1969 L-46 radiator shroud crowding fan

[Daniel T.]

I wonder if anyone can give me some advice or insight as to why my radiator shroud is not clearing the fan. I have just completed installing a new radiator support from coffman. The fan was hitting the shroud already unless I pushed it up on top of the screws in the bottom of the support. I assumed my problem was from the badly deteriorated original support that I replaced. as can be seen in the photos it still hits the shroud.. I know I need to shim the bottom of the support but it is already about 1/2 in off the lower frame member. I'm wondering if maybe I have the wrong engine mounts. I tried to get some pics of these. Also I know I have the wrong water pump maybe this one has the spindle too high some how. The fan is 17 1/2 inches pretty sure that the right one.

[David M.]

Re: 1969 L-46 radiadiator shroud crowding fan

Worn engine and trans mounts will cause this. Yours look like they are compressed. If they are original consider replacement. And dont route the plug wires behind the mounts, if Im seeing that correctly?. You didn't have the problem before you changed the support right? So something changed there? Compare the old support to the new.

[Daniel T.]

Re: 1969 L-46 radiadiator shroud crowding fan

Hi David and thanks for the reply. The shop that installed the engine for me installed those mounts and wires. I'm not sure if they are new or just repainted with the same old rubber. Also I did have this problem before I installed the new radiator support. I was thinking that changing it would solve the problem. the old support was badly deteriorated.

[David M.]

Re: 1969 L-46 radiadiator shroud crowding fan

Welcome...Did someone swap a big block in where a small block originally lived? Are the frame mounts which the engine mounts attach to original to the car? I do know on 68-72 Oldsmobile A bodies the mounts are different for small & big blocks. Make sure you have the correct Anchor part number for your application. Believe it or not Rock Auto sells the exact mount everyone else does for a fraction of the price. Do the trans mount too.

Now that I think about it...a bad mount will cause the bottom of the fan to hit the shroud. Opposite of your problem. Brains not hitting on all 8 tonight.

Still may be a miss match on the motor mount area. Or something up front is off. I thought this was discussed here a while back where something wasnt right with the dimension on the reproduced cushions or the support? Cushions were too short? Again memory is the second thing to go...

Do you have the AIM? If so study that page(s). If not get one they are cheap.

[David M.]

Re: 1969 L-46 radiadiator shroud crowding fan

Is that a factory shroud?

[Daniel T.]

Re: 1969 L-46 radiadiator shroud crowding fan

it has the correct #3956109 but it may well be a reproduction. also has some heat damage on top.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1969 L-46 radiadiator shroud crowding fan

And dont route the plug wires behind the mounts, if Im seeing that correctly?.

They're supposed to be behind the mounts, but they're still not quite right on this car.
I see that the V-shields (boomerang shields) are also missing.

Make sure you have the correct Anchor part number for your application. Believe it or not Rock Auto sells the exact mount everyone else does for a fraction of the price. Do the trans mount too.

Current Anchor mounts don't fit, and haven't for years. Don't waste your money.

Corvette Central came out with new ones a few years ago and they fit like a glove. Other than NOS GM engine mounts, you won't do better.
I'd recommend upgrading to the locking style:
https://www.corvettecentral.com/c3-68-82/engine/mounts-bolts/63-82-engine-mount-locking-correct-302005?returnurl=%2fc3-68-82%2fengine%2fmounts-bolts%2f%3fcount%3d9

[Mark E.]

Re: 1969 L-46 radiadiator shroud crowding fan

Daniel,

Adjust the shroud's position using the slotted bracket at the top of the core support. You may need a helper to push and hold the shroud as you tighten it in place to overcome some tension. Adjust so there's about one finger width of clearance between the shroud and fan.

[Daniel T.]

Re: 1969 L-46 radiadiator shroud crowding fan

its all the way back already mark.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1969 L-46 radiadiator shroud crowding fan

Has the car ever been in an accident?
Any chance the nose or frame are crooked?

Strange things happen to these cars over time.

[Daniel T.]

Re: 1969 L-46 radiadiator shroud crowding fan

seems pretty straight to me. the frame width at the front of the rails is exactly correct. also there appears to be no issue with the nose drooping as the door gaps are tight. I'm thinking the engine mounts are aftermarket and do not fit correctly. I will take your advice and install the ones from corvette central. Also replace the transmission mount. If that wont fix it I can only assume that the shroud itself is somehow become misshapen.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1969 L-46 radiadiator shroud crowding fan

I wonder if anyone can give me some advice or insight as to why my radiator shroud is not clearing the fan. I have just completed installing a new radiator support from coffman. The fan was hitting the shroud already unless I pushed it up on top of the screws in the bottom of the support. I assumed my problem was from the badly deteriorated original support that I replaced. as can be seen in the photos it still hits the shroud.. I know I need to shim the bottom of the support but it is already about 1/2 in off the lower frame member. I'm wondering if maybe I have the wrong engine mounts. I tried to get some pics of these. Also I know I have the wrong water pump maybe this one has the spindle too high some how. The fan is 17 1/2 inches pretty sure that the right one.

Daniel------

The waterpump is not a GM casting. It's some sort of aftermarket. Still, it's hard for me to imagine that the dimensional specs are not right. But, who knows? If you were to buy a rebuild with a GM '608' casting, you'd know, for sure, that it's right. These are not that hard to find.

[Daniel T.]

Re: 1969 L-46 radiadiator shroud crowding fan

Hi Joe, and thanks for that. I'm definitely getting one. I know the correct pump for this engine does not have a bypass boss on the top.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1969 L-46 radiadiator shroud crowding fan

Hi Joe, and thanks for that. I'm definitely getting one. I know the correct pump for this engine does not have a bypass boss on the top.

Daniel------

If it were a GM pump, even of the type with the external bypass, I'd be certain of the correct dimensional specifications. However, with an aftermarket casting, there's a possibility of a problem in this regard.

[Edward J.]

Re: 1969 L-46 radiadiator shroud crowding fan

Dan is it possible that the upper shroud bracket is mounted on the under the support cannot quite tell by the pic.,but my 72 bracket is on top of the support. Which will give you a bit more clearance.