Should my 240Z have a fan shroud?

[dltalfa]

I have a completely orignal 1972 240z that I am trying to get back on the road, (over all freshen up under way). It does not have a fan shroud. I have seen several of you guys that DO have fan shrouds. Did my car come with one and possibly lost it somewhere along the way? Do I need one?

Thanks in advance,

Danny

[Carl Beck]

No the 72's did not come with the fan shroud. I ordered mine over the Parts Counter when I installed the Dealer A/C kit in 72. They do aid a bit in relation to engine cooling during low speed operation.

FWIW,

Carl B.

[black gold man]

The 240 came with a small shroud like this. The auto trans came with full shroud.

The belly pan is necessary for fan cooling air flow.

[dltalfa]

The 240 came with a small shroud like this. The auto trans came with full shroud.

The belly pan is necessary for fan cooling air flow.

Thanks guys,

My 72 has the small "hood" shroud like the one shown. It does not have the belly pan though. Is the belly pan really needed for everyday driving?

DT

[black gold man]

It helps with aerodynamics and cooling. One z i know of had a fire do to redbull can came up through

the void of no belly pan and grounded the starter and it burnt bad.

[tlorber]

It would depend upon your weather conditions and how warm your car will tend to run. If it is consistently hot and humid there it would probably be a good idea to have a shroud and/or a 4 row radiator.

[Carl Beck]

Thanks guys,

My 72 has the small "hood" shroud like the one shown.

If your radiator has the little "finger guard" or "safety guard" it is most likely the original radiator. Most the after market replacements don't have them.

It does not have the belly pan though. Is the belly pan really needed for everyday driving?

As I recall Nissan called it a "splash guard", which might give some indication of it's original purpose. It didn't seem to provide any noticable effect on cooling on any of the 240Z's I have them on. No - you don't need it for everyday driving.

FWIW,

Carl B.

[black gold man]

I think Nissan meant for the hood and belly pan to act as a shroud dose on a car with more space in that area.

[Carl Beck]

It would depend upon your weather conditions and how warm your car will tend to run. If it is consistently hot and humid there it would probably be a good idea to have a shroud and/or a 4 row radiator.

Agreed! If you want to keep the "stock" or "original" look of your radiator - just have it re-cored with the 3 or 4 row core, keeping your original top tank with the finger guard and bottom tank.

All that said - the most effective items I've found to reduce engine operating temps. here in Florida are; 1) changing to synthetic oil and 2) adding Redline "Water Wetter" to the coolant.

FWIW,

Carl B.

[beandip]

I have never had a over heating problem in my 240 but I have always made sure the coolant was up to date and clean. Even my ZX engine stayed cool with the old 240 radiator in traffic at 104* temps. Now I have gone to a 280 radiator and again no problems. As to the splash pan. I am running one on my 240 and what I found years ago when I ran without it and then with it. Is it helps move the air under the car. With our the pan the car was getting light in the front at speeds above 75 mph. Now with it she is good up to a 100 to 110. Now this is with no cross or head wind. Since I rarely drive at these speeds I never mounted a front air dam. Club members that have, claim that even the BRE style eliminates this lifting period. I can see why these pans were removed and not replaced by mechanics in the past because they can be a pain to work around when lubing the front steering rack.

Gary

[Bonzi Lon]

The splash pan can also be a pain when removed and 5 of the 9 bolts break off!

Bonzi Lon

[Hunter260Z]

Splash pad were standard on the 260z.Two of my bolts have broken off. I thought the fan shroud came on all A/C equipped cars.