Should my car have a fan shroud?
August 2nd, 2012, 06:38 AM
#1
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Should my car have a fan shroud?
It's a 70 cutlass S post 350 2bbl. Has 3 core radiator, no shroud and no clutch fan.... just a solid spacer and fan. I see no mounting locations for this. The fan cover has 1 hole in it for the top radiator hose clamp.
How can you tell if it came with one or not?
How can you tell if it came with one or not?
August 2nd, 2012, 06:58 AM
#2
The upper rad support, where the rad is held down should have holes to bolt into the fan shroud if you were equipped.
The service manaul mentions there is a difference in L6 and V8 but does not mention "No Shroud." Experts will chime in on the "No Shroud" setup I am no expert, just gut who can look at a book.
Adam
August 3rd, 2012, 06:15 AM
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I believe if your car did not come with AC, then you did not get a shroud. If you did have AC or heavy duty cooling, then you got the top plate with the holes for the shroud & the shroud itself.
August 3rd, 2012, 06:21 AM
#6
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Ok thanks, it did not come with A/C. Not sure what makes it HD cooling. It has a 3 core radiator top plate has no holes in it other than the one for the radiator hose clamp. No clutch fan just a spacer and fan. It appears to be all original and never tampered with so I'm assuming it's the way it came.
August 3rd, 2012, 06:32 AM
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There are two different top plates, one for use with a shroud(with attachment holes) & one for use without a shroud(no holes like yours). Heavy duty cooling was a 4 core radiator with the shroud, & a clutch fan(I believe).
August 3rd, 2012, 06:43 AM
#8
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How can I tell if the radiator is original? I have a few from previous cars. Couple out of 70 GTO's and a few from Chevelles. Some have 2 strips running vertically through the inner core sections and some don't. I had 1 from a chavelle and 1 from a GTO that had a plastic drain plug and vertical strips, the other dont have the strips and have the brass drain. Shouldn't the 70 cutlass be the brass type drain? Not sure what I have in the cutlass I'll have to look when I get home. Just curios if it's original to the car or not and what to look for.
August 3rd, 2012, 06:54 AM
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Original radiators had a brass petcock & there were no vertical strips holding the core together. I believe those strips were there when/if you radiator has been recored by a radiator shop. They held the core in place so it could be soldered to the tanks. Also, original radiators I've seen have a small "Harrison" stamp on the passenger side & "full cold" also. They also had/have a small metal tag, about 2"x3" or so with some letters/numbers stamped into it. Usually they get thrown away when a radiator is recored so the tag may not be there. There shoud not be any extra holes with plugs in them, & they should not have a plastic petcock.
August 3rd, 2012, 07:05 AM
#10
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My car is a '70 w/out AC and has a shroud. I don't remember seeing many w/out a shroud.
August 3rd, 2012, 07:28 AM
#11
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Also, in addition to the tag the factory radiators have a code stamped into the tank. I don't know the correct code for your car, but if you can find the code you might post it to see if anyone can confirm it's original or not.
John
August 3rd, 2012, 09:32 AM
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I've had a couple 68-72 cars with no shrouds. I don't remember if they were 2 or 3 row radiators though.
Also, in addition to the tag the factory radiators have a code stamped into the tank. I don't know the correct code for your car, but if you can find the code you might post it to see if anyone can confirm it's original or not.
John
Also, in addition to the tag the factory radiators have a code stamped into the tank. I don't know the correct code for your car, but if you can find the code you might post it to see if anyone can confirm it's original or not.
John
Try to figure that one out
August 3rd, 2012, 11:53 PM
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1970 Post
To help verify that your car did not come with a fan shroud you can check the radiator support. If your car DID come with a shroud there will be 2 tabs along the bottom of the core support that the shroud would attach to as seen in the picture in previous post. If your core support does not have the tabs, that would help prove your car did not come with a shroud. Of course who knows what has been done to these cars since 1970.
As for the radiator, just as oldspackrat stated there should be a metal tag on the radiator. It is located below the fill opening. It has a combination of letters stamped on it. I believe the letters relate to what tanks are used on each side of the radiator and also what core is used. You can search for me on this site. I posted the same questions as you and members here have helped me with this information. Another source of information is at wildaboutcars. They have Chassis and assembly manuals posted there and it is free.
Don W
To help verify that your car did not come with a fan shroud you can check the radiator support. If your car DID come with a shroud there will be 2 tabs along the bottom of the core support that the shroud would attach to as seen in the picture in previous post. If your core support does not have the tabs, that would help prove your car did not come with a shroud. Of course who knows what has been done to these cars since 1970.
As for the radiator, just as oldspackrat stated there should be a metal tag on the radiator. It is located below the fill opening. It has a combination of letters stamped on it. I believe the letters relate to what tanks are used on each side of the radiator and also what core is used. You can search for me on this site. I posted the same questions as you and members here have helped me with this information. Another source of information is at wildaboutcars. They have Chassis and assembly manuals posted there and it is free.
Don W
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