1969 427/400 fan shroud fit

[Roger G.]

The shroud on my 69 427/400 doesn't fit quite right. The shroud appears to be correct ... It is stamped 3956119 and appears to be original, although the metal bracket on top of the shroud that bolts to the core support looks newer, so maybe it is a GM replacement. The radiator is not original, and I'm not sure if it is correct.

The problem is the shroud doesn't fit well at the top... There is a fairly large gap on the passenger and driver sides ... Lower down on each side the shroud mates up flush against the radiator,so this is just on top. It looks like a lot of air can get sucked in through the gaps and decrease the cooling efficiency.

The shroud is pulled up to the core support at the top metal bracket as far as it will go... So no room to take up the slack

I have attached a couple of photos showing the fit... Anyone run into this before? Maybe the radiator is wrong? Thanks

[Bill C.]

Re: 1969 427/400 fan shroud fit

the reason is the wrong radiator core.
the originals have a very wide brace/bar at the top - the piece the shrouds lip fits over.

Only way to fix is to get a correct restoration core from Tom Dewitt. They are around $340 + shipping.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1969 427/400 fan shroud fit

Roger
That strip of foam that is laying right in front of the shroud is supposed to fit under that lip on the shroud and take up the gap you mention. Yes, that foam will have to compress, perhaps quite a bit, to fit under there -- but it should.

From what I can see in the photos the radiator looks correct, at least the upper bar of the radiator is supposed to have those cut-outs in the shape shown.

Edit add: Maybe Bill is right, but from this angle it looks OK to me. Sure would be nice to see how high that bar is. Maybe it is my eyesight, or the old Internet lack of resolution photos, but I don't see it.

Be sure the bulge in the end tanks fit into the rubber cushions on the lower brackets, and also that the cushions are properly fitted to those brackets. The cushions have a cone that sticks out from the bottom of the cushion and that cone has to go in the hole in the bracket. Those cushions can require some compression to take a set with the radiator. I like silicone grease to aid that setting.

[Roger G.]

Re: 1969 427/400 fan shroud fit

Roger
That strip of foam that is laying right in front of the shroud is supposed to fit under that lip on the shroud and take up the gap you mention. Yes, that foam will have to compress, perhaps quite a bit, to fit under there -- but it should.

From what I can see in the photos the radiator looks correct, at least the upper bar of the radiator is supposed to have those cut-outs in the shape shown.

Edit add: Maybe Bill is right, but from this angle it looks OK to me. Sure would be nice to see how high that bar is. Maybe it is my eyesight, or the old Internet lack of resolution photos, but I don't see it.

Be sure the bulge in the end tanks fit into the rubber cushions on the lower brackets, and also that the cushions are properly fitted to those brackets. The cushions have a cone that sticks out from the bottom of the cushion and that cone has to go in the hole in the bracket. Those cushions can require some compression to take a set with the radiator. I like silicone grease to aid that setting.

Bill and Terry

Ahh....the radiator may not be all the way down in the cushions, sitting too high, so the shroud will not fit over the top bar..... Or maybe the radiator is wrong and too tall.

And the lip on the shroud fits over the foam... On mine the lip is butting up against the upper bar with cutouts. In the AIM it looks like the foam is mated to the shroud lip and not the radiator?

[Terry M.]

Re: 1969 427/400 fan shroud fit

Bill and Terry

Ahh....the radiator may not be all the way down in the cushions, sitting too high, so the shroud will not fit over the top bar..... Or maybe the radiator is wrong and too tall.

And the lip on the shroud fits over the foam... On mine the lip is butting up against the upper bar with cutouts. In the AIM it looks like the foam is mated to the shroud lip and not the radiator?

IIRC the foam has an adhesive on it and it does stick to the shroud. The adhesive has a paper covering that peels off to expose the adhesive. That foam does look a little too wide based on my memory, but the car is not here to check and I suppose it is not impossible different sizes were used at different times. I am sure it was not a precision part.

We had this discussion once before and Joe Lucia had to tell me the proper name for that kind of adhesive, and I have forgotten it.