While chasing down a cooling issue (car runs warm) I noticed that my recently “rebuilt” thermal fan clutch (PN 2658456) allows the fan to spin for quite a while after the engine stops (like 4 seconds from a 1000 RPM idle). My best guess is that the fan spins at least 10-15 turns after the engine stops - possibly more but it’s hard to tell.

This doesn’t seem right to me but thought I’d ask to get other opinions. So what is normal spin-down for a thermal fan clutch with a 216 fan attached?

Thanks!

that's way too loose. its shot. with engine off, if you spin the top blade by hand, it should come to a stop as soon as you let go.

Thanks - yeah that's what I thought, but since it was a thermal unit just wasn't sure if they operated differently on shut down than a non-thermal unit.

I contacted the guy who rebuilt it (Vinny at pampered corvettes) and he proceeded to tell me he was offended that I even suggest the clutch was not operating correctly. I got lectured on how he has done 900-some of these over 14 years and never has had an issue. I responded with a video showing how the fan keeps spinning and now he won’t respond. Nice way to stand behind your work – I’ll never send him anything again.

do yourself a favor, if it wobbles replace the water pump.
heck cheap insurance do it anyway when you get a new clutch.
I had one start to go and I thought I would just replace the clutch a few months later the water pump let go and ate my rad.

decades ago a guy had an issue with a local shop & he took out an ad in the paper voicing his issue. I hope you can do something as the guy sure sounds like he needs a spanking, & it reminds me of that crook Ben Gorman of Promax in Indianapolis Indiana (not Promaxx which is a different company) who sold me a set of chinese knockoffs when I ordered EQ mag heads

It sounds shot - pampered corvettes sounds like a place to avoid

Unfortunately there isn't much I can do other than provide my own experience. Hopefully anyone that is considering using his services will find this (and the other) threads regarding his character and think twice.

There are other options for restoring fan clutches, and for less money too (e.g., Kirkconnell). I'll give them a try - can't be any worse than this experience.

When doing the restore on my 67, I purchased a new fan clutch from NAPA.. I don't remember how but I ended up looking at a couple of others from different suppliers, like O'Reilly's and Autozone... NONE of them were alike, some being better made and "looked" like they would perform better....

Look around before you buy.....

When the car is hot, you should be able to hear the fan when you rev up the car. If not then I would replace because it's not working.

Twice I ran into this problem and both times new fan clutches fixed my over heating at slow speeds or idle on my old mopars. Need a shroud too. Also make sure your motor is not lean.

If you really want folks to know about your experience, put the guys business name in the title of this thread, that way google will find it when folks goggle his name.

If stock appearance is really important I guess you need to try another rebuild.

That said, good replacements are available new. I have had good luck with NAPA/Hayden and Bouchillon. Bad luck with Autozone's offering. I'm running a Bouchillon thermal clutch on my hot rod now with their 6 blade fan. Works great.

pampered corvettes sounds like a place to avoid
X2

The usual generic rule: if it free-wheels, or won't turn by hand, it's junk.

Yup - I certainly won't send him anything else.

Here's a vid showing how much it rotates after shutdown.

Fan Clutch

I'm sorry to hear about your issues with Pampered Corvette. I'm sure that you dropped a good amount of money to have him restore the fan clutch. He should stand behind his work.
Perhaps you should send him a link to this thread and maybe start a thread on a corvette forum just to motivate him into making this right for you.