C3 fan shroud

[Tom R.]

on a 70 454 with a/c & automatic can the fan shroud be removed without removing the radiator? any tips or suggestions

[Dick W.]

Re: C3 fan shroud

Anything is possible, but some things are easier than others. Easy way is to remove radiator and shroud as an assembly. Either tilt the core support forward or loosen the right upper control arm and move it out of the way. My preference is the core support.

[Jim T.]

Re: C3 fan shroud

Tom does your 70 have fiberglass cover on the upper core support bolts located in the wheelwell of the right front wheel? My 70 factory air and automatic 350 has this covering. Unable to remove all the core support bolts without destrucion of the factory installed covering in the wheelwell I have always unbolted the passenger side upper control arm to remove my big shroud and radiator. The control arm is fairly easy to deal with. Place a floor jack under the lower control arm on the right side and lift the front wheel and remove it. Remove the tire and loosen the two upper control arm nuts in the engine compartment. Remove the shims and tape them together and mark the removed location on the tape for reinstallation. Remove the control arm nuts and the control arm will freely move. I like to take a punch and knock the rear bolt from the frame, both of these bolts have serated edges to retain them in the frame. Removal helps to move the upper control arm back into the wheelwell which will give clearance to remove the fan shroud. Removing the front wheel will give you access to insert the control arm bolt into the frame if you knocked it out. After I remove my 70's shroud I also knock out the front bolt to make it easier to reinstall the control arm.

[Chuck S.]

Re: C3 fan shroud

Unable to remove all the core support bolts without destrucion of the factory installed covering in the wheelwell I have always unbolted the passenger side upper control arm to remove my big shroud and radiator.

Jim, it's a waste of time to try and explain this to Granpa Smurf. Been there, done that...Bet him a dinner in Waco, but I felt so sorry for the old guy (NCRS syndrome), I paid anyway.

[Dick W.]

Re: C3 fan shroud

Thanks again for the dinner. And you said that you figured out how I did it also. It can be done without destroying anything, just takes time and patience..

[Chuck S.]

Re: C3 fan shroud

Oh yeah, Dickie, I had already removed that top right screw before the bet.

I had to butcher up a perfectly good closed end wrench and exercise ultra extreme patience. It takes a very long time to screw out that 1 1/4" (?) screw turning it 1/12 of a turn, reversing the wrench, and making another 1/12 of a turn.

At the end, the screw head is jammed against the outside of the hose cover, and the pointed end can barely be forced out of the support hole. The bet was it couldn't be done with the hoses in place...on this, I remain unconvinced...it can't be done because it is physically impossible.

I needed the support out for repair. If I was removing the shroud now, I would do the control arm trick. You can brute force the small block shroud out without either activity IF you can get the radiator out (easier said than done). I found this approach WILL scar up the shroud...I don't recommend it.