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For first generation Toronados, did they originally come with non-thermal fan clutches? My ‘69 had a non-thermal but I just changed it today for a thermal fan clutch. And for those with mechanical fans, do you prefer thermal or non-thermal? Thanks!

Can´t believe that there was no thermal clutch originally. The Toronado got the best high performance engine of its time. All performance goodies Oldsmobile put in it; forget crankshaft, big valves, special cam, high compression heads, 4bbl carb, dual exhaust, 385 top of the line horses - and than no cheap thermal clutch? - never!

Look how they skimped on the brakes. Single reservoir, no discs.

Otto, you are right but, 1966 the single brake reservoir and the drums all around was standard in the automobile industry. And for "normal" use they were ok. Disks and dual brake was a 1967 GM innovation. And it needs time to got standard...

Nico asked for the thermo clutch, and that was standard on 66/67 Toros. Don`t know about 1968-70. I guess, recently he wrote about a single exhaust in his `69 car.

Maybe the 68-70 did have thermal clutches, but maybe one of the previous owners decided to cheapen out and use the non-thermal. Am I going to notice a difference in terms of cooling? And will it be effective in hot days, in traffic, or both? I live in LA and there is nothing but traffic here. The non-thermal clutch made the temp stay between 180-190 degrees F on the streets and after the thermal clutch install the average is 190-200 degrees F. I’m assuming it’s because the clutch engages later?

Here’s the old clutch fan next to the new one.

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My car is stock and has a fixed blade fan. Maybe clutch fans were used on the AC equipped models but not on all cars.

Nico,

You aren't going to notice a difference in cooling. The only advantage a clutch fan has over a fixed blade fan is that it isn't using as much engine power all the time. The fixed blade turns all the time whereas the clutch type only turns when the air coming through the radiator is hot enough to require it.

The clutch engages the blades when the liquid inside the clutch reaches a certain temperature and flows outward from the center to fill voids inside the assembly which engages the blades. It works sort of like an automatic transmission - one fan pushing another by pushing fluid between them.

Anyway, when not hot enough to engage, the fan free wheels without robbing power from the engine since the engine isn't pushing it through the air.

Now, if the previous fan clutch was defective and free wheeling all the ime instead of engaging when it should, you will notice an improvement in cooling.