I purchased a 55-57 Fan Shroud for V8 from here: http://www.classicparts.com/prodinfo.asp?number=78-915 Part 78-915. I am not sure how to go about installing it. Do I need to remove the radiator and hoses to test install it and then do I need to trim off the plastic at the bottom and other places where it looks like it would hit the bottom radiator hose and lower pully? It looks like I have about only 4.25 inches of clearance between the lower pully and the Radiator. The fan shroud is 4.75 inches deep. The bottom pully, which is a double pully on my truck (I guess for PS), but that pully is within 4.25 inches of the radiator. The belt is 5 inches from the radiator. I have a http://www.classicparts.com/prodinfo.asp?number=78-213 Desert Cooler Radiator Manual trans installed. That may make the space a bit narrower. The shroud sticks out 4.75" from the radiator. So I think the shoud is 3/4 inch too deep. So the real question is: Are we suppose to cut/trim the shroud to make it fit? Seems like I need to cut 3/4 inch off all the way around it to clear the pully, belt and the lower hose will need a dish out. The shroud does have the slant built in to the stand offs like the radiator does which is good. Also I was wondering if people typically cut a slit thru the bottom to make install around the fan and fan pully easier. That way maybe you do not have to remove the radiator to get it installed? Or do people cut the whole thing in halfs horizontally or vertically? I want to install this as I have an at idle overheating problem with my 283 V8. It runs fine while moving at about 20% of the heat range indicator. But when I stop at the dump and have to wait for 6 or 8 trucks to pay (way longer than a traffic light) it starts overheating and typically will get hot and stall out. Then I have to wait 20 minutes for it to cool and I can start it and things are fine. I am hoping that the shroud will help pull air thru the radiator when stopped in line. The fan blade is a 6 blade replacement type. It is mounted on a 1 inch extension. It sits about 1.25 inches from the radiator, just far enough away to not have to pull the radiator to put it on. I guess that is a bit far away from the radiator (and may be my problem) but to get it closer I would need another extension and would have to pull the radiator to put the extension and fan on. A couple pics are attached to view my clearances. The long post for the air cleaner is a result of my having the oil bath air cleaner off at the moment.
Stacy, first of all, you have a way cool truck. I love it. I bought that same shroud for my truck. Mine would not overheat, but thought it would help, even a little, but would keep my fingers safe when playing under the hood while running. You don’t have to take the fan or belts off at all. First I cut the bottom of the shroud in half. The bottom is the dipped area, and the perfect round part is the top. I had a chevelle that the shroud was split and easy to take apart. Now you gotta take only the top radiator hose off while installing. You will have to trim for alternator, bottom hose, etc, I used a pair of tin snips to do the trimming. Take little amounts at a time to be safe. Once you got it to where it will fit, I used a shelf bracket, and cut it up, since it was kind of thick and sturday, and had holes already in it. At the bottom where you cut it in half, drill one hole on each side of the cut, and use a ¼-20 nut and bolt to hold together. Where my factory type radiator bolts to the front frame work, measure and mark carefully, take the shroud off, drill the 4 holes on each side, take the 4 bolts on one side of the radiator first, and install through the shroud holes you just drilled. Then repeat for the other side. I had to use some tie wire, bailing wire, to keep the bottom of the shroud from hitting my bottom pulley, tying the wire from the bracket area that bolted the 2 bottom halves together, and tying it under the bottom of the radiator to some hole that was under the radiator on the frame work. Easy enough, cant see it at all. And also had to use tie wire from a small drilled hole in the upper portion of the shroud to around the top radiator hose where it fit tight up against the radiator, to keep it from flopping around and maybe hitting the fan while running. I will write a note for myself and take some pics in the morning when I go out and get ready for a morning cruise if you want. It might give you a better picture of what I did,. Hope this helps…. leonard
Thanks RatRodKing. The pictures and information helps a lot. Now I just need to find time to work on it.
