Fan clutch
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
From: Vilonia Arkansas
Fan clutch
So my fan clutch needs replacing and I'm having a difficult time finding one so far locally. I was looking at Corvette Central and they have a "Fan Clutch Eliminator" for about half the price of a fan clutch. Has anyone out there used a fan clutch eliminator and what is the general thinking on this? I know it takes a bit more HP to have a solid fan, but I'm not too worried about that and I could use the extra cooling. She tends to heat up a little idling in traffic after a while.
How noisy is the fan w/o the clutch? Tolerable?
Your advice?
Thanks
How noisy is the fan w/o the clutch? Tolerable?
Your advice?
Thanks
Last edited by Deacon Don; Sep 28, 2011 at 11:36 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
try your loal parts store, most should have the ability to find a replaceable fan as heating and cooling is a parts store staple.......and fan clutchs should be available both as centrifical and thermostatic......
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
From: Vilonia Arkansas
I'm on my second local auto parts store now. The first one only had a "universal" replacement and it wasn't even close to correct. I'd prefer to have a fan clutch, but I was wondering what folks thought about the solid fan set up.
Hopefully NAPA will be able to find the correct fan clutch. They're looking now.
Thanks for your comments.
Hopefully NAPA will be able to find the correct fan clutch. They're looking now.
Thanks for your comments.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
CF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 19,350
Likes: 5,240
From: Cape Cod, Mass.
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
Paragon carries the clutch fans. I just bought one for my 68 BB. Works great. Not 100% correct in appearance though.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
From: Vilonia Arkansas
Don't really know what's up and why NAPA is now telling me that they haven't been able to find a replacement. I'm almost certain that the assembly on my car is correct 1972 vintage. The drive train is all numbers matching and I haven't changed anything. Of course, I can't be 100% sure b/c I bought the car in 1981. It certainly looks correct and everything fits; and, I've replaced the fan clutch before (20 years ago when I was still driving it). Before I make any orders, I'm gonna check the part number on my fan and make sure it's correct. All of the "correct" part number fan clutches I've tried so far are too large. The hole in the center of the fan won't fit over the clutch flange. Don't know what's up yet. I'm a bit baffled at this point...
Last edited by Deacon Don; Sep 28, 2011 at 01:54 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
From: Vilonia Arkansas
I'm pretty sure I have a 7 blade fan, but the fan clutch I have is much smaller. I'm anxious to get home after work and look at my fan and the numbers on it.
Roger - Thanks for the pic. I have the metal fan shroud. Just replaced all of the cooling system w/ the correct Dewitts aluminum radiator for my 72. She runs nice and cool while rolling.
Thanks guys so much for your comments.
Roger - Thanks for the pic. I have the metal fan shroud. Just replaced all of the cooling system w/ the correct Dewitts aluminum radiator for my 72. She runs nice and cool while rolling.
Thanks guys so much for your comments.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: Concord Calif
I'm pretty sure I have a 7 blade fan, but the fan clutch I have is much smaller. I'm anxious to get home after work and look at my fan and the numbers on it.
Roger - Thanks for the pic. I have the metal fan shroud. Just replaced all of the cooling system w/ the correct Dewitts aluminum radiator for my 72. She runs nice and cool while rolling.
Thanks guys so much for your comments.
Roger - Thanks for the pic. I have the metal fan shroud. Just replaced all of the cooling system w/ the correct Dewitts aluminum radiator for my 72. She runs nice and cool while rolling.
Thanks guys so much for your comments.
I found the correct one locally, but I'm in ca. One thing to watch for also is the shaft on the water pump. Most I found at parts stores say they are for a corvette but have the small hole to fit the small standard shaft water pump.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
From: Vilonia Arkansas
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Usually the 2799 will match up to all the measurements needed to bolt up,except that the 2799 is rated as Severe Duty,that's a good thing.
flange dia that bolts to the pump
pilot hole id
diameter of hole in fan
bolt circle in fan
Below is a link to a spec chart that shows all these numbers. Look for your measurements and match them up. If you can make the 2799 work it will work well for you.
For years I have put on 2 combination's if possible on small blocks,a 2799 with a 7 blade 17 1/2" fan with big bearing pump and a 2799 with a 7 blade 18 1/2" fan with big bearing pump.Boring , but it works.
http://www.haydenauto.com/upload/Hay...fan-clutch.pdf
flange dia that bolts to the pump
pilot hole id
diameter of hole in fan
bolt circle in fan
Below is a link to a spec chart that shows all these numbers. Look for your measurements and match them up. If you can make the 2799 work it will work well for you.
For years I have put on 2 combination's if possible on small blocks,a 2799 with a 7 blade 17 1/2" fan with big bearing pump and a 2799 with a 7 blade 18 1/2" fan with big bearing pump.Boring , but it works.
http://www.haydenauto.com/upload/Hay...fan-clutch.pdf
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,023
Likes: 6
From: Austin Tx
Usually the 2799 will match up to all the measurements needed to bolt up,except that the 2799 is rated as Severe Duty,that's a good thing.
flange dia that bolts to the pump
pilot hole id
diameter of hole in fan
bolt circle in fan
Below is a link to a spec chart that shows all these numbers. Look for your measurements and match them up. If you can make the 2799 work it will work well for you.
For years I have put on 2 combination's if possible on small blocks,a 2799 with a 7 blade 17 1/2" fan with big bearing pump and a 2799 with a 7 blade 18 1/2" fan with big bearing pump.Boring , but it works.
http://www.haydenauto.com/upload/Hay...fan-clutch.pdf
flange dia that bolts to the pump
pilot hole id
diameter of hole in fan
bolt circle in fan
Below is a link to a spec chart that shows all these numbers. Look for your measurements and match them up. If you can make the 2799 work it will work well for you.
For years I have put on 2 combination's if possible on small blocks,a 2799 with a 7 blade 17 1/2" fan with big bearing pump and a 2799 with a 7 blade 18 1/2" fan with big bearing pump.Boring , but it works.
http://www.haydenauto.com/upload/Hay...fan-clutch.pdf
The problem with the regular duty ones, is that the database that all the stores use is wrong. If you go in and ask for one of the regular duty clutches, it doesn't fit. There is a correct part number I found somewhere, but they will say it doesn't fit the corvette - but it does.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
From: Vilonia Arkansas
I got that one, and took it off. It was like a tornado under the hood - I found it WAY too loud.
The problem with the regular duty ones, is that the database that all the stores use is wrong. If you go in and ask for one of the regular duty clutches, it doesn't fit. There is a correct part number I found somewhere, but they will say it doesn't fit the corvette - but it does.
The problem with the regular duty ones, is that the database that all the stores use is wrong. If you go in and ask for one of the regular duty clutches, it doesn't fit. There is a correct part number I found somewhere, but they will say it doesn't fit the corvette - but it does.