Vendor Recommendation

[Joe C.]

I am going to buy a brand new coolant fan just to ensure that everything is properly balanced. The old fan blade bent after I broke the water pump shaft and I bent it back to shape the best could. Just in case it's "off" a little, I decided to buy a new one.

So, who makes the most accurate reproduction fan blade for 1965 SBC Corvette without a/c. It is a 17 1/8" diameter with flat head rivets and "front", "W", and "H" stamped in. I see LICS, Zip, and Paragon sell them, but can't tell from the photos how true the fonts are.

[Richard M.]

Re: Vendor Recommendation

Joe, I'd wager they all come from the same source.

If you contact either vendor, they may be willing to get some better photos for you. Zip would be my choice.

Rich

[Joe L.]

Re: Vendor Recommendation

I am going to buy a brand new coolant fan just to ensure that everything is properly balanced. The old fan blade bent after I broke the water pump shaft and I bent it back to shape the best could. Just in case it's "off" a little, I decided to buy a new one.

So, who makes the most accurate reproduction fan blade for 1965 SBC Corvette without a/c. It is a 17 1/8" diameter with flat head rivets and "front", "W", and "H" stamped in. I see LICS, Zip, and Paragon sell them, but can't tell from the photos how true the fonts are.

Joe------


Believe it or not, you can still get this fan from GM 56 years after it was first used in PRODUCTION. It's GM #3770529.

Is it the same with respect to every nuance of detail as the original one used on your car? Probably not.

By the way, I highly recommend the use of a NEW fan rather than the "repaired" original.

[Richard M.]

Re: Vendor Recommendation

Then that's probably who all of the vendors buy from then...... Nice.

[Gary B.]

Re: Vendor Recommendation

Prices vary a lot for that fan. gmpartsdirect.com has it for around $90 after S&H. Many places charge more.

Gary

[Gene M.]

Re: Vendor Recommendation

Joe,
I would stay away from any fan made in china as their sheet metal is not noted for quality. Your car may just puke it out right thru the hood.

[Eric E.]

Re: Vendor Recommendation

How would you determine if a fan is usable or not? Mine came in a box of parts when in I bought the 62 and appears straight. The clutch needs to be rebuilt but this is the first time I have considered the fan. Thanks.

[Joe L.]

Re: Vendor Recommendation

How would you determine if a fan is usable or not? Mine came in a box of parts when in I bought the 62 and appears straight. The clutch needs to be rebuilt but this is the first time I have considered the fan. Thanks.

Eric-------


If any of the blades are bent, otherwise distorted or damaged, I'd recommend getting a new fan assembly.

[Joe C.]

Re: Vendor Recommendation

Joe and Gary.....those are great leads! And GM Parts Direct has it for 68 bucks (plus shipping).
As we speak, I'm calling dealers who have the blade in stock and trying to get a visual. Does anyone know what this blade looks like.
If it's true that the repop vendors get them from GM, then this is a steal.

[Joe C.]

Re: Vendor Recommendation

Prices vary a lot for that fan. gmpartsdirect.com has it for around $90 after S&H. Many places charge more.

Gary

The Corvette vendors are selling it for 225 - 240 dollars. I'll post up details when I get them.

[Joe L.]

Re: Vendor Recommendation

The Corvette vendors are selling it for 225 - 240 dollars. I'll post up details when I get them.

Joe------


The original 3770529 had round head rivets. At some point in the SERVICE era, these changed to flat head rivets. If the "reproductions" have round head rivets, then they are not the same as the piece that GM currently has available. In that case, they likely originate from some manufacturing source other than GM's source. If the "reproductions" have flat head rivets, then they are likely the same piece that GM offers, whether obtained directly from GM or directly from the manufacturing source.

I would not pay a large premium to obtain one with round head rivets. Plus, I'd rather go with the current GM piece than a "reproduction" of unknown origin.

[Domenic T.]

Re: Vendor Recommendation

Gene,
Back in the early 80's, the shop next to me came over to look at my fan blades that were on the shelf. They were not a mechanical shop but some kind of material test place. They were testing a fan that thru a blade in the head of a helping hitch hiker that asked the stalled driver for a ride if he could get the car running. The hitch hiker got it running and did one of those HIGH RPM tune up's and one blade flew off and entered his head killing him.

Dom

[Joe C.]

Re: Vendor Recommendation

Joe------


The original 3770529 had round head rivets. At some point in the SERVICE era, these changed to flat head rivets. If the "reproductions" have round head rivets, then they are not the same as the piece that GM currently has available. In that case, they likely originate from some manufacturing source other than GM's source. If the "reproductions" have flat head rivets, then they are likely the same piece that GM offers, whether obtained directly from GM or directly from the manufacturing source.

I would not pay a large premium to obtain one with round head rivets. Plus, I'd rather go with the current GM piece than a "reproduction" of unknown origin.

Joe,
The 1965 TIM&JG specifies flat head rivets, 5 blades, 17 1/8" diameter. That's it. The Corvette parts vendors specify the aforementioned, plus three other stamped-in identifiers. My slightly misaligned and supposedly original fan blade has 5 blades, flat head rivets, measures 17 1/8" diameter, and has 2 of the three stamped identifiers that are integral to the very expensive "as original" blades being sold by the well known vendors.

I ordered the blade from GM Parts Direct, today, and from their description, it has 5 blades with flat head rivets which are bucked on the back side showing an inner concentric circular reveal on a flat profile and smaller diameter than that of the front side, which matches my fan blade. Also presents one of the (supposed) three stamped in identifiers on the hub and/or blade(s). Missing 2 of the three supposed identifiers that are not mentioned in the TIM&JG.

The TIM&JG seems to be remiss in reporting all pertinent details.

[Joe L.]

Re: Vendor Recommendation

Joe,
The 1965 TIM&JG specifies flat head rivets, 5 blades, 17 1/8" diameter. That's it. The Corvette parts vendors specify the aforementioned, plus three other stamped-in identifiers. My slightly misaligned and supposedly original fan blade has 5 blades, flat head rivets, measures 17 1/8" diameter, and has 2 of the three stamped identifiers that are integral to the very expensive "as original" blades being sold by the well known vendors.

I ordered the blade from GM Parts Direct, today, and from their description, it has 5 blades with flat head rivets which are bucked on the back side showing an inner concentric circular reveal on a flat profile and smaller diameter than that of the front side, which matches my fan blade. Also presents one of the (supposed) three stamped in identifiers on the hub and/or blade(s). Missing 2 of the three supposed identifiers that are not mentioned in the TIM&JG.

The TIM&JG seems to be remiss in reporting all pertinent details.

Joe------


It must be earlier versions of the 3770529 that have the round head rivets. I don't really know when the change occurred but it looks like it was before 1965. This fan was first used for 1960.

As far as the stamped-in identifiers, I don't think those can even be seen when the fan blade assembly is mounted on the car.

[Eric E.]

Re: Vendor Recommendation

Eric-------


If any of the blades are bent, otherwise distorted or damaged, I'd recommend getting a new fan assembly.

Thanks Joe, everything is straight and even. Eric