Rusty fan clutch fight in a '72 Chevelle

I was at my buddy's garage in Akron last Saturday trying to get the fan clutch off a '72 Chevelle 350. The 3/8 ratchet just slipped and I ended up skinning my knuckles on the alternator bracket (ouch). Had to go home and grab my 18 inch breaker bar plus a dose of PB Blaster, let it sit 20 minutes, and it finally cracked loose. Any of you guys have a go-to trick for stuck fan clutch nuts on these old small blocks?

2 comments

2 Comments

samward3d agoMost Upvoted

That PB Blaster soak is usually my first move too, but did you try heat before the breaker bar? I've had good luck hitting the nut with a propane torch for about 30-45 seconds, then hitting it with the wrench while it's still warm. Seems to break the rust bond better than just penetrating oil on its own.

jamiegreen3d ago

That 30-45 second window is key. How do you gauge when it's hot enough without going too far? I've cooked a few rubber bushings on accident. Also, do you let it cool back down before hitting it with the wrench, or do you go at it while it's still smoking? I always worry about warping the bolt if I crank on it too fast.