LS1 Fan Install
Thought since I always ask so many questions that I would throw together a little how-to to clear up any questions that may arise when doing this mod. it's actually pretty simple. Took me the better half of a day to get it all done to the way I like it clean and organized. Click on any of the pictures for larger ones.
Hardware/Tools Needed
1. Drill
2. Rubber Mallet/Hammer
3. Sockets
4. Large wrench to take off 1 7/8" nut
5. Pliers
6. Wire strippers
7. Flathead screwdriver
8. Electrical tape and soldering iron (if you want to solder any of the joints)
9. Flex-a-lite VSC Kit
10. 3/4" wide by 1/8" thick steel
11. 3 - 1/4" x 1" long bolts
12. 7 - 1/4 flat washers
13. 3 - lock washers
14. 3 - 1/4" nuts
15. 1 - 1/4" x 3/4" long machine screw
OK here we go, nothing done yet
Step 1
First thing that you want to do is take off the cover that they have on there, just pry up those tabs and the larger body will pull out of the holes. Put those to the side until the end
Step 2
Next take off the intake tube. This will let you get the fan shroud off. The intake side gave me a little struggle, had to pry the tube out of the "gasket" that the slides around the tube. Once I did that the gasket came off the intake and I put it back on the intake tube.
Step 3
Here is where we are with the intake tube off.
Step 4
Now unbolt the upper fan shroud, there are two bolts on top, that's it, nothing else
Step 5
After the shroud is unbolted, separate the top and bottom half fan shroud by undoing the clips halfway down. These are similar to the ones on the cover from the beginning
Step 6
Once that is done you can pull the shroud out of the supports on the core.
Step 7
Pull the coolant tube towards the engine and pull the upper half of the shroud out.
Now you just have the fan staring at you.
Step 8
To get the fan off you need to loosed that fan nut. Beforehand, hit the fan nut with a little penetrating oil (I just used WD-40).
On my NBS 01 truck the nut is a regular thread, so get a wrench on there (I believe it is a 1 7/8" nut - I only had a pipe wrench that would get that big) and knock it multiple times with a rubber mallet counterclockwise until it comes loose. If you try to just loosen it by hand the pulley will slip on you, while the belt is stationary.
Here's what you have left over once you get the fan off. Notice that on the NBS trucks you don't have those bolts holding the pulley on like you did on the OBS trucks (where those 4 holes are).
Step 9
The next step it to test fit the fans.
Step 10
The mounting holes from the fan shroud should be able to be used on the new fans. You will have to cut a little of the trim off to make room for the bracket supports.
Step 11
Now that you have an idea where things will mount up, go ahead and mount the VSC. You may not need to predrill holes but the screws that came with the kit had a blunt end so I had to in order to get them to thread.
Step 12
Now that you have that mounted the VSC, fit up the fans again and see where the brackets can be mounted. Mark where you would want the hole in the shroud and measure how far it is from the stock mounting hole to where you want to mount the bracket on the fan.
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