Radiator Shroud Help Needed
 

My truck has a 350 sbc in the I6 location, which pushes the motor and fan away from the shroud and radiator. Ideally, I need the shroud either to be ~2" longer, or the fan ~2" closer.

Can anyone with a 4x4 shroud measure the distance from the front of the shroud (radiator) to the opening of the shroud where the fan sits? Mine shroud from the radiator to the fan opening is 4 1/4" long. Is the 4x4 shroud longer?

Is it safe to use a 2" spacer WITH a fan clutch? I read in a couple places on the interwebs that using a spacer would put more stress on the water pump bearings, which can cause premature failure. If this is do-able for a daily driver truck and safe, it would be the cheapest/easiest option (which makes me think not a very good one.)

Eventually I will be putting a 5.3 LS motor in this truck, which would mean a new radiator and electric fans, so I am hoping not to have to buy a new shroud, just to not need it in a few months.

I am also playing with the idea of riveting 2" of aluminum to the shroud and extending the shroud that way. The truck is no longer overheating and runs great, but for safety when the hood is open and just to be correct/more efficient, I would like to put the fan into the shroud.

Thanks again for the help!

Damon

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...pswpwlabec.jpg

Re: Radiator Shroud Help Needed
 

You definitely do not want to put a spacer behind that fan clutch. If, in a few months, you are planning to do the LS swap you won't be needing that shroud anyway so for temporary use you could rivet say a 4" band of aluminum to that shroud and solve your present issue. That 4" is about the difference between the V8 engine stand location and the L6 location.

Re: Radiator Shroud Help Needed
 

9 1/2" :chevy:

Agree with Boog, do not add a spacer to your fan clutch.

Re: Radiator Shroud Help Needed
 

So at 9 1/2", a 4x4 fan shroud would somehow be too long! If mine is 4 1/2", an extra 5" would put the fan too far into the shroud by 1" to 2".

Maybe the bandaid aluminum extension would be the best route for now, until the new rad with electric fans

Re: Radiator Shroud Help Needed
 

you want your fan to be just inside the shroud, looks like a 4x4 shroud would work

Re: Radiator Shroud Help Needed
 

and some time ago, a member posted plans for fabricating a shroud; those were great plans that I can't find now

Re: Radiator Shroud Help Needed
 

here's another option.

http://www.google.com/url?url=http:/...4gtfghNyG2ikaA

Re: Radiator Shroud Help Needed
 

thanks a lot, that's helpful. someone has also shared plans (that he drew) for a fan shroud that he built from scrap for a v8 engine. I may have seen it on another website. this gentleman shared the detailed plans and photos

Re: Radiator Shroud Help Needed
 

I extended the shroud on my'71 GMC with a strip of vinyl base molding from either Lowe's or Home Depot. Wrapped it around the shroud and secured it with short sheet metal screws. I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'D LOOK AWFUL.... but I don't think it's very noticeable. It's black, about the same texture as the shroud and it has a little lip on the edge. It worked great, made a huge difference in temperature on the truck. Cost less than $5 to cure my problem.

Re: Radiator Shroud Help Needed
 

Did the same thing to protect my fingers from that razor sharp flex fan.

Think I used Contact Cement and rivets to attach it.

Darn thing pushes so much air now that I can still get home by revving the engine up to 3500 RPM if the tranny goes out.

...ok I made that part up. :lol:

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSCF6538.jpg

Notice the camel hump fuelie heads? :cool:

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...h_DSCF6536.jpg

Re: Radiator Shroud Help Needed
 

An inexpensive solution to a relatively common problem, and it looks good too!

Re: Radiator Shroud Help Needed
 

Here's a couple more pictures of mine. I have a 7 blade clutch fan that sits a little deeper into the shroud. Runs quiet and COOL