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SGKent 
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 42957
Location: at the beach in Northern Wokistan
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 Posted: Wed May 07, 2025 6:04 pm Post subject: late fan shroud removal question |
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fan shroud
Q. Is it possible to safely pull a late fan shroud on a late 75-78 2L without bending studs or damaging something?
I have all the tin off around the shroud, but the shroud needs to come straight towards me to clear the studs, and the late heater boxes hold in the bottom. If I try to rotate the shroud forward it takes more pressure than am comfortable with, and the studs are too deep and too short to successfully double nut it. I tried using a loose 12 point socket on the studs with double nuts, but can't keep enough torque between the nuts - and I suspect those studs are in there pretty good after 45 years of steel and aluminum/magnesium being in love.
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 53216
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Wed May 07, 2025 8:47 pm Post subject: Re: late fan shroud removal question |
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Short answer is no, not without removing the studs.
Unless you can split the shroud in place, that might buy you enough movement in the heat exchanger inlets to get off the studs, I've never tried since it looks like it'd be a serious PITA.
Know anyone with a portable welder?, weld the nuts on the studs and the slipping problem is solved.
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SGKent
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 42957
Location: at the beach in Northern Wokistan
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| Posted: Wed May 07, 2025 9:56 pm Post subject: Re: late fan shroud removal question |
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| busdaddy wrote: |
Short answer is no, not without removing the studs.
Unless you can split the shroud in place, that might buy you enough movement in the heat exchanger inlets to get off the studs, I've never tried since it looks like it'd be a serious PITA.
Know anyone with a portable welder?, weld the nuts on the studs and the slipping problem is solved. |
Thanks Mark. I found your 2007 thread facing the same issue. Now I don't feel so bad. I will just drop the heat exchangers. That seems easier than fighting with the studs.
_________________
Canned Water - the new California approved parts cleaner (except in a drought in which case rub it with sand).
George Carlin:
"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it."
Skills@EuroCarsPlus:
"never time to do it right but always time to do it twice" |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52738
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| Posted: Thu May 08, 2025 4:12 am Post subject: Re: late fan shroud removal question |
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| In the good old days when these things were new and parts were plentiful, some mechanics would just cut slits in the heat exchanger tins where the exchangers slip over the shroud and bend the resulting tabs down and out of the way so the exchangers can be pulled straight back like the HXs were not there. Handy trick if one seals the area back up well as things go back together. Never cut the slits myself but have benefited when others have previously done so. |
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VDubTech
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Joined: December 29, 2002
Posts: 9157
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Thu May 08, 2025 6:43 am Post subject: Re: late fan shroud removal question |
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| SGKent wrote: |
| Q. Is it possible to safely pull a late fan shroud on a late 75-78 2L without bending studs or damaging something? |
100%, yes you can pull the shroud without damaging anything AND without removing the heat exchangers. it'll pull forward enough to clear the studs then lift it up and out.
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First Trip in the RustyBus:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=279077&highlight=
| borninabus wrote: |
| a measurement of your rod would be extremely useful. |
| notchboy wrote: |
| my dad wasnt a belittling cock when he tought me how to wrench on cars. |
| EverettB wrote: |
One photo = good for reference.
10 photos = douchebaggery |
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SGKent
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 42957
Location: at the beach in Northern Wokistan
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| Posted: Thu May 08, 2025 8:20 am Post subject: Re: late fan shroud removal question |
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| VDubTech wrote: |
| SGKent wrote: |
| Q. Is it possible to safely pull a late fan shroud on a late 75-78 2L without bending studs or damaging something? |
100%, yes you can pull the shroud without damaging anything AND without removing the heat exchangers. it'll pull forward enough to clear the studs then lift it up and out. |
thank you
_________________
Canned Water - the new California approved parts cleaner (except in a drought in which case rub it with sand).
George Carlin:
"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it."
Skills@EuroCarsPlus:
"never time to do it right but always time to do it twice" |
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airschooled
Air-Schooled
Joined: April 04, 2012
Posts: 13629
Location: West Coast, USA
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| Posted: Thu May 08, 2025 10:31 am Post subject: Re: late fan shroud removal question |
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| VDubTech wrote: |
| SGKent wrote: |
| Q. Is it possible to safely pull a late fan shroud on a late 75-78 2L without bending studs or damaging something? |
100%, yes you can pull the shroud without damaging anything AND without removing the heat exchangers. it'll pull forward enough to clear the studs then lift it up and out. |
I’d love to see photo/video evidence of that.
_________________
WTB: 215mm Type 4 flywheel. Cash in hand.
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Road trip reports and tech blog:
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timvw7476
Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2013
Posts: 2524
Location: seattle
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| Posted: Thu May 08, 2025 11:30 am Post subject: Re: late fan shroud removal question |
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| airschooled wrote: |
| VDubTech wrote: |
| SGKent wrote: |
| Q. Is it possible to safely pull a late fan shroud on a late 75-78 2L without bending studs or damaging something? |
100%, yes you can pull the shroud without damaging anything AND without removing the heat exchangers. it'll pull forward enough to clear the studs then lift it up and out. |
I’d love to see photo/video evidence of that. |
Yes. I suppose IF the alternator is removed to balance it, & the oil filler is also removed right down to the flange at the crankcase ??? Perhaps ? |
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aeromech
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Joined: January 24, 2006
Posts: 17759
Location: San Diego, California
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| Posted: Thu May 08, 2025 7:45 pm Post subject: Re: late fan shroud removal question |
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Sounds like you’re feeling good Steve
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SGKent
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 42957
Location: at the beach in Northern Wokistan
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| Posted: Thu May 08, 2025 10:16 pm Post subject: Re: late fan shroud removal question |
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| aeromech wrote: |
| Sounds like you’re feeling good Steve |
Heart Surgeon scheduled surgery for July. I want to get everything done around here that needs to be done. About a 4% chance of not making it, and 96% chance of improvement. Place your bets.
Only bad thing is afterwards I can't drive for 4 - 6 weeks, can't even pick up one of the dogs for hugs for I think 2 months, and they tell me I will be in the hospital for at least a week. All I can say is if you have a history of back problems, you may want to get tested for the HLA-B27 gene and if it is active, because a life time of the inflammation will destroy your heart very slowly by building calcium up. They'ii tell you that the disease is about one's back, but the more destructive side effect is the calcium the body puts everywhere to wall off an imaginary infection.
_________________
Canned Water - the new California approved parts cleaner (except in a drought in which case rub it with sand).
George Carlin:
"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it."
Skills@EuroCarsPlus:
"never time to do it right but always time to do it twice" |
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 53216
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Fri May 09, 2025 7:23 am Post subject: Re: late fan shroud removal question |
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 Great!, one more thing to worry about next time I have a sore back.
Best wishes for a positive outcome Steve, fingers crossed for you.
As for the possibility of removal with the studs in place?, I'm a chronically lazy guy, if there was any possible way to accomplish the job without removing them I would have found it.
The only way it might happen is with the right combination of loose/worn/rusty heat exchanger shells, or by bending stuff, I doubt either of those apply to your bus.
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
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SGKent
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 42957
Location: at the beach in Northern Wokistan
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| Posted: Fri May 09, 2025 9:11 am Post subject: Re: late fan shroud removal question |
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| busdaddy wrote: |
Great!, one more thing to worry about next time I have a sore back.
Best wishes for a positive outcome Steve, fingers crossed for you.
As for the possibility of removal with the studs in place?, I'm a chronically lazy guy, if there was any possible way to accomplish the job without removing them I would have found it.
The only way it might happen is with the right combination of loose/worn/rusty heat exchanger shells, or by bending stuff, I doubt either of those apply to your bus. |
I even thought about bending an old thin 10 mm at a right angle by heating it, and grinding it to fit in the recess. I am sure it can be pried off but it would take a lot of force and might break something. The heat exchangers were replaced with some new ones BusOk found about 7 or 8 years ago so they are quite robust. I'll just spend 15 minutes and loosen them today.
_________________
Canned Water - the new California approved parts cleaner (except in a drought in which case rub it with sand).
George Carlin:
"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it."
Skills@EuroCarsPlus:
"never time to do it right but always time to do it twice" |
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airschooled
Air-Schooled
Joined: April 04, 2012
Posts: 13629
Location: West Coast, USA
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| Posted: Fri May 09, 2025 9:47 am Post subject: Re: late fan shroud removal question |
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Good luck with your surgery and recovery.
What job are you removing the fan shroud for? Oil cooler seals are doable with a compliment of 10mm wrenches, phones turned off, light classical or jazz in the background, and a good mood. I don’t pull the shroud for those.. Gallery plugs are less likely….
Luckily you have the later heat exchangers that can be loosened at the U tubes in front. 72-74 folks aren’t so lucky.
Robbie
_________________
WTB: 215mm Type 4 flywheel. Cash in hand.
One-on-one tech help for your vintage Volkswagen:
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Road trip reports and tech blog:
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SGKent
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 42957
Location: at the beach in Northern Wokistan
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| Posted: Fri May 09, 2025 9:56 am Post subject: Re: late fan shroud removal question |
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| airschooled wrote: |
Good luck with your surgery and recovery.
What job are you removing the fan shroud for? Oil cooler seals are doable with a compliment of 10mm wrenches, phones turned off, light classical or jazz in the background, and a good mood. I don’t pull the shroud for those.. Gallery plugs are less likely….
Luckily you have the later heat exchangers that can be loosened at the U tubes in front. 72-74 folks aren’t so lucky.
Robbie |
Thanks Robbie. Leaking gallery plugs. They are weeping enough oil after a 45 minute freeway run to leave a quarter sized puddle both at the front and back of the engine. I already did the ones at the flywheel but the shroud has to come off to do the ones at the fan end. I can't see the one near the oil filter yet. The one between the 3-4 cylinders fortunately is not weeping. For some reason the sealant did not fully cure even though the primer was used. So, the steel plugs are coming out and aluminum ones are going in. Or at least that is the plan with fingers crossed. There is a thread on it that this photo is from. I'll add a photo of the area to that thread once the fan shroud is off. The main reason that I was hoping to avoid loosening the exhaust is that I use some old stock triangular exhaust flange seals that were made really nice, and I don't have too many left. The newer exhaust seals are much thinner and less forgiving although I have plenty of those.
_________________
Canned Water - the new California approved parts cleaner (except in a drought in which case rub it with sand).
George Carlin:
"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it."
Skills@EuroCarsPlus:
"never time to do it right but always time to do it twice" |
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