I bought an '81 automatic last month with 67K miles on the clock. It's in pretty good shape cosmetically.

I have restored a few other cars over the past few years, but this is my 1st Corvette. So, I've got a lot to learn.

I'm now in the process of seeing what "Bubba" has done to this particular car. It doesn't seem too bad at this point, but I have discovered the lack of an auxillary (electric) cooling fan.

It's not my intention to make this car a show car, but one that is a reliable driver.

In the attached picture, I'm holding what I think is the electrical connection to the electric fan. Is this correct?



If so, then I should be able to reconnect an electric fan assembly without too much worry - correct?

It should also be noted that the two tabs on top of the radiator shroud (where the radiator brackets bolt to) are broken. So, I really need a new radiator shroud. If anyone has a clever way of making new tabs without having to replace the shroud, I'm all ears

Bubba put an aftermarket transmission cooling unit in front of the radiator. The transmission line inlet and outlet on the radiator are plugged.

So, the questions are what would you do in my situation?

Concerning the electric fan:
1. Would you try to get a factory shroud and electric fan assembly from a junkyard?

2. Go with some type of aftermarket electric pusher fan?

3. Leave well enough alone and keep a close eye on the temperature gauge?

Concerning the transmission cooler:
1. Have the radiator checked to make sure it is OK, then reattached the transmission lines as factory?

2. Have the radiator checked anyway. Leave well enough alone and just use the aftermarket transmission cooler?

Thanks!
Brian

 

For all of that, if your not going to go with SHOW, Get a good dual fan setup and run that. It will go a long ways to cleaning up the engine bay. The aux fan was setup to come on at 238* which means you have a problem already, and the fan was fairly anemic IMHO.
I bought 2 12" fans off ebay, fabbed mounts for them and am going to run that. I did all that on a custom built Dewits aluminum radiator, but it will work fine on a stock unit too.
It looks like you have the shroud in place and the aux fan is mounted on it on the inside. The sensor for it is in the passenger side head and its powered off the fuse links right there by the AC box.

 

OK, that's good information. So the aux fan was just a failsafe and not really required for normal operation.

My '81 DeLorean will kick the electric fans on when the A/C cycles. That's what I was thinking might be the reason for the electric fan on the '81 Corvette.

Thanks for your help.

-Brian

 

Sixfooter gave good info as always, but my $.02 worth is, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." You will probably run across plenty of little things to fix that will actually give you a benefit.

 

I might have the stock fan and brakets? I have to look im my buddies garage for it. Let me know if you want me to look? Ill give up for short cash. Sorry I already sold to stock shroud Bruce

 

Sure, I'd be interested.

-Brian

 

I will check sunday sometime!

 

BKP944
Hey I did find that fan today if you wan it its yours make me some kind of offer and you pay shipping. I will never use it, I will test it today to make sure it still works.

 

Could you post a photo of the stock ele fan? I have never seen one...

 

Check your PM