I have a question concerning fan shrouds. My 1971 Comet Gt 302 ( non AC) fan shroud fits close to the radiator at the bottom but has a gap of slightly over an inch away from the radiator at the top. This doesn't seem right to me. Am I missing something or could this be the wrong shroud?
That looks odd to me, like it's made to fit a different radiator of similar height and width but different in other ways. That gap really should be fixed. At idle to very low speeds it will easily recirculate hot air from underhood through that big slot at the top. Does it have a part number? I see sources which say the correct part number may be D00E-8146-B...or that might be a small block Mustang shroud...or it could be both. Another possibility could be the shroud is made for an original radiator with a bulkier top tank with a wider flange at the top where it's crimped on before soldering. In doing a little more searching, I think that's the explanation.
I can't find a part D0DE-8146-B engineering number on the shroud. Definitely a Maverick/ Comet shroud.
could you measure the width of your top tank and let me know. I found engineering number D0DE-8146-B on the shroud so I'm thinking that you are correct and the replacement radiator in the car has a top tank that is not wide enough. mine is slightly over 2 inches.
That looks like the correct shroud "gap". My shroud looks the same. It has the same gap at the top. Maybe these pictures will help. My shroud is for an AC car so it is not as deep.
Thanks. I actually just changed to an ACP radiator with a wider top tank (3 3/8 inches) which narrowed the gap between the top tank and the shroud quite a bit.
Gap between shroud and radiator is now about 3/8 inch at the closest point on either side of the radiator cap. I'm curious as to how this compares to others. This is much better than with the previous radiator.
I don't think that's going to be an issue for you at that gap. Can't pull a lot of air through a space that small.
