fan shroud
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: joliet il
fan shroud
after the PITA it was to get the shroud out, how important is it to put it back? i'm putting in the ZZ4, and i really don't think i'll ever be leaning over the running motor wearing a neck tie, so do i really need it?--and, does it help to keep the engine cooler by forcing the air back? :confused: :seeya
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Re: fan shroud (erika1977)
Yes you need it. It draws air through the radiator while in traffic. Without it you will run very hot in traffic. It is not there to protect you it is there to direct the air. Yes they are a PITA.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 61,415
Likes: 478
From: Here to make friends
St. Jude Donor '11, '16-'17
Re: fan shroud (erika1977)
The previous owner of my '80 eliminated the shroud by installing electric fans. It also allowed him to install a shock tower spreader bar. My '79 still has the shroud. There is a lot more room to work without it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,407
Likes: 2
From: Carmichael CA
Re: fan shroud (erika1977)
On some cars it's not that big of a deal cause the fan is flush with the radiator so the majority of air will be drawn through the radiator, but on a corvette the radiator is slanted back so there would be a wide gaping hole at the bottom where the fan would draw almost all the air...not through the radiator. You would overheat after about twenty minutes of freeway cruising, or about five minutes of sitting still idling, and if you encounter stop and go traffic then you should just pull over and wait for it to clear up unless you are trying to steam some rice.
