Best way to modify/trim CRD fan shroud

BoarX · **Joined:** Sun Mar 20, 2016 12:44 pm **Posts:** 85

Hi all,

In the recent cold weather I am hard pressed to try and remove the accessory-belt driven fan as others did. Problem is the fan shroud being in the way. Same problem complicates access the the engine front end in general - fan must go, but removing the fan shroud is a hassle (through which I just went during blown head gasket replacement). I am almost ready to cut away the top portion of the shroud to later replace it with sheet metal piece or something. Are there any more clever solutions?

HNY
A.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Sat Dec 30, 2017 4:52 pm

Remove the fan shroud. To do so you will have to undo the mechanical fan; unbolt the shroud; disconnect the stuff on top of the shroud; and carefully lift out the fan and shroud as a unit (placing a towel over the fan will help prevent puncturing the "radiator" type fins in front of it). About half way down each side of the fan shroud are 2 short bolts that thread into captured nuts. Remove the bolts and CAREFULLY set them aside so you don't mix them in with other longer bolts as longer ones will pierce the intercooler/radiator. Grab 2 UV stable zip ties and use them to lock the nuts into their capture slots. Cut the fan shroud in half horizontally just below the bolt tabs (retaining both tabs and the fan shroud top). Discard the shroud bottom and reuse the top. Problem solved at no loss of cooling.

BoarX · **Joined:** Sun Mar 20, 2016 12:44 pm **Posts:** 85

Hey, thanks, what you describe will surely help the shroud removal independently of the fan. I understand exactly how to remove the shroud, however being lazy that I am, what I am after is somewhat the opposite: to be able to remove the fan with the shroud in place. It seems that after chopping off the most protruding top portion of the shroud (the one with "Caution Fan" stamping), it should be possible to wiggle the fan out. Once the fan gets reinstalled in spring, the cutout could be covered with a piece of sheet metal attached to plastic with self-threading screws or some such. The tricky part is to figure out how deep and how wide to cut. I am wondering if anyone had any luck going this route?

Cheers,
Alex

GordnadoCRD · **Posted:** Sun Dec 31, 2017 2:43 pm

I think the reason that most of us have gone the other way is, once properly done, the modified top half of the shroud, takes mere seconds to remove or re-install, getting it completely out of the way when needed, and, being fully functional when installed.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Sun Dec 31, 2017 3:00 pm

What I described is the simplest fix, 2 horizontal short cuts, and easiest to remove, 2 bolts and lift it out. That said you can do the Aussie mod (go to http://colorado4wheel.com/manuals/Jeep/KJ/ - download my tech tips PDF - scroll down bookmarks to Fan shroud mods). I tried that mod and it did not work well. I ultimately trimmed the top half and drilled some holes along the cut line so I could hold the 2 trimmed parts of the top half together with zip ties. Works ok and allows fan to come out without removal of anything but the top part of the shroud. However, if I did it over again I'd do the cut and throw away the bottom half mod.

krb · **Posted:** Mon Jan 01, 2018 7:10 am

My mod was to leave it off. I couldn't find one when I rebuilt the front clip after deer collision so I've been running without. Ran all summer no problems. But I wasn't towing or wheeling either.

turblediesel · **Posted:** Mon Jan 01, 2018 3:10 pm

I kept both halves and added an aluminum tab to each side held on with small bolts and nylock nuts.

Spring breakup weather can include freezing temps and deep puddles which is why I wanted to keep the bottom half.

I think I have pictures of my mod method on Jeep KJ .com.

CaptainDean · **Joined:** Thu Oct 05, 2017 2:22 am **Posts:** 192

Just to add to the mix, here is what I did... :2cents:

I modified the fan shroud so it would lift out easily, yet still be in one piece. I cut the bottom out so it would slide up, in front of the fan. I cut out the bottom part that would catch under the fan. Also made sure the bottom would still locate on the two tabs that stick up from the frame. Here are a couple Internet pictures with cut marks...

These odd shapes are the tabs from the frame that locate the bottom of the shroud.

I'm pleased with it.
Dean.

BoarX · **Joined:** Sun Mar 20, 2016 12:44 pm **Posts:** 85

Great, thanks everyone! Turns out what I was thinking about was in fact an Aussie mod and now I know exactly how much to cut - thanks papadingo! Turns out I already had your tech tip file on my computer, all I needed was a kick in the butt in the right direction!

On a separate note: with local temperatures hovering around -1 - -7 Fahrenheit and no warm up in sight, yesterday I have performed a redneck-style experiment to check how effective fan removal is going to be in helping to keep the engine temperature closer to normal. I simply tied one fan blade to the top cross-member with a piece of rope, which stopped the fan in its tracks. I observed quite significant improvement both in warm-up time and sustained temperature which has reached 82 deg. C (180F) for the first time in recent couple of weeks. I am currently testing Chinese-made thermostat I got from eBay and my radiator is covered with pieces of cardboard. Not that I plan to use this rope "solution" for any length of time, the fan should go, but this could be an emergency way of blocking the fan should cold weather hit unexpectedly. After all, the fan clutch is designed to slip until engaged.

Cheers,
Alex

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Tue Jan 02, 2018 8:02 am

I would strongly advise against that: tying the fan stationary with a rope, the fan clutch is not designed for that great of a difference in speeds for sustained long term slippage. :shock:

By doing this and if the fan clutch were to self-destruct and come apart, the damage it can do could get ugly and expensive!!! :grim:

Best advise, simply remove the mechanical fan & clutch completely! :wink:

BoarX · **Joined:** Sun Mar 20, 2016 12:44 pm **Posts:** 85

Thanks, no worries, I have deliberately chosen a weak crappy rope and it quickly got torn, so I am back to stock condition. Fan removal is the plan for tonight - and now I know it is worth the hassle. Redneck-style experiments are not necessarily out of place, as long as they do not get turned into permanent solutions

A.

BoarX · **Joined:** Sun Mar 20, 2016 12:44 pm **Posts:** 85

Aussie mod rules! Five minute work with reciprocating saw and no need to remove the stupid shroud ever again!

One little tidbit about taking out the virgin shroud and the fan (apparently they can only be extracted together): I have found that just before the fan is detached from the pulley and becomes loose, it helps to tie a rope around its axle and attach it to the engine oil fill port; it then becomes quite convenient to alternate between lifting it by that rope and lifting the shroud. After the few such small alternating steps everything is safely out.

Cheers,
Alex

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Fri Jan 05, 2018 12:20 pm

A tip for anyone removing a mechanical fan that I always do! Slide either a piece of thick cardboard or thin sheet metal in front of the fan up against the radiator so if the fan were to happen to drop or fall forward for any reason, it's metal blades will not damage the radiator... :wink:

Once the shroud is unbolted, it can be pushed back against the engine far enough to slide a piece of protective material in place!

Best way to modify/trim CRD fan shroud

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