76 Fan Shroud--need some help
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 127
Likes: 14
76 Fan Shroud--need some help
I have watched mutlitple videos on how to get it out of my early 76'. I have removed or loosened:
-two radiator mount bolts on each side inside the fender well. Not the lower bolt.
-loosen the shroud and pulled it off the two botls at the bottom.
-removed the top bolts/straps from the radiator
-pulled the fan and pulley wheel.
All is loose but getting the radiator out first is almost impossible per others and various videos. I have the shroud about 50% our and am pushing and bending it. I did not take off the hood yet.
Suggestions?
-two radiator mount bolts on each side inside the fender well. Not the lower bolt.
-loosen the shroud and pulled it off the two botls at the bottom.
-removed the top bolts/straps from the radiator
-pulled the fan and pulley wheel.
All is loose but getting the radiator out first is almost impossible per others and various videos. I have the shroud about 50% our and am pushing and bending it. I did not take off the hood yet.
Suggestions?
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 81
Likes: 44
My experience is with an 81 so maybe others with 76 era C3s can chime in and correct.
The fan shroud is a b!tch. I’ve done it a few times now and you have to disconnect everything from the radiator and carefully slip the rad out first before the shroud. I unbolt the shroud and push it against the engine to make room for the rad to come out. Then with the rad out, it’s easy peazy to get the shroud out.
You shouldn’t have to remove the hood though. It’s a geometric problem and you need like 4 hands. I always grab some help to pull the rad carefully. I don’t see any other non-destructive way to get the shroud out without removing the rad.
I’d be happy to be corrected if anyone knows a better way.
This is why the shrouds are often missing or mangled in our cars…
The fan shroud is a b!tch. I’ve done it a few times now and you have to disconnect everything from the radiator and carefully slip the rad out first before the shroud. I unbolt the shroud and push it against the engine to make room for the rad to come out. Then with the rad out, it’s easy peazy to get the shroud out.
You shouldn’t have to remove the hood though. It’s a geometric problem and you need like 4 hands. I always grab some help to pull the rad carefully. I don’t see any other non-destructive way to get the shroud out without removing the rad.
I’d be happy to be corrected if anyone knows a better way.
This is why the shrouds are often missing or mangled in our cars…
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Unless you are a "can't cut that, it's original" purist, the easiest approach is to cut thru the shroud from front to back at the very bottom of the shroud. Then it can be easily removed. Once out, make a simple aluminum plate (1/8" thick perhaps) and attach it to one side of the split with Pop-Rivets. Position the other half in place and mark/drill holes for other Pop-Rivets. When you reinstall the shroud, go underneath to install the other 2 Pop-Rivets. Paint the plate Satin black if you want.
P.S. You will need Pop-Rivet washers on the inside of the shroud when you install the rivets. You can pre-glue them in place for the final pair of rivets. Make sure the loose rivet shank will easily fit thru shroud and washer so you won't have "issues" during final rivet install.
P.S. You will need Pop-Rivet washers on the inside of the shroud when you install the rivets. You can pre-glue them in place for the final pair of rivets. Make sure the loose rivet shank will easily fit thru shroud and washer so you won't have "issues" during final rivet install.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,953
Likes: 4,510
From: Virginia
Perhaps you can do it without taking off the hood, but that's the easiest part of the whole job, so take off the hood. Then, take out the radiator, take off the clutch fan, then you can get the shroud out intact. With everything out of the way, you'll be able to clean up a bunch of stuff.
Then upgrade to electric fans, and never deal with this again.
I have two perfectly intact fan shrouds, just taking up space in my attic...
Then upgrade to electric fans, and never deal with this again.
I have two perfectly intact fan shrouds, just taking up space in my attic...
Last edited by Bikespace; Jun 11, 2023 at 08:12 AM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,741
Likes: 2,583
I have watched mutlitple videos on how to get it out of my early 76'. I have removed or loosened:
-two radiator mount bolts on each side inside the fender well. Not the lower bolt.
-loosen the shroud and pulled it off the two botls at the bottom.
-removed the top bolts/straps from the radiator
-pulled the fan and pulley wheel.
All is loose but getting the radiator out first is almost impossible per others and various videos. I have the shroud about 50% our and am pushing and bending it. I did not take off the hood yet.
Suggestions?
-two radiator mount bolts on each side inside the fender well. Not the lower bolt.
-loosen the shroud and pulled it off the two botls at the bottom.
-removed the top bolts/straps from the radiator
-pulled the fan and pulley wheel.
All is loose but getting the radiator out first is almost impossible per others and various videos. I have the shroud about 50% our and am pushing and bending it. I did not take off the hood yet.
Suggestions?
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 81
Likes: 44
The only way you are getting the shroud out is to first remove the rad by slipping it out between the support and shroud.
I don’t think removing the hood will help at all because it’s not the limiting factor here. The rad support is slanted at an angle that does not intersect with the hood until the whole rad is out anyway. Granted, removing the hood is very easy to do. Just remember to scribe the hinge locations beforehand.
Messing with the angle of the rad support will likely make this more difficult for you.
FYI, you really need two sets of hands to get the rad out, without damaging it.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 127
Likes: 14
Update. I watched all of the following several times:
The SECRET To Removing A Fan Shroud From A C3 Corvette - YouTube
The 76 refresh pt1 was very close to what I had to do. I just could not get enough room to get the rad out without it catching on the bottom corners of the shroud.
My Procedure:
1) I removed all of the straps, bolts, pulley wheels as recommended by others and above instruction. I only took out the top 2 rad support bolts on each side and pushed the support forward.
2) I would pull up the shroud an inch or two to get the space needed to pull up the rad
3) I pulled up the rad to get the edges ABOVE the shroud.
4) Then, back and forth on the shroud and rad to work it higher.
5) when both were about half out, I could rotate the rad almost vertical so the bottom hose pipe is the center of the frame.
6) At this point, I had more room to move shroud forward but NOT out.
7) The back and forth method was working and if I had a hydraulic lift I could have dropped the rad from the bottom.
8) with the rad vertical, I could then get the shroud almost vertical and then angle it out.
The SECRET To Removing A Fan Shroud From A C3 Corvette - YouTube
The 76 refresh pt1 was very close to what I had to do. I just could not get enough room to get the rad out without it catching on the bottom corners of the shroud.
My Procedure:
1) I removed all of the straps, bolts, pulley wheels as recommended by others and above instruction. I only took out the top 2 rad support bolts on each side and pushed the support forward.
2) I would pull up the shroud an inch or two to get the space needed to pull up the rad
3) I pulled up the rad to get the edges ABOVE the shroud.
4) Then, back and forth on the shroud and rad to work it higher.
5) when both were about half out, I could rotate the rad almost vertical so the bottom hose pipe is the center of the frame.
6) At this point, I had more room to move shroud forward but NOT out.
7) The back and forth method was working and if I had a hydraulic lift I could have dropped the rad from the bottom.
8) with the rad vertical, I could then get the shroud almost vertical and then angle it out.
