Are the radiator shroud, metal or plastic?

[MiltonV]

Which is the most common for a 71 with J series motor? Metal or plastic?

[d.p]

Dont think I have seen a metal one, so my vote would be for plastic.  

[Crashtd420]

I'm sure if we are wrong someone will let use know, but yes I believe the factory ones are plastic.... 

[DanielC]

521 trucks in the USA with L-16 engines had both metal, and plastic, plastic being used in later trucks.

The L-16 engine engine was tilted to the right, and because of this, the fan is not centered on the radiator, and the fan shrouds were offset to accommodate this.

 

What material a car part is made of is a cost decision.  What is cheaper to make, and what material can be made with lower cost tooling.  Sheet metal is more expensive, but easier to make a stamping die for.   On the other hand, plastic injected into a mold is cheaper, but the mold is way more expensive.    If you are going to make a few parts, for a low selling model, 521 with J series engine,  use metal.  If you are going to make a lot of parts, 521 with L-16 engine, a big seller in the USA, and the "Premium" model in Japan, it becomes more economical for a car company to invest in more expensive plastic mold tooling.

 

Milton, does the serial number of your 521 begin with PL-521 or just L-521?

[Crashtd420]

See I told you someone would correct us.. 

[wayno]

This will be interesting, I have several metal shrouds and I have no idea what they are for now, maybe I have one as my 521 kingcab had a J series in it when I bought it and I never throw anything away, so if someone posts a photo of a J series shroud...................

Edited May 8, 2020 by wayno

[Charlie69]

I would be leaning towards metal if it was a J13 in the USA.  Costo Rica is another factor that I know nothing about!  LOL

[pidge]

Don’t mean to hi-Jack this thread, but while we’re on the topic did 69’ with a J13 ever come with a fan shroud? Mine didn’t when bought used. 
-Pidge

[MiltonV]

9 hours ago, DanielC said:

521 trucks in the USA with L-16 engines had both metal, and plastic, plastic being used in later trucks.

The L-16 engine engine was tilted to the right, and because of this, the fan is not centered on the radiator, and the fan shrouds were offset to accommodate this.

 

What material a car part is made of is a cost decision.  What is cheaper to make, and what material can be made with lower cost tooling.  Sheet metal is more expensive, but easier to make a stamping die for.   On the other hand, plastic injected into a mold is cheaper, but the mold is way more expensive.    If you are going to make a few parts, for a low selling model, 521 with J series engine,  use metal.  If you are going to make a lot of parts, 521 with L-16 engine, a big seller in the USA, and the "Premium" model in Japan, it becomes more economical for a car company to invest in more expensive plastic mold tooling.

 

Milton, does the serial number of your 521 begin with PL-521 or just L-521?

The aluminum plate inside the engine bay says L521

[MiltonV]

12 hours ago, pidge said:

Don’t mean to hi-Jack this thread, but while we’re on the topic did 69’ with a J13 ever come with a fan shroud? Mine didn’t when bought used. 
-Pidge

According to my user manual yes it does.

[Ash77]

Ive got a 521 with a J15 and it came with a plastic fan shroud if that helps. Bought off the first owner so I'm guessing its the original one.

[pidge]

Yeah mine didn’t have it (69 521 with the j13) another part I’ll put on the to do list. 
thanks Milton for the pic. 
-Pidge