[Carmine]

Hi everyone. I'm in the process of installing a 7 blade fan, new fan clutch and new radiator in my '71 GTO. I bolted the fan clutch and fan to the water pump to see how it might fit against the shroud. The shroud came with this car and when I was cleaning it, I noticed a previous owner had butchered the hell out of the bottom. This guy made me look like a beginner. I don't know why he did it, because the Mickey Mouse fan that was on it, was only 17" with plenty of room all around. I put this shroud into the framework and the depth of the blades into it, was good. About half in/half out. I spun the blade. Not hitting or contact. I noticed on the sides, the space between the blades and shroud was about 3/4"-1". I guess that might be good. The space at the top is where I think a problem might be. The distance between the tip of the blade and shroud is 2 3/4" to 3". I can't see how this is can be good or factory. Isn't this too much gap between everything?? Shouldn't it be fairly equal between the blades and shroud all the way around?? The shroud seems to fit fine. All the bolt holes line up. I don't mean to impose, but if someone could steer me correctly with an answer asap, I'd greatly appreciate it. If I need a new shroud, I'll order right away from Ames. I'd really like to get this car up and running soon. I've been fooling with it since Feb. Driven it twice and it's almost August. Really starting to annoy me big time. Sometimes I think about putting it out front with a fore sale sign and start again. Of course I would want one done like this was suppose to be LOL. Many thanks, Carmine.

[Carmine]

Maybe someone could take a look at the distance between their fan blades and the shroud. See if it's the same distance all the way around; especially at top. I don't necessarily need measurements. Just some idea of distances. Thank you, Carmine.

['ol Pinion head]

Can you post several pics of your fanshroud? A good pic of the drivers side top & passenger side looking from AC compressor area to the radiator tank would be best. Good chance it's not original, but some other auto manufacturers that has been hacked up to fit, unfortunately, have seen this before.

[Carmine]

Originally Posted by 'ol Pinion head

Can you post several pics of your fanshroud? A good pic of the drivers side top & passenger side looking from AC compressor area to the radiator tank would be best. Good chance it's not original, but some other auto manufacturers that has been hacked up to fit, unfortunately, have seen this before.

I do have one pic of the top area with focus on the fan blade and shroud. You can see quite a gap there. The side pics didn't come out good at all while in the car. Will take additional pics of it outside the car. I know you'll take my word for it, that the blade is about 3/4"-1" away from the shroud, on the sides. Measured several times. I think this is good allowing for slight engine twisting. I will post pics later. I have a suspicion that this shroud might be out of a full size Pontiac and they butchered the bottom to make it fit. Even though everything lines up properly and it looks like it belongs there, has to be a reason they did this, Carmine.

[72LuxuryLeMansLa.]

Originally Posted by Carmine

I do have one pic of the top area with focus on the fan blade and shroud. You can see quite a gap there. The side pics didn't come out good at all while in the car. Will take additional pics of it outside the car. I know you'll take my word for it, that the blade is about 3/4"-1" away from the shroud, on the sides. Measured several times. I think this is good allowing for slight engine twisting. I will post pics later. I have a suspicion that this shroud might be out of a full size Pontiac and they butchered the bottom to make it fit. Even though everything lines up properly and it looks like it belongs there, has to be a reason they did this, Carmine.

Carmine if that thing is "butchered order a new one. Give me a few minutes and I'll get some measurements from my car.

[tjs72lemans]

If I remember correctly, those rubber bushings actually go under the support. Not like you have them.

[Shiny]

Thanks... good timing, I was just headed to garage to look at it again.

I pulled out the book. It is kind of hard to interpret and it's been too long since I installed the support but I think there is a "grommet sandwich" squeezing the support. And it appears there is a spacer that controls the amount of the squeeze. I read this as the "sandwich" sits below the frame horn as I have it.

Anyone have photos of "known correct"?



I hope it's right because raising it up won't help my fan clearance!

Reading through several older threads, it sounds like this loss of clearance is a common ailment and unfortunately, a PITA to replace the mounts and/or add shims under the frame mount. Especially for those of us that don't own a hoist.

I've got higher priorities for now but I'll try to inspect the mounts and I predict dealing with this is in my future... arrrrghhhh...

Mike

[72LuxuryLeMansLa.]

My fan is about an inch bottom and sides with about two inches top side. This is a '72 LeMans with clutch fan and Replacement shroud that was exact to the original. I ordered it from Ames. It pulls so much air at idle that if I have the hood up and fender covers on to work on it, I have to weight down the passenger side cover because it will get blown off.

[Carmine]

Originally Posted by 72LuxuryLeMansLa.

My fan is about an inch bottom and sides with about two inches top side. This is a '72 LeMans with clutch fan and Replacement shroud that was exact to the original. I ordered it from Ames. It pulls so much air at idle that if I have the hood up and fender covers on to work on it, I have to weight down the passenger side cover because it will get blown off.

OK Karl. Thanks. I did order a new one from Ames. Going to be interesting to see how the new one lines up, Carmine.

[Carmine]

Here are 4 pics of the fan and shroud. In the one pic, you can see the distance/gap at the top between the blade and shroud. The other 3 are of the shroud. The one will show the cut away bottom. On the lower passenger side corner, someone apparently put a piece in using rivets and fiberglass. You might not be able to see it. Crappiest job I've ever seen. Thanks for looking, Carmine.

[judgeman6970]

Stock GTO clutch fan is about 19.5" diameter(I believe)? What are you using? Also, you might want to check/replace your motor mounts. They're cheap, and they really help keep the fan from being too close to the bottom of the shroud.

[Squidward]

Originally Posted by judgeman6970

Stock GTO clutch fan is about 19.5" diameter(I believe)? What are you using? Also, you might want to check/replace your motor mounts. They're cheap, and they really help keep the fan from being too close to the bottom of the shroud.

The gap between the top of the shroud and the fan on my 72 decreased once I got the motor mount spacer plates installed.

Carmine, how close is your center steering link to your oil pan? Mine was rubbing. Now it is not since I installed the plate. My fan is now more centered in the shroud opening. Apparently these A-bodies have issues with sagging engine crossmembers.

[Carmine]

Originally Posted by Squidward

The gap between the top of the shroud and the fan on my 72 decreased once I got the motor mount spacer plates installed.

Carmine, how close is your center steering link to your oil pan? Mine was rubbing. Now it is not since I installed the plate. My fan is now more centered in the shroud opening. Apparently these A-bodies have issues with sagging engine crossmembers.

I know the center link isn't rubbing against the pan. How close it is to it, I'd have to take another look, Carmine.

[Shiny]

Originally Posted by Squidward

The gap between the top of the shroud and the fan on my 72 decreased once I got the motor mount spacer plates installed.

Carmine, how close is your center steering link to your oil pan? Mine was rubbing. Now it is not since I installed the plate. My fan is now more centered in the shroud opening. Apparently these A-bodies have issues with sagging engine crossmembers.

I miss Squidward... he had a lot of helpful posts...

I just installed a new radiator and find the clearance between fan and shroud is barely enough to avoid contact. I could probably lengthen the mounting slots and gain a little by pulling the bottom of the shroud down but I'm wondering:

- how to tell if the motor mounts are causing the droop?
- what are the "spacer plates" Squidward described?
- assuming the mounts are the problem, how hard are they to replace?

Here's the mess (without the pump pulley):



Does the shroud look like the right one for my 70 LeMans?

I did replace the transmission mount many years ago so perhaps that's too high as b-man describes in this thread:

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...errerid=160974

I also replaced the support (with the shroud) back then and think I got the mounts correct but I'm capable of messing that up. Do the rubber cushions mount between frame and support like I have:



And finally, the front bumper is off. Any chance that's enough weight to improve the clearance?

Mike

[Shiny]

Photo would have helped

- how to tell if the motor mounts are causing the droop?
- what are the "spacer plates" Squidward described?
- assuming the mounts are the problem, how hard are they to replace?

[Joe-Touring]

Originally Posted by Shiny

- what are the "spacer plates" Squidward described?

I believe squidward was referring to something like this:

https://butlerperformance.com/i-3164...tegory:1393554

[Carmine]

My fan is a 7 blade one that came off a Judge. Don't know the year. I believe it measures 19" or so. The shroud opening is 21". This should allow about 1" on the circumference between the blade tip and shroud, which would be about right. I'll check the mounts, Carmine.

[lust4speed]

Fan diameter looks small. Take a measurement from blade tip to tip. An A/C fan should measure 19.5" while a non A/C fan is going to come in at least an inch smaller.

Not apples to apples, but on my son's '65 2+2, there was a small section missing from the bottom of the shroud when we purchased the car, and overall condition of the shroud was a little tacky. So we purchased a new one just to improve the looks. The new shroud had the car running 10° cooler in traffic. Wouldn't have believed a small strip missing would have made that much difference, but it did.

[Carmine]

Originally Posted by lust4speed

Fan diameter looks small. Take a measurement from blade tip to tip. An A/C fan should measure 19.5" while a non A/C fan is going to come in at least an inch smaller.

Not apples to apples, but on my son's '65 2+2, there was a small section missing from the bottom of the shroud when we purchased the car, and overall condition of the shroud was a little tacky. So we purchased a new one just to improve the looks. The new shroud had the car running 10° cooler in traffic. Wouldn't have believed a small strip missing would have made that much difference, but it did.

You had me wondering, so I just measured the 7 blade fan and old shroud. The fan is 19.5" long. The shroud measures 21" across and it's hard to tell exactly vertically because some is missing at the bottom. It's presently 22" but could have also been 21" at one time.
Went to a car showed yesterday, over 300 cars, and there were a few GTO's. There was a '71 there with their hood closed and no one around. Waited for them to come back and they never did. Next closest was a '68 and that shroud is different from mine. I noticed that his factory appearing fan was much smaller then the shroud opening. Without measuring, I think there was at least a good 1.5" or better between the blades and shroud. The fan also seemed to sit outside the shroud a little more then I've seen. Spoke with the owner and he said what you see is the way the car came from the factory. Hmmm.................The other GTO's were pretty much '64 and '65 years. I did see some other GM cars, late 60's-early 70's, namely Olds and Chevys, which had shrouds and clutch fans. In re. to fan depth inside the shroud, many were half in/half out, but I saw several that were much too deep or too far out in my opinion. Everything gives the appearance of being factory. I also saw a few shrouds that have what I describe as a hump at the top; similar to mine. Their top fan blade was a distance away from the shroud, like mine, and the sides were much closer, again like mine. Saw this issue mainly on the plastic shrouds, not the steel ones. I walked away from the show wondering if I'm trying to reinvent the wheel. Maybe what I saw is the way it's suppose to be. Possibly other then the repair work on my old one, that's the way it's suppose to fit the fan. I'll know for sure later this afternoon. A new one is due to arrive from Ames. I'll certainly compare it to my old one. Hope to install everything tomorrow and give it a try, Carmine.

[android 211]

My 72 TA had a chunk missing from one corner of the fan shroud. I got another shroud out of the junkyard and replaced it. The car definitely ran cooler afterward. the missing section was about 5 or 6 inches by 5 or 6 inches. I think they cut it because it made it easier to remove.