How do I know which fan shroud I need for a 76 L82 w/ac. There seems to be 2 of them. Early 76 for $1000.00 + or late 76 for $200.00. How can there be so many different shrouds & what could possibly make any of them worth $1000.00 ?

 

The only reason for a shroud being that expensive is that they are rare and some folks want one to finish out a 'near-complete' NCRS [potential] flight award winner. Anyone else paying $1K for a radiator shroud is just "nuts".

 

I looked on Willcox site & still don't know which one to buy.

 

Just went thru this. Wanted to replace my rad support because of rust and figured while I was at it I'd replace the rad also. While it was all apart I figured I'd look at a shroud also because mine had the lower lip cut off (from the previous owner), I guess to get out the shroud and rad without taking out the whole unit with the support. Checked the price, was told $1200 and decided mine was good enough... I can live without the lower lip as the rest of the shroud was fine. Can figure only one aftermarket source for the shroud so they can ask whatever they want for it, if you want it that bad you're gonna pay and they know it. Anyway, the early rads had a upper hose inlet tube that curves from the upper rad towards the passenger side. The late 76 had a straight tube, doesn't curve towards the right. The supports are different also, early doesn't have a tray on the bottom and the shroud bolts to the bottom of the support, late has a tray and the shroud clips to the cottom of the support. I believe the upper brackets are different also. I was told that the 73-75 shroud with the 73-75 shroud extension will fit the early 76 but won't pass NCRS judges but if you're not worried about that then who cares. Go to Doc Rebuild's site for the info but note that the shroud they have advertised is now over $1200... due to the suppliers price. Hope this helps... also note that the L-82 and the L-48 with a/c had a thicker rad than the L-48 non a/c cars... 2" compared to 2 5/8" if I remember right.

 

Early 1976 shrouds were bolted to the rad support at the bottom as compared to 1976 later which used clips.

Dano,

 

The spec was changed around February 24, 1976, so if your car was built after that it was supposed to have the late version. Still best to check to see how the shroud is mounted to your radiator support as noted above. If you need both a shroud and the radiator support, the only other items you will need to covert to later design are the upper shroud mounting brackets which are readily available.

 

Did you look at this page. http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...lp.php?hID=178 It should show you the difference from early to late.



Willcox

 

hey 76 i sent you a pm

 

My support has the 2 studs at the bottom so I guess that makes it early 76. By looking at all the different vendors pictures, it looks like a 73 to 75 should fit. I'll do whatever I have to do to make it work. $1200.00 is INSANE. Thanks for everyones input.