72-79 Alternator Fan, GM # 800594, 2 different versions

[David L.]

Apparently there are two different versions of the 1972-1979 Corvette alternator fan. One has 11 blades (4 blades w/3 ribs per blade and 7 blades w/2 ribs per blade) and one that has 10 blades (2 blades w/3 ribs per blade and 8 blades w/2 ribs per blade.

The photo on the left shows a NOS as well as a used 800594 alternator fan w/11 blades.

The photo on the right shows Joe's NOS 800594 alternator fan from the "Alternator Fan" thread (Joe's post on Feb. 5, 2011 @ 2:53 PM).

I tend to believe that the 11-blade 800594 fan was the early version and the 10-blade 800594 fan was the later version.

I would appreciate any comments from owners of 1972-1979 Corvettes that have their original alternators.

Dave

[Rich C.]

Re: 72-79 Alternator Fan, GM # 800594, 2 different versions

My '73 has fan like your picture on the left. I also have an N.O.S. fan that is identical, but it is OLD stock. The other fan sure looks like a replacemnt for several similar fans. The three languages on packaging indicates it was made long after '79

'73 LS-4 454

[David L.]

Re: 72-79 Alternator Fan, GM # 800594, 2 different versions

As usual while looking for parts I tend to find parts that I forgot that I even still owned. The 11-blade alternator fan pictured below is from my 1977 El Camino that I purchased new back in the late Spring of 1977. The alternator is stamped "1102394", "37A", and "7A20" (January 20, 1977). According to my 1977 Chevrolet Parts Catalog (March 1977) the alternator fan is part number 800594 in Gr. 2.274. I cleaned the pulley on my wire wheel and found it still has remnants of black paint near the center hole as shown in the top photo.

It's unusual that when GM went from the 11-blade 800594 fan to the 10-blade version there was no part number change.

Dave