Fan Blade for 65 Corvette

[Murray S.]

I am trying to find a correct fan blade for my 65 L79 non-air Corvette.
I was at Corvette Carlisle but was unable to find anything suitable.
I just checked eBay; they sent me a link to Zip-Products.
Their description is as follows:
Correct reproduction 5 blade fan for 1964 late -1967 327 Corvettes without air condition. Features include 17.5" diameter with 25 degree pitch. Flat head rivets hold blades to center and stampings (H, Front, W) on the center section. Powder coated black.
Here is an image:


I thought that the rivets should be mushroom head, not flat heads.
Also, shouldn't there be a manufacturer logo on the fan??
And, I thought that the diameter is 17 1/8 inches.

Better yet, does anyone know where I can get an ORIGINAL fan??

Thanks
Murray Sobol

BTW: please do NOT direct me to the 65 Judging Manual; it is hopelessly out of date with plenty of promises of an updated version coming "real soon" but nothing yet.

[Tony S.]

Re: Fan Blade for 65 Corvette

From my research (with help from Pete Lindahl), the button type rivet is the correct rivet for the '65 L79--not the mushroom head.

[Jim D.]

Re: Fan Blade for 65 Corvette

The rivets on my 65 are flat.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Fan Blade for 65 Corvette

Murray, keep looking, they are out there, instant gratification can easily manifest as a repro part that you find out later is wrong.

Set up a search, ask the people that don't sell on the flea, best of all give it a couple of months.

You might try LIC, theirs have been closer to the originals if you want it now.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Fan Blade for 65 Corvette

Murray,

I don't want to muddy the waters on this subject but my brother has a 03xxx November built (early) 65 and his fan had mushroom rivets like what's called out for a 63.

My 63 was missing it's original fan so I changed my NOS flat rivet fan for his mushroom head rivet fan. He has a very original car but I believe someone put this fan and clutch on the car. I am also curious if this early fan could have been used in early 65 and it belongs back on his car.

Someone had installed a 097 solid lifter camshaft in his L-79 along with a later GM aluminum radiator and water pump before we put it back but otherwise it is original so I always wondered about this fan.

[Murray S.]

Re: Fan Blade for 65 Corvette

Jim:
Thanks for the reply.
Is your car an early VIN or late??
I think that's where some of the confusion comes in; when was the changeover date from mushroom heads to flat rivets??

Murray

[Grant P.]

Re: Fan Blade for 65 Corvette

My March build L79 has flat rivits. Grant

[Jim D.]

Re: Fan Blade for 65 Corvette

Murray, My 65 is an early April car.

[David L.]

Re: Fan Blade for 65 Corvette

My original 1966 17 1/8" dia. 5-blade fan has "flat" head rivets and is stamped "H" on the front and "W" on the back. It does NOT have the word "FRONT". The Schwitzer fan-clutch with bar strip is stamped "SC 1-26-66" on the edge of the hub.

It seems quite logical that "early" 1965's would have "dome" head rivets like the 1963's and 1964's.

Dave