66 fan clutch original and GM Service replacement

[Jack P.]

Fan clutch.....

I am working on the engine bay area.............I took off my original clutch fan about 8 years ago.....thinking it was the problem with overheating........I replaced it with a GM part bought at a GM Chevy dealership.

I am going to put back on the original, since a new DeWitt Radiator cured the problem.....

Pictures of the two clutches , notice the difference in the stud lengths and the housing around bearing.....and one thermal spring and the other a thermal plate...unit

Was the back of the clutch painted orange ? or did I do it late one night and forgot ?




both









Fan with H and W on centers

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 fan clutch original and GM Service replacement

Fan clutch.....

I am working on the engine bay area.............I took off my original clutch fan about 8 years ago.....thinking it was the problem with overheating........I replaced it with a GM part bought at a GM Chevy dealership.

I am going to put back on the original, since a new DeWitt Radiator cured the problem.....

Pictures of the two clutches , notice the difference in the stud lengths and the housing around bearing.....and one thermal spring and the other a thermal plate...unit

Was the back of the clutch painted orange ? or did I do it late one night and forgot ?




both









Fan with H and W on centers

Jack------


The original fan clutches were not painted orange on the reverse side. Some may have had colored inspection marks but not more-or-less fully painted.

Your original fan clutch is a Schwitzer-manufactured unit with a bi-metallic plate-type thermostat. The replacement looks like an Eaton with a coil type thermostat. All replacements available from GM for at least the last 25 years have been the Eaton units.

I have found that the Schwitzer units were not particularly long-lived. I used to replace them with some regularity. You may find that going back to the original clutch creates some idle cooling problems for you, whether you have replaced the radiator or not.

[Jack P.]

Re: 66 fan clutch original and GM Service replacement

Jack------


The original fan clutches were not painted orange on the reverse side. Some may have had colored inspection marks but not more-or-less fully painted.

Your original fan clutch is a Schwitzer-manufactured unit with a bi-metallic plate-type thermostat. The replacement looks like an Eaton with a coil type thermostat. All replacements available from GM for at least the last 25 years have been the Eaton units.

I have found that the Schwitzer units were not particularly long-lived. I used to replace them with some regularity. You may find that going back to the original clutch creates some idle cooling problems for you, whether you have replaced the radiator or not.

Thanks Joe,

I did want to put the original clutch back....but was hesitant....I drive a lot..under all conditions and overheating is a problem I wish to avoid....

Most people can not see the front of clutch......so I will put back on the newer clutch and rest easy......

Save the original for some future date or judging by my son and who ever owns the car when I die.....although there may not be many miles left in her by the time I get done driving

jack