in the process of putting my motor back together (replaced knock sensor wire) my fan shroud broke. do i really need that. i will eventually find a new one but i gotta get this thing running!

 

you should be fine as long as you don't accidentally stick anything in there....that's all it's there for is protection.

question though - ran out of duct tape?

 

Well, the other thing that will happen w/o a fan shroud is you will splatter whatever gets to the fan all around the engine bay. Including coolant that you might happen to spill. Ask me how I know.

 

i have duct tape its broke just about in half tho and the whole right side hasnt been bolted to the rad. for about 2 years probly. its just time for a new one.

 

true mcm375 i actually might be able too bolt the top half in

 

The shroud is there partly for protection mostly for cooling.

If you overheat, I guess you'll need it.

 

Marc's right. made to funnel the air through the fan and not let it get around the blades. Should not have a problem in cooler weather or if ur on a steady roll. might have issues on hot days parked in traffic.

 

Sounds like a good reason to go electric.

In other news, I have a spare fan shroud, but it's for a 4cyl, I dunno how different the rad and fan are for the 3.0 but if you find out that it's the same or close, I'll send it to you for the cost of shipping. I don't know the condition it's in offhand but last I checked it wasn't broken or cracked from a quick lookover.

 

in redding summers, i think you'll want the fan shroud

and top notch AC

 

Yes,you won't need it so much now but you will need it this summer.If it's not in place the fan isn't very efficient.I just seen California you may need it sooner

 

fan shroud is not just for protection. it is a necessary component for proper cooling. enclosing the back side of the radiator and placing the fan inside the tapered opening of the shroud ensures that the air the fan moves is drawn from the front of the vehicle through the radiator and across the cooling fins, which draws the heat off. if you didn't have the shroud, the fan would simply recirculate the hot air in the engine compartment, and the only air flow across your radiator would be from ram air while moving.

depending on where your cold weather temps are, you might not need it during the cooler months, but you'll definitely want an intact shroud in place for low speed driving or frequent idling.

 

If you don't mind your engine overheating its not too important..

 

I concur with the 'need' it crowd. As mentioned it's there to help direct air flow through the radiator, not allow the fan to circulate air from within the engine compartment. This can also affect the fan clutch operation too.

 

I could go over a long story, on the fan shroud, but I'll sum it up a bit short to say this; get one, and a good one, and put it on as straight and as close as possible. I have a very nice all origional 92 caprice; I will show pics in a bit.
got in a wreck not a bad one, but I had a mech, who shall remain nameless, replace the radiator as well as fix a few things. he did not put the shroud back on correctly, though it was there, and not broken. also your shroud may have a bracket it sits in, as well as the radiator, to keep everything lined up.
Anyway, ever time summer rolled around , for 3 years, this giant v8, which never before got above 160 degrees, even in the middle of a houston summer, was starting to max out at the red area, every summer. Went through several thermostats, couple of fan clutches, etc., to for about 3 years.
Then finally last year, while working on something else totally, my REAL mech says to me, you know, your front shroud and radiator are not lined up right, your shroud might be bad or the bracket it sits in. I say can you fix, he says, we can pull the bracket out, and hammer hear and there, and try, but I cannot promise you anything.
So he does, and puts it back in. Waa laa!!! not only does the shroud fit in, tight and snug and in perfect alignment, but once again, my gauge inside the car, does not move more than halfway, above the first heat stripe line.
Don't skip your shroud...
Pics.




Me likey very much, and very fast; bows it's back up like a pissed off cat!