rmoths

I need a new fan clutch for my 72, 350 Cutlass.
Not sure what to buy, I see many on Ebay. They go from
$25.00 to $100.00. If someone has a good used one, or which new one to buy. I know you guys know the best way to go with this.
Thanks Barb.

jag1886

I'd buy one from a local parts store, get one with the thermostat, they work better, I won't go to the trouble of changing it and put a used one in.

ach1992880

The fan clutch on my car was locked up when I bought it making the highway drive home extremely loud. I got a thermostatic fan clutch from Napa locally for $35 and have been happy ever since.

rocwal

I also bought one from NAPA , and I have several used ones on my junkers in used parts.

Dan B

Lady72nRob71

Get a Hayden 2747 from Rockauto - they are about 40 bucks + shipping. I have heard good things about them. This is a heavy duty thermostatic one.
Open end wrenches (1/2" or 9/16) are all you need. Remove clutch and fan assy from water pump and extract the fan and clutch. remove the fan blade and put on the new clutch, then reinstall on the water pump. Tighten the nuts on the pump studs in alternating sequence until they all are good and snug.
I did this last month and was a drama-free 15 minute repair.
I found after first install, it will seem "engaged" all the time, but it will need some miles before all the silicone oil gets distributed where it needs to go and engagement occures normally.

Octania

as always, apply a bit of lube to items where they contact, before assembly, to make future work go easier.

Penetrating oil on the retaining nuts before you start can't hurt too.

I have had the clutch stick on the WP shaft, but it's rare.

BILL DEMMER

do you need a "correct original" replacement? or would an acdelco substitute work for you? i have NOS acdelco fan clutches that fit a large variety of applications. acdelco number 15-4216, gm number 12306568. i use 1 on ernie and it cools just fine. it's a split between the standard hayden and the heavy duty. my experience with hayden thermo fan clutches is, they start to leak their silicone fluid after about 3 years. the acdelco i use on ernie has been there for 7 years and is dry.


bill