1967 BB fan clutch replacement vendor

[Domenic T.]

Joe Lucia answered my thread a few weeks ago about this, but my corvette vendor says N/A. Joe said Eaton makes a replacement for the GM 391641.

My question is, can one be bought at a local parts store? I understand it's the one with the thermostat. I can order one but the parts stores send their best guess.
Anyone with a good # I can give NAPA or other for a good replacement with the thermostat?

I am a bit anal because I had 2 Heyden clutches fail (one took radiator) so I gave Heyden a visit, they were 50 miles away. They gave me a new one and said the other 2 were wrong for the applicatin.
My BB radiator is original and I want to keep it that way.

DOM

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 BB fan clutch replacement vendor

Joe Lucia answered my thread a few weeks ago about this, but my corvette vendor says N/A. Joe said Eaton makes a replacement for the GM 391641.

My question is, can one be bought at a local parts store? I understand it's the one with the thermostat. I can order one but the parts stores send their best guess.
Anyone with a good # I can give NAPA or other for a good replacement with the thermostat?

I am a bit anal because I had 2 Heyden clutches fail (one took radiator) so I gave Heyden a visit, they were 50 miles away. They gave me a new one and said the other 2 were wrong for the applicatin.
My BB radiator is original and I want to keep it that way.

DOM

DOM------



It's GM #3916141.

Try this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1960-70-Chevrolet-OEM-Factory-Fan-Clutch-GM-3916141-/351012899341?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item51b9ffca0d&vxp=mtr

[David K.]

Re: 1967 BB fan clutch replacement vendor

Dom and Joe,

I just odered a fan clutch for my 67 BB just a few days ago from Americas Finest Corvettes. www.corvetteusa.com. On their website they claim that Schwitzer was the primary supplier of fan clutches for Corvettes and other GM models from 1961 - 1974. Eaton was a provider after Schwitzer up till 2004; I think that is how they word it on the website. Schwitzer clutches have straight fins and Eaton clutches have curved fins. Are their claims correct? If not I may have to cancel the order.

Dave

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 BB fan clutch replacement vendor

Dom and Joe,

I just odered a fan clutch for my 67 BB just a few days ago from Americas Finest Corvettes. www.corvetteusa.com. On their website they claim that Schwitzer was the primary supplier of fan clutches for Corvettes and other GM models from 1961 - 1974. Eaton was a provider after Schwitzer up till 2004; I think that is how they word it on the website. Schwitzer clutches have straight fins and Eaton clutches have curved fins. Are their claims correct? If not I may have to cancel the order.

Dave

Dave------


I have no idea what they mean by "primary supplier". However, I can tell you that BOTH Schwitzer and Eaton fan clutches were installed on Corvettes during the 1961-74 period. For example, the 3916141 is an Eaton fan clutch now and always was an Eaton fan clutch. It was originally installed on some big blocks.

Eaton clutches have "coil spring" style thermostats whereas Schwitzer clutches have "bi-mtallic plate" style thermostats.

[Domenic T.]

Re: 1967 BB fan clutch replacement vendor

Joe,
None were for vette's as I was worried about. As you know the vette water pump has a 5/8 shaft rather than the 1/2" on pax cars.
I bought clutches from parts stores that did not have the diameter to fit the vette water pump. NOW, I did get the vette pump from Heyden that had the 5/8 shaft, way back, but I already changed the water pump to a 1/2" shaft and had to machine a spacer to fit the 1/2 " shaft. It was 1/16" thick, 1/2" ID / 5/8 OD.
Question,
Joe, which clutch do you think was better, the coil or the other, meaning the one without the coil in front?

DOM

[Domenic T.]

Re: 1967 BB fan clutch replacement vendor

David & Joe,
It might be that the primary supplier supplied most of the clutches and Eaton filled orders as needed. I really don't know.
My last post was a bit confusing as I was talking about the water pump shaft being larger 5/8" than most passenger car shafts.
That was one of the problems I had when getting a new fan clutch. They were delivered and I was not at a counter to open the box. Eventually I used the smaller shaft water pump so I could get a fan clutch without ordering one. That way I was able to complete a trip if the fan clutch failed.
When I visited Heyden they asked about the condition of my water pump so I brought it with me.
Which was the better designed thermostat?

DOM

[David K.]

Re: 1967 BB fan clutch replacement vendor

Well, my new Schwitzer fan clutch arrived yesterday and I am going to put it on the car and not worry about. I agree with Joe and doubt that Schwitzer had an exclusive with GM supplying fan clutches to them for all those years. FWIW I have an unrestored original 70 Z-28 with the original fan clutch and I am 99% sure it is Eaton.

Dave

[Mike M.]

Re: 1967 BB fan clutch replacement vendor

i'm certain that both eaton and schwitzer fan clutches left the st louis assembly line from 61 at least thru 67(i'm not too knowledgable with the c-3 and up vets) mike

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 BB fan clutch replacement vendor

Joe,
None were for vette's as I was worried about. As you know the vette water pump has a 5/8 shaft rather than the 1/2" on pax cars.
I bought clutches from parts stores that did not have the diameter to fit the vette water pump. NOW, I did get the vette pump from Heyden that had the 5/8 shaft, way back, but I already changed the water pump to a 1/2" shaft and had to machine a spacer to fit the 1/2 " shaft. It was 1/16" thick, 1/2" ID / 5/8 OD.
Question,
Joe, which clutch do you think was better, the coil or the other, meaning the one without the coil in front?

DOM

Dom------


If you're referring to the PILOT SHAFT on the waterpumps, I'm unaware of any Chevrolet that used a 1/2" size pilot shaft, although I suppose it's possible they were used for some 6 cylinder applications. All passenger cars and Corvettes with V-8 engines through 1970 used waterpumps with a 5/8" pilot shaft. I believe that passenger cars continued to use a 5/8" pilot shaft after 1970. However, Corvettes changed to a 3/4" shaft from 1971 onward.

The 3916141 clutch I mentioned above has a center hole sized for a 5/8" pilot shaft if it's made to original GM #3916141 specifications. Some aftermarket clutches have a 3/4" pilot hole and are supplied with a bushing for 5/8" pilot shaft applications. I've yet to see one for a Chevrolet application that had a 1/2" size hole.

As far as which is the better type of fan clutch, coil spring or plate type thermostat, I'd say they're about the same. However, I might give a slight edge to the coil spring type.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 BB fan clutch replacement vendor

Well, my new Schwitzer fan clutch arrived yesterday and I am going to put it on the car and not worry about. I agree with Joe and doubt that Schwitzer had an exclusive with GM supplying fan clutches to them for all those years. FWIW I have an unrestored original 70 Z-28 with the original fan clutch and I am 99% sure it is Eaton.

Dave

Dave-----


When you say "NEW Schwitzer clutch", do you mean a BRAND NEW, in-the-box unit? If so, it must be NOS because I'm not aware that Schwitzer currently manufactures original style clutches, if they manufacture any fan clutches, at all.

[David K.]

Re: 1967 BB fan clutch replacement vendor

Dave-----


When you say "NEW Schwitzer clutch", do you mean a BRAND NEW, in-the-box unit? If so, it must be NOS because I'm not aware that Schwitzer currently manufactures original style clutches, if they manufacture any fan clutches, at all.

Joe,
Sorry. Didn't mean to imply it was new NOS. It is a repro Schwitzer fan clutch that I bought from Americas Finest Corvettes. I assume they are the ones reproing it but I am not certain. Cost was $169. I thought I had seen repro fan clutches in Paragon's catalog and I just went to see if theirs is a Schwitzer or Eaton, but after looking thru the catalog for a few minuets I could not find it.
Have a great holiday everyone!

Dave.

[Domenic T.]

Re: 1967 BB fan clutch replacement vendor

Joe,
You are right about the water pump shafts. I should have said 5/8" and 3/4" instead of 1/2" and 5/8".

Does anyone know if there are any good over the counter ones that can be bought from the local parts store? I would like to get one and use it to complete my engine compartment this weekend. I can then remove it later to put the repo on and use it on my other cars or keep it as a spare.

Dom

Dom

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 BB fan clutch replacement vendor

Joe,
Sorry. Didn't mean to imply it was new NOS. It is a repro Schwitzer fan clutch that I bought from Americas Finest Corvettes. I assume they are the ones reproing it but I am not certain. Cost was $169. I thought I had seen repro fan clutches in Paragon's catalog and I just went to see if theirs is a Schwitzer or Eaton, but after looking thru the catalog for a few minuets I could not find it.
Have a great holiday everyone!

Dave.

Dave------


I was not aware that a Scwitzer-style reproduction fan clutch was available.

Addendum:

I checked the AFC web-site. It appears they do have a Schwitzer style fan clutch reproduction. They look very good and true-to-original. However, I wonder how well they function? That's the real test.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 BB fan clutch replacement vendor

Joe,
You are right about the water pump shafts. I should have said 5/8" and 3/4" instead of 1/2" and 5/8".

Does anyone know if there are any good over the counter ones that can be bought from the local parts store? I would like to get one and use it to complete my engine compartment this weekend. I can then remove it later to put the repo on and use it on my other cars or keep it as a spare.

Dom

Dom

DOM-----


I don't like aftermarket-type fan clutches. However, for temporary duty as you describe I think you could get away with a Four Seasons #36964. This will likely have a 3/4" pilot hole with a supplied bushing reducer for 5/8" pilot applications.

[Russ S.]

Re: 1967 BB fan clutch replacement vendor

I have seen far more Eatons than Shcwitzers in my years working on the mid years. Not saying that more Eatons than Schwitzers were used just an observation. As I recall Eaton quit producing the near correct replacement a couple years ago.