Replacing fan shroud on 66 327 with A/C?

[John M.]

How in the world does one replace the fan shroud on a 66. It just will not go in place without almost breaking it. When putting in a clutch some time ago it about ate me up. And soon will be replacing the shroud again. The darn thing will not go in with the engine out let alone with an engine in place. It hits the upper "A" arms no matter how I twist and turn it. There must be a secret movement required but so far no joy trying to figure out the procedure. Does it have to be unbonded at the connecting points on the top one third, squeezed to narrow it and inserted, and then rebounded in place? It is driving me nuts - should be a simple job BUT-------. Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions!

[Scott S.]

Re: Replacing fan shroud on 66 327 with A/C?

John, I would suggest taking the Fan and the Hub off of the water pump. Then set the rad in place. Slide the Shroud in over the Water Pump. Then put the Rad back in and move the shroud ahead towards the Rad.
I just did a 1967 SB w/AC rad replacement. Not easy but doable.
Scott

[John M.]

Re: Replacing fan shroud on 66 327 with A/C?

Scott, I have always removed the fan and clutch when putting the shroud back on but I nearly wreck it each time and certainly scratch it up badly. I attempted to put it in place with the engine and radiator out and it STILL will not slip in easily. It is the front end of the upper control arms that are in the way. One must get mean to get the shroud squeezed between the A arms, fan and clutch or not. I have trouble imagining that these cars on an assembly line could be that difficult to put together. Maybe I just don't have the touch but no matter how I turn and twist the shroud it will not slip in without a struggle - enough to make it look like it was once tossed in the junk and recovered before installation. What am I doing wrong?

[Edward D.]

Re: Replacing fan shroud on 66 327 with A/C?

The 66 shroud is perhaps the most difficult to put in. I have done it a few times, and here is the trick. Remove the radiator support upper bolts (and any shims) on each side and loosen the lowers so you can pivot the support towards the front of the car. Install the radiator and shroud together, obviously no fan on the water pump and no hoses yet. The pivoting of the support will give you the clearance from the DS upper control arm you need, but its still a tight squeeze. When all is in place, pivot support back into place and reinstall bolts and any shims you may have removed between the support and inner fender skirt.

Almost forgot, you also have to loosen the radiator support to frame bolts at the bottom by a fair amount to loosen the whole thing to a point where you can pivot it a bit.

Meant to say install the radiator and shroud together, not the support.

[John M.]

Re: Replacing fan shroud on 66 327 with A/C?

Thanks, Edward. Will give your method a try very soon. Wish we could be a little fly on the wall and go back in time to see what method they used when building these cars and how certain jobs were accomplished fast enough to keep an assembly line moving.

[Mark E.]

Re: Replacing fan shroud on 66 327 with A/C?

Thanks, Edward. Will give your method a try very soon. Wish we could be a little fly on the wall and go back in time to see what method they used when building these cars and how certain jobs were accomplished fast enough to keep an assembly line moving.

I don't know but my guess is the factory installed the core support, radiator and shroud as an assembly before body drop.

[James G.]

Re: Replacing fan shroud on 66 327 with A/C?

JOHN HINKLEY was plant manager in 66. Ask him

[John M.]

Re: Replacing fan shroud on 66 327 with A/C?

Just installed radiator and fan shroud today. Removing the core support bolts, keeping track of the shims and where they were located. Only loosened the larger bolts that go up from the bottom so core support stayed somewhat in place to help when putting things back together. Was able to install radiator and shroud with bottom radiator hose hooked up with no help at all and get all of the bolts and shims back in place. did not even have to remove the additional band of fan shroud that is present on A/C cars. this was by far the easiest this has gone back together, and only had to move the core support forward at the top no more then an inch, probably less than that really. That sure made a dreaded task go smoother. Oh, the fan was off and studs in the water pump snout to keep the pulleys in place and belt tensions untouched. Thanks very much for sharing your knowledge!