. Great things take time, kinda like good wine that lays down for 20 years.
Oh well, see it next summer..
Cheers
HarryComment
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Re: Fred Oliva??
I sent 3 emails to Fred over a month period and never received a response. You have to answer a firewall question so he avoids spam but I thought I would at least get a response. Maybe he should hire someone to answer his emails. I don't question his workmanship but wonder about his communication skills in running a business. Maybe he should talk to Tom Dewitt about the importance of communicating with the customer because Tom is the best in that department.Comment
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Re: Fred Oliva??
I've done a small amount of research on Fred. Restoring Fan Clutches is not his primary job. His restorations are done after his normal job, which is extensive, and he has become the expert on this type of restoration. I believe he has chosen his communications vehicle and that is the telephone. Just keep calling him.
I do agree that if you are not going to answer emails, then delete your email address from your WEB Site.
After saying that, as soon as I get mine back, in 8 months, I will send him my back-up to restore.
HarryComment
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