1968 427 shroud removal with A/C

[Russ S.]

I am removing my radiator and need to remove the shroud. There is one fan shroud bolt (lower passenger side) located behind the A/C dryer canister. I really don't want to take the canister out and discharge the A/C.

Is there a trick to getting the shroud bolt out?

thanks

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1968 427 shroud removal with A/C

Russ,

Picture? I can't see that one in my head.

Patrick

[Russ S.]

Re: 1968 427 shroud removal with A/C

I don't have a picture right now. Its really tight in there to get one. The A/C drier is held with a bracket connected to the condenser bracket. There is less than a 1/2 clearance between the back of the drier and the shroud bolt. Even is I could reach the bolt there is no way to get the bolt out (or back in).

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1968 427 shroud removal with A/C

Are you sure you're talking about the shroud? It sounds like you are trying to remove the radiator core support. The shroud is the piece that is on the engine side and wraps around the fan, so to speak.

You can remove the radiator without removing the core support..

[Russ S.]

Re: 1968 427 shroud removal with A/C

Thanks for the input, but the shroud is held to the radiator support by 4 bolts (9417950) which pass through the support from the front of the support. I have removed 3 of the bolts but the 4th is blocked by the A/C drier (3012944) and bracket (3906085). The 1968 corvette assembly manual pages H307 & H349 show the shroud for a 427 A/C. The drier is shown on page H305.

[Richard T.]

Re: 1968 427 shroud removal with A/C

If you pull the hood you can remove the radiator support, radiator, and shroud as an assembly. Not ideal but better than discharging the AC.

[Russ S.]

Re: 1968 427 shroud removal with A/C

I will look at that today, but the A/C lines pass through the radiator support to the drier and condenser.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1968 427 shroud removal with A/C

I will look at that today, but the A/C lines pass through the radiator support to the drier and condenser.

That could be another 1968 > 1969 difference then. For 1969 and newer the AC lines by-pass the core support by going out into the wheel house. They are covered by a fiberglass channel, but the core support/radiator can be removed without disturbing the drier or condenser. The condenser and drier have to be unbolted from the core support, but that doesn't require the AC lines to be opened. The AC lines passing through the core support could be another 1968 feature.

[Russ S.]

Re: 1968 427 shroud removal with A/C

I will take the condenser brackets off and see if I can move the condenser/drier forward an inch to reach the shroud bolt. That may be the only way to take it off without opening the A/C lines.

[Russ S.]

Re: 1968 427 shroud removal with A/C

Here is a picture of the shroud and bolts on the passenger side. The A/C line to the drier passes through the support between them. You can see the bolt is still in the bottom shroud nut.