Took off the old fan clutch yesterday to start the disassembly and cleaning part of the rebuild. The instructions I'm following show a picture of a fan clutch that look different from the one I've got (and had 4x 10mm bolts holding the clutch to the fan, mine used 11mm).

Here are the directions I was following and here are 3 pics of my fan clutch. Previous owner replaced it about 10 years ago with a fan clutch from Autozone so I'm not sure if I can rebuild. On the plus side here, if this Autozone one lasted 10 years, I can get another one from there for $40.99.

Instructions: http://www.hammondsplains.com/newtechtips/cooling/index.htm

Edited August 13, 201014 yr by dridge11

id buy another one for 40 bucks.

The short answer is no. That one is sealed and not re-buildable. I have on just like it. I believe they are a non-Nissan part from an auto parts store. The original fan clutches could be re-built as they could be taken apart. Alas, that one you are showing can't be. You'll have to buy a new one, but try to make sure it can be taken apart if you ever need to re-build it.

Cheers, Mike

That's an aftermarket, non rebuildable unit that many of the chain auto parts stores sell. I personally don't care for them but if you got 10 years service out of it, go for another one.

Quick question...looking at MSA, it seems the fan clutch for the 70/71 is different than the 72 on. The 70-71 they sell is a conversion kit to get away from the metal fans. Once the conversion is done (mine already has a plastic one, probabaly cause it has a 2.8L) is the clutch the same as the 72-83 non turbo?

I probably just answered my own questions since my car doesn't have the original 71 engine.

The clutch is the same from whenever they went to plastic fans. Just don't use the ZX fan since it's designed to go with the 3 row pulley and ends up dangerously close to the radiator if used in the earlier cars.

Yet ANOTHER update...I was going through my parts bins that came with the car to "thin the extras" a bit when I came across 3 fan clutches. The previous owner was VERY good about saving good working spares and labeling what sort of car they came from. The one on the left is labeled "280", no label on the middle one, the one on the right is labeled "ZX". Based on sblake01's comment, I don't want to use the ZX one, but guess I should give these others a shot first. They feel like they have a lot more resistance than the one I took off the car.

Based on sblake01's comment, I don't want to use the ZX one....

You can use the clutch from a ZX, it's the ZX fan itself you don't want to use. The 72-73 fans are smaller diameter than the 74 up. And I believe that they have 7 blades. The 74-78 fans have the mounting surface at the front of the fan and I believe they have 8 blades. You could use any 72-78 fan. You can't use the 79-83 280ZX or the 810/910 (Maxima) fans because they have the mounting surface towards the rear of the fan which makes the fan sit farther forward. There's more space between the engine and the radiator in the ZX/810/910.

Zx fans & Maxima/810 clutches lock up at diferent temps!!!

Zx fans & Maxima/810 clutches lock up at diferent temps!!!

Not sure I understand what you're saying. You mean the clutches, S30 vs. S130/810/910 lock up at different temps? The part number is the same 21082-Y4100 for both a 78 280Z and a 79 810.

EDIT: According to the Nissan Fast program, 79 and up non turbo ZX's also use that same part number as well as the RWD Maximas.

Edited August 14, 201014 yr by sblake01

I had no idea that fan clutches "lock up". I thought they were just viscus couplings that limited the fan speed so that it turns at roughly the same speed regardless of the engine's speed.

Guess that shows how little I know...

Glad I looked in that bin before going to Autozone....went from having a non-rebuildable one to three that probably work and can be rebuilt. I'll be popping it back in tomorrow.

Appreciate everyone's feedback on this and the diagnosis in my other thread.