396 fan identification

[Bob P.]

Can anyone tell me if the 396 fan has a "W" stamped on it?

[Joe L.]

Re: 396 fan identification

Can anyone tell me if the 396 fan has a "W" stamped on it?

Bob-----


I am reasonably sure that it does not have a "W" (or, any other character).

[Bob P.]

Re: 396 fan identification

Joe

I tend to agree with you. My fan does not have one, however, I was in Kissimmee last month and one of the judges believed it should.

[Joe L.]

Re: 396 fan identification

Joe

I tend to agree with you. My fan does not have one, however, I was in Kissimmee last month and one of the judges believed it should.

Bob------


Actually, I believe the fan blade assembly with the "W" is the GM #3770529 which was used on most 1961-67 small blocks. It is a very common fan and, in fact, is still available from GM. I don't know that it still carries the "W" manufacturer's ID or other nuances of original configuration. As a manufacturer's ID, the "W" may be found on other fan blade assemblies, too, but I don't think the 1965 L-78 fan is one of them.

[Wayne M.]

Re: 396 fan identification

Bob------


Actually, I believe the fan blade assembly with the "W" is the GM #3770529 which was used on most 1961-67 small blocks. It is a very common fan and, in fact, is still available from GM. I don't know that it still carries the "W" manufacturer's ID or other nuances of original configuration. As a manufacturer's ID, the "W" may be found on other fan blade assemblies, too, but I don't think the 1965 L-78 fan is one of them.

FWIW, the '529' fan (pic below, on bottom) does not have the 'W'. It is from either '65 #101xx or '64 #086xx; notice the round (mushroom) head rivets. Neither does my A/C 7-blade '943' have any stamping on the rear spider arms (also mushroom rivets, off a '64).

I almost shouldn't even mention the following, as it pollutes the original poster's question, but the top fan assy. I show is possibly a "hybrid" (circa 1971) service unit with the spider used on '66-up '3888366' [with the 'W'] but with the shorter blades of the '65 L78 #3872792 (to give nominal O.D. of 17.0").

I took the attached pic to show the different angle of the blades on the big block fan (top) with the small block '529' (bottom).



r

[Jaime G.]

Re: 396 fan identification

No W on original fan blade unit for L78

[Bob P.]

Re: 396 fan identification

Wayne

So are you saying the 3872792 does have a "W" like the 3888366? Is it manufactured by the same company, in the same profile with a smaller outter diameter?

Bob

[Bob P.]

Re: 396 fan identification

Thanks to all.

I'm glad I didn't go and ruin a perfectly good fan by trying to stamp a "W" on it.

[David L.]

Re: 396 fan identification

According to my research over the last 25 years this is what I have found.

3770529 fan (1960-1967)
17 1/8" dia., 1 5/8" pitch, 4.00" by 5.68" blade
stamped "H" on front, "W" on rear (my original 1966 fan w/flat rivet heads)

3872792 fan (1965 w/396)
17" dia., 2 1/8" pitch, 4.00" by 5.68" blade
no identifying marks on ctr. hub

3888366 fan (1966-1967 w/427, 1968-1970 wo/AC)
17 1/2" dia. , 2 1/8" pitch, 4.00" by 5.93" blade
stamped "FRONT", "H", and "66" on front

All 3 fans were made by Hayes-Albion with 3" BC and 2 3/8" hub hole.

Dave

[Bill W.]

Re: 396 fan identification

Sorry to be the odd man out but my fan from st louis built 17346 31.000 miles has a heavy H stamped on the front side of the spider in the bolt area and a very light stamped W on the rear side by the rivets . It also has the flat rivets and is 17" My fan from #16120 is very rusty but has a heavy stamped H on the front and is to pitted to see anything on the rear . It also is 17" and has round top rivits .

[David L.]

Re: 396 fan identification

Sorry to be the odd man out but my fan from st louis built 17346 31.000 miles has a heavy H stamped on the front side of the spider in the bolt area and a very light stamped W on the rear side by the rivets . It also has the flat rivets and is 17" My fan from #16120 is very rusty but has a heavy stamped H on the front and is to pitted to see anything on the rear . It also is 17" and has round top rivits .

Bill,

Does the pitch measure 1 5/8" or 2 1/8"?

Dave

[Bill W.]

Re: 396 fan identification

Dave my rusty fan is bent so I cant get A pitch . the one from 17346 is exactly 17" dia. Laying it flat on a table it has a 2 1/8 pitch . The blades are 5 5/8 long. and 4' on the long side & 3 3/4 across the rear side .It has flat rivits and is stamped H with the word Front on the front . and a light W on the back side .Everything is the same as my rusty one except the word front and the rivits. Bill

[Tony S.]

Re: 396 fan identification

Bill. My July 29, 1965 L78 car had the same fan as you have described. H in the front, light W in the back. I'd like to know if these features appear on Jody Balch's (formerly Gene Leonard's) car. Jody's car is earlier than my L78 car though. I'm not sure if that makes a difference.

Tony

[Wayne M.]

Re: 396 fan identification

A few pics so that we're all on the same wavelength as to stampings; the 'W' on the back of an arm of the spider. 'FRONT' (amazingly) on the front, hence not visible during judging because of the fan clutch, and the heavy "H", and finally the '66'.





b

[James W.]

Re: 396 fan identification

396 fan pictures from 1965 396 VIN 22161.


James West