Stupid questions here, just want to make sure I don't miss anything or mess anything up. I want to install a new fan shroud and I'm pretty sure the fan and/or clutch need to come out for the shroud to be removed. Is that correct? If so, what is the proper way to take the fan and/or clutch out. I know the fan unbolts from the clutch. My problem or question is, removing the actual fan clutch assembly from the water pump. I go to unbolt the fan clutch and the entire threaded studs turn...Meaning which will come out from the pulley. How do I just get the bolts to turn and not the threaded studs into the water pump? I didn't want to remove or loosen the Alt or AC belts. Thanks, Nick
Yes, the fan and clutch assembly need to be removed first. If the studs come out of the pump flange, oh well, remove the nut/s from the stud after its out, clamp the stud on the smooth shoulder and wind the nut off.
You can take one nut off at a time with the stud attached, then reinstall the stud. My water pump studs have thread locker on them just double nut and tighten them in.
Right or wrong, I'm not sure.... I always release the belt tension of all the accessories. i.e. PS, Alt and A/C belts I prefer to not have all the tension on the center pulley and shaft without the fan mounted. I use one wrench and one ratchet. The wrench can be used on one nut and the fan shaft, to stop rotation so you can ratchet loose other nuts. Leave one nut just loose and put wrench on it to get first nut with ratchet. Troy
I'm guess the fan, clutch and shroud will all pull out at once? I don't think the fan & clutch would come out without the shroud. And good idea, find a rag and lightly clamp the studs in my vise and loosen the nut. Oh yeah, didn't think of that. One at a time and return threaded stud back after each one Definitely didn't think of the belt tension (AC & Alt pulling one way and PS the other) on the pulley when there is nothing really holding it down. I just didn't feel like loosening the belts. Finally got'em tight to where they don't squeal I'll have to think about this one. I might try just loosening the actual fan (leave the clutch) and see if the fan finagles it's way out and then the shroud. Who knows, the upper radiator hose may be in the way of all that. Definitely didn't want to crack the coolant system open. But I guess if that's what I need to do to get me from Concourse Bronze to Silver at Bowling Green next year. It is what it is. LOL
Your over thinking this, remove the fan/clutch assy from water pump, IIRC you CANNOT just remove the fan from the clutch while installed on water pump. Just move the upper rad hose out of the way, swing it to your right, theres enough movement.
LOL, your definitely right...Downside to being an Engineer. Always overthinking before actually doing the task. At work, I don't care what I'm working on, if it breaks, it breaks, it'll be there tomorrow. Anything at home, 2 weeks of thinking.
Every time I've fooled with the fan/water pump, I've loosened the belts. It just makes life simpler. If you need to change the shroud, first take the fan clutch loose from the water pump as detailed above. The studs can be dealt with after it is apart a lot easier than trying to work with everything else in place. Once, the clutch is loose, you can unbolt the existing shroud (if you have one). You can take it off the bottom notches in the radiator support if you need more room. Tilt the top of the shroud toward the intake or if you took it out of the bottom notches, the whole shroud should move toward the engine, leaving plenty of room between the shroud and the radiator to get the fan and clutch out easily. No need to break the cooling system apart. Once the fan/clutch is out, the shroud should be relatively easy to work out around the top radiator hose.
