Fan shroud question

[Edward M.]

Will a 55 fan shroud setup work on a 56? I understand there are differences, I am just wondering if a 55 fan shroud setup will physically bolt onto a 56 without modifications?

[Mike M.]

Re: Fan shroud question

totally differnt configuration. why not get a repo 56 from gary mortimer? i didn't have a 55 shroud for our 55. i used a 56 repo and although it can be made to fit and function, ole bubba had to do a little re-configuring to get the 56 to fit in the 55 vette.i'm pretty certain the 53-5 judges will pick up on the change.mike

[Edward M.]

Re: Fan shroud question

totally differnt configuration. why not get a repo 56 from gary mortimer? i didn't have a 55 shroud for our 55. i used a 56 repo and although it can be made to fit and function, ole bubba had to do a little re-configuring to get the 56 to fit in the 55 vette.i'm pretty certain the 53-5 judges will pick up on the change.mike

Originality isn't really a concern. I have a lead on a repo 55 shroud at a really good price, but probably won't bother if there is significant effort in getting it to fit.

[Mike M.]

Re: Fan shroud question

ed: i wasn't aware the 55 shrouds were reproduced. who's got em?mike

[Roy B.]

Re: Fan shroud question

totally differnt configuration. why not get a repo 56 from gary mortimer? i didn't have a 55 shroud for our 55. i used a 56 repo and although it can be made to fit and function, ole bubba had to do a little re-configuring to get the 56 to fit in the 55 vette.i'm pretty certain the 53-5 judges will pick up on the change.mike

Mike ! what is it you had to do?

[Edward M.]

Re: Fan shroud question

ed: i wasn't aware the 55 shrouds were reproduced. who's got em?mike

Not sure it is a repo, for that matter, I'm not sure it is a 55 Corvette fan shroud. That is what the seller says.

I wouldn't know a 55 fan shroud if it bit me.

Corvette Central website says they have the upper shroud. I did not check on the rest of it.

[Michael H.]

Re: Fan shroud question

Roy, at the NCRS Winter Meet, one of the Judges informed me that the '55 radiator shroud is supposed to have a small hole (maybe about 1/16th inch in diameter) at the bend in the upper left corner (where the vertical portion on the upper driver's side of the shroud bends into the upper middle horizontal portion). He said that the repo shrouds lack such an hole, but the originals have it. Does your original '55 shroud contain such a small hole? Anyone else know for sure? Thanks.

[Roy B.]

Re: Fan shroud question

My opinion !!= Yes my original ( first design) has that hole. Which was used for nothing? 55 also had a had five piece shroud assy not a four piece .The lower shroud had a support piece #5, that the two little elongated holes, screws were used to connect it . Later 57 (second design) had two larger holes to connect to the cross frame to support the lower shroud.
BUT!! GM (second design) dint do away with the two little holes at the bottom shroud or the top shroud one little hole till later in production. So to see them in late 56 to 58 is original.
I don't know what Mike! meant about 56 being different then 55 because "early 56" used the same five piece shroud as the 55.
Then 57 had a cut out at the top shroud as in the pic. that the 55 dint have.
Pic. with red arrow is a original 55 engine area. top pic. 57 still has the little hole.

[Gary C.]

Re: Fan shroud question

Roy, the hole on the top piece left handside near the bend was on 56-7 upper radiator shrouds. Also there a "keystone" manufacturer's logo on the 56-7 upper shroud inside left above the sway bar, sometimes on both sides. Gary....

[Edward M.]

Re: Fan shroud question

OK, so I think I understand that a 55 shroud will physically fit a 56, correct?

The one I am looking at is an original lower section(s) and a repo upper section (from ZIP).

I'm looking for cheap for my 56 rat rod.

[Roy B.]

Re: Fan shroud question

OK, so I think I understand that a 55 shroud will physically fit a 56, correct?

The one I am looking at is an original lower section(s) and a repo upper section (from ZIP).

I'm looking for cheap for my 56 rat rod.

Correct

[Roy B.]

Re: Fan shroud question

Roy, the hole on the top piece left handside near the bend was on 56-7 upper radiator shrouds. Also there a "keystone" manufacturer's logo on the 56-7 upper shroud inside left above the sway bar, sometimes on both sides. Gary....

Logo correct
The little hole 55 had it also

[John S.]

Re: Fan shroud question

there is mention of the two holes in the lower radiator shroud but i have never heard anyone mentioning the hole configuration in the lower part of the 1955 radiator support bracket. i have seen two radiator support brackets with 5 holes. the center hole is directly in the middle and the other holes measure 4 and eight inches from center. on the late car none of these holes seem to have had a bracket attached. the holes in the radiator support bracket would line up with either the first or second design shroud bracket. i am wondering why there is a center hole in the radiator support bracket? the lower shroud support bracket has been reproduced in the one piece design and whoever designed it cut out a slot so that the center hole is not covered by the bracket. as for the top shroud on later 55s i believe they do have a cutout under the top radiator hose, are stamped inside the top shroud above the support rod, and has that small 1/16" hole that is drilled a little below the break bend on the left side.

[Roy B.]

Re: Fan shroud question

I have trouble understanding what all your saying but I'll try! The hole in the center radiator support is a water drain. That's why the repro 5th one piece design shroud has a cut out . The top shroud's I've seen don't have the cut under the hose and all have that little hole at the break bend. Now as I've shown there was a early design 5th piece or call it a 6th piece on early 55's. Then came the 5th piece I showed that came in on say mid and all late 55's .
Now the lower radiator shroud for 55 had two little elongated holes for the two or one piece shrouds and later in 57 two larger holes were added for bolts used to hold it to the front cross member but still retained the two little holes that 55 used. Now the 5 holes in the radiator support you mentioned may be left over 54 holes that used a rubber filler and never used in 55. Now have I helped in any way as I see it and think ??