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  3. The "Group Buy" for the 1967-68 Deluxe Steering wheel recasting is now officially "Open". Now is the time to start sending in the wheels. The latest date that the wheels must be received by Kochs is 31 March 2025 The cost for each wheel is $750. The only "up front cost" is your shipping the wheel. If you send in more than one wheel, each additional wheel will cost $700. Shipping and insurance to Kochs and return shipping will be extra. You will be contacted by Teresa to make payment for the wheel(s) and return shipping and insurance when your wheel(s) is complete. The shipping will be factored on your delivery address and insurance. I will be sending the contact information all of you have sent me to Teresa at Kochs. Send in your wheels, horn pad and hardware and paint color sample if applicable. Please include: First and Last Name Shipping Address Phone number email address V8Buick "Member Name" Wheel Color (SEE THE BOTTOM FOR WHEEL COLOR) Pease read the "shipping to Kochs" below. There are two addresses. One for USPS Mailing One for FedEx and UPS shipping You can use USPS/Mail, UPS or FedEx to send in your core. Use the appropriate address depending on what service you use to ship. If you use USPS/Mail ship to: Koch's P.O. Box 959 Acton, CA 93510 Attn: Teresa If you use UPS or FedEx ship to: Koch's 7650 Soledad Canyon Road Acton CA 93510 Attn: Teresa Kochs Contact: Teresa (661) 268-1341 customerservice@kochs.com Wheel Color If you wheel is Black, you can list that in your information you send in with your wheel. For colored wheels, please contact Teresa about specifics for wheel color if you do not send in a color sample to match. Please contact me if you have any questions. Thank you to everyone for your participation in making this a reality. And "Thank You" Jim Weise, for allowing and facilitating this project! Michael .................... to remove this notice, click the X in the upper RH corner of this message box
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1968 Wildcat radiator / fan / fan clutch

Discussion in 'A boatload of fun' started by kiwidave, Aug 13, 2023.

  1. kiwidave

    kiwidave Well-Known Member

    [​IMG]

    So this was the scene at my place today. Project Wildcat is go, at long last (delayed by Covid issues, kids' college fee issue, yada yada) ...

    Car never ran cool enough. I've been reading up and wading through countless posts on radiators and fans in the archives here over the course of this year, and TBH I may have overdosed on info. So to cut it back to basics, three questions:

    RADIATOR: I'm aiming to re-use the original radiator and will be taking it to a local specialist for a health check. I suspect it has never had one. If it needs recoring, should it be done to stock spec, or is there an improvement that can be built into the original body?

    FAN: I have a car with no air con (now). I am tossing in the trash two small electric fans that were unshrouded, and have sourced this original 20inch 5-blade fan with matching shroud. Research tells me the 5-blade fan was for AC Wildcats, 4-blade was for non-AC. Is there any issue with running an original 5-blade Wildcat fan in a non-AC car?

    [​IMG]

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    FAN CLUTCH: can someone please give me a part number for a fan clutch for this 5 blade fan. Is this the original one on it?

    Thanks. Plenty more questions to follow, i am sure.
     
  2. pbr400

    pbr400 68GS400

    (1). If your tanks are big enough you should be able to put a four core tank in. I know the universal four row (chevelle type) radiators fit a Wildcat, (I test fit one from my GS in my ‘68 ‘Cat, and it’s likely you’d need to trim the rubber insulators and adapt a little) so an aftermarket aluminum equivalent (two thicker rows vs. four narrower due to aluminum being a different metal) should fit.
    (2) There is no downside to running AC cooling parts on a non AC car; part numbers for the fan clutch should be the same as ‘68-72 GS. Hayden makes a good HD clutch, sort of an equivalent to the Stage 1 factory clutch. I don’t have the number right now but someone likely will post them. I think Hayden 2747 is a common choice.
    I miss my ‘68.

    Patrick
     
    kiwidave likes this.
  3. dmfconsult

    dmfconsult Devil in a Blue Dress

    How have you made out with this Dave? On my 67 Electra, I had the original radiator recored many years ago with the original style core, and have never had an overheating issue. I do have AC, so I have the shroud and clutch that come with the "HD Cooling" option that all AC cars received, and I imagine it was the same for 68 cars. As Patrick mentioned, there should be no downside to installing the AC parts on a non-AC car, and I have often thought that the shroud and fan clutch would solve cooling issues in non-AC cars. I did replace my fan clutch about 10 years ago, and I may still have the box with the old fan clutch in it, so let me know if you're still chasing a part number and I'll look for it.
     
  4. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    Check your vacuum advance canister and initial timing.
     
    racenu likes this.
  5. kiwidave

    kiwidave Well-Known Member

    Sorting this little issue is delayed somewhat by the fact that my original motor was quite literally stuffed. Hacked by ''rebuilders'' in the distant past with no apparent Buick knowledge, according to the one engine-shop guy in this state who has done 100+ Buick V8s for owners all over Australia. Block unusable. He gave me a full report with photos and it was sobering.

    Thanks to a member on here, a replacement ''barn stored for 25+ years'' 430 is currently on its way to me from Nebraska via the port of LA. On arrival it will be forensically tested and freshened up as necessary.

    I do have the original radiator out now and ready to take to a shop for inspection and recoring if required.

    I'll get back to you in six months LOL.
     
    Max Damage likes this.
  6. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    ouch! Good luck!
     
  7. dmfconsult

    dmfconsult Devil in a Blue Dress

    Ouch x2!
     

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