Viscous Drive Assy. 63-64 Avanti
1963-1964 Studebaker Avanti Fan Viscous Drive Assy.
1963-1964 Studebaker Avanti Fan Viscous Drive Assy. Won’t fit 1965-1985 Avantis.
This is a replacement fan viscous Drive assy. I have had these produced several times over the last few decades for the 1963-1964 Studebaker Avantis. We have always sold a lot of them when I used to set up as a dealer/vendor at the shows and swap meets to sell parts an answer service questions. There I could explain why you may need one. The purpose of a viscous drive fan drive assy. is to free wheel (disengage) the fan blade at a certain RPM of the engine or a certain temperature on the viscous drive. This allows for more un restricted air to flow through. When the viscous drive is working properly, the fan blade will be turning at the engine R.P.M. (it’s not slipping or free wheeling ) until the RPM and/or temperature sensors tell it different.
If you have had any problems of your car running warm or hot at idle, or any speed this could help solve part of that problem. I know of no way to check to see if the viscous drive is fully engaged at idle or if it’s slipping just a little except guess. It’s also kind of difficult to figure out if it has become disengaged (free wheeling) when it is supposed to. You may be able to hear it cut out but you still Don’t know if it has cut out a t the correct RPM or temperature. Now you will see why I sold so many at the shows and/or swap meets.
We don’t know if it’s staying engaged and/or disengaging properly at it’s predetermined RPM or temp.
2. If the viscous drive becomes worn and starts to wobble, could be the start of a cooling problem and a unbalance and will take out the bearings on the water pump real quick. Most of the time water pump remanufactures recommend changing the viscous drive when changing the water pump or the water pump warranty is null and void ( on a generic ever day driver)
3. The last is the best for pure logic. The viscous drive I had manufactured, don’t state store face down as I am the one storing them I didn’t think it was necessary. But if you look on any other normal viscous drive for most cars, it will state store face down. Well guess what your viscous drive has not been stored face down because it’s been bolted the engine for almost 50 years !
What I am trying to recommend you might want to change the viscous drive on a logic preventative maintenance at your leisure before it takes out the water pump bearings and then you have to change both. This viscous drive will only fit the Studebaker engine not a Chevy engine. As always If you have any questions,please email me. This is a very easy repair, with minimal of tools, that just about anybody can perform
Cooling/ Fan & Belts 0506 0506-8