L-78 Nova fan spacer

**92646** · #1 03-27-2008, 08:56 PM

I was reading in one of the magazines this month that a spacer was installed from the factory on a 1969 and 1970 L-78 396/375hp Nova between the water pump pulley and the fixed blade fan to put it closer to the radiator. Somebody said the same thing to me when I had a L-78 Nova on e-bay awhile back. Has anybody ever seen this from the factory? I do not see how there is enough room because the fan looks pretty close to the radiator to me.
Mark Sheppard

**Mr. Chevy** · #2 03-27-2008, 10:40 PM

I don't believe this to be true Mark. You are exactly right, the distance between the radiator and fan is very close already. I think a spacer would put the fan right into the radiator.. I never saw anything in the assembly manual either to indicate there was a spacer on the L78 cars, nor have I ever observed one on an original L78 car.. Mine never had it!! Maybe the magazine meant Chevelles. I think there is a considerable space distance on those cars from the fan to the radiatior vs. the Novas...

Rich

**JRSully** · #3 03-27-2008, 10:41 PM

Should be no spacer on the 69-70 B Nova fan, bolts directly to face of pulley into the WP

**92646** · #4 03-27-2008, 11:12 PM

Thanks for the response. It was in the same magazine that featured the blue 1968 Harrel 427 nova this month. They were using a orange 1969 L-78 Nova to show how you could tell a real big block car and they mentioned this spacer. They also mentioned a nut that was used to mount the radiator on the left side that had a rubber grommet attached to it.
Mark Sheppard

**firstgenaddict** · #5 03-27-2008, 11:19 PM

Those stupid well nuts... just like on a 69 Camaro Rad...

**Mr. Chevy** · #6 03-27-2008, 11:21 PM

Mark, the rubber grommet and nut are correct and help mount/support the radiator and do mount on the drivers side of the radiator. Should be 2, one on top and one on the bottom of the radiator. I can post a picture of the grommets if you are interested..

Rich

**92646** · #7 03-27-2008, 11:44 PM

Rich, please post a picture at your convenience. A couple of other questions I have is if the F-41 rear sway bar come on all 1970 SS 396 novas or was it optional from some point in the model year? Also I was told that the drive shaft is different on a L-78 Nova, maybe something to do with the lack of a taper at the ends? I bought the blue 1970 Nova from Stefano. It is a very nice car but like many old cars it has a few little things that need to be corrected.
Mark Sheppard

**YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY** · #8 03-27-2008, 11:47 PM

The F41 package was optional on the SS Novas.

396L78canuck · #9 03-28-2008, 03:31 AM

I agree!When I installed the original fan on my 70 L78 Nova after having the radiator rebuilt I could barely get my hand between the fan and rad to get the fan bolts started.Bob

ricks69l78 · #10 03-28-2008, 04:38 AM

Hi, new to the site this is my first post/reply.
The hugger orange 69 L78 in the article would be mine and the no spacer would be correct as I don't have one as the fan is bolted directly to the pulley & pump. I guess from the June 2007 GM Nationals till the actual release of the article some things get a little incorrect and I'm sure it takes alot to put together so much info to do a magazine and they also stated it had a Hurst shifter and it doesn't it has the original Muncie and it states I live in Missouri (MO) and I live in Maryland (MD) but all that little stuff doesn't matter to me as I'm just honored to be in the Magazine with those other INCREDIBLE RARE NOVAS and still can't believe it.
Hope this clears up any confusion anyway.

Thanks
Rick

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