The Checker Taxi Stand

DaveH · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 10:43 am Post subject: Fan Shroud for 1980 A-11

My AC performance is less than spectacular and I am thinking a fan shroud will help the cause. My question is if anyone has a cross-reference part number or something for a fan shroud for my 1980 A-11 with AC and 305 CID engine. The fan appears to be 19" in diameter, about 3.5" from the radiator (it is centered with respect to the radiator) Other dimensions I have:

Radiator width: 26"
Radiator Height: 18"
Min Fan hole size: 19" (centered)

Thanks in advance and please let me know if you need any more info from me about this project.

-dave

john_w · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 12:54 pm Post subject:

Dave,

I don't know of an off the shelf one. I ended up making one out of metal. You can find pictures of it in the "How To Do ..." photo album labeled "Fan Shroud" .

I removed it when I changed motors and upgraded the cooling system by adding headers to draw the heat away from the block, switching to a stainless flex fan and adding twin electric puller fans. You can find the details of that in the January 2007 Checkerboard newsletter or under "Repair Tips", "Engine and Drive Train", "Cooling" and in the "How To Do ..." photo album labeled "Cooling"

Finally, I still have the metal shroud I made kicking around the garage. If you want to come get it in Springfield at the price of gas ( LOL ) I'll give it to you. If you make it yourself, at the price of metal these days, it won't be cheap either.

John W

DaveH · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 11:08 am Post subject:

John - the links were great and I think I may just take you up on your shroud offer! Better yet, maybe we can work something out when we meet in K-zoo in June? Let me know your thoughts...

john_w · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 12:52 pm Post subject:

Dave,

I'm going to have a pretty full car but I might be able to squeeze it in. I'll definitely have to unbolt / disassemble it because I already know the trunk is going to be full with 4 people's luggage.

If I had known you needed it, Larry Claypool was down here visiting a few weeks ago ... I could have sent it back with him. Right now I don't have any plans to be up north before the K'zoo convention ... and even then I'm ducking into Indiana south of I-80 so I can miss the Tri-State Traffic Jam and Gary.

If for some reason I do get up that way, I'll keep you in mind ...

John W

makeitwork · Depot Hack Joined: 18 Sep 2006 Posts: 19

well, if you're ever thru nashville feel free to drop it off here too...

john_w · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 7:11 pm Post subject:

Sounds like I need to take some more photos with it off the car and some measurements and make a pattern drawing to post on the web site.

headshok · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:40 pm Post subject:

captunderdog · Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:04 am Post subject:

I don't know what your rules are in your local dismantling yard but if it were me, I would take those measurements and go try to find something in the yard that would fit. I did that with my radiator and found a crossflow out of a 2000 Grand-Am that fits perfectly and a shroud off of a 65 Chevy pickup that covers most of the radiator except for an inch or so on each side. I had to build the mounts but it works nicely.

The process is very time consuming, but if you have more time than money, it works well.
_________________
God Bless.
Walt

john_w · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:04 pm Post subject:

Well, that was interesting. I dug out the old shroud which I found in a corner of the garage slightly misshapen, etc. Started measuring it up and found out it wasn't even square ... about 1 inch out of square from when I made it. Didn't realize the prototype was so sloppy.

Anyway, I took measurements off of it and some measurements off the 82 A-11, then made a diagram, allowing for squaring up the whole thing. You may want to adjust the height depending on where you want to hit the lower part of the radiator, the top or bottom of the bottom tank. You will notice it was made in four pieces so it can be installed without removing anything else ... as long as you don't mind scratching up your hands and arms on everything else.

I strongly urge anyone who tries to use this make a cardboard template first before you bend up the metal to double-check fit, and clearance. Also, as I was drawing it, I realized the driver's side "inset bend" is only required to clear the steering box on the front steer cars ... you can probably make that side straight on the rear steer cars.

If you feel like experimenting, you can find the diagram here ... it is to scale where one square on the graph paper equals one inch. One thing that is NOT shown in either the diagram or the photos is the fact I used some small rubber vacuum line on the "sharp" edge facing the radiator core as a "pad" to prevent rubbing and rattles.

Home Made Fan Shroud Diagram

John W

john_w · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 9:24 pm Post subject:

Dave,

I just disassembled the shroud tonight. boxed it up, and stored it in the trunk of the 81 (one more thing to rattle). I know you are registered for hte convention so I plan to see you there. Remind me ... I may forget it is in there.

John W

john_w · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 8:57 pm Post subject:

Dave,

I hope, when you unboxed it, that the assembly was obvious from the way I marked it.

John W