I have the exact same model. And did the alternator replacement about 3 years ago. I wish I had seen your video. There is a set of linkages , springs and baffles internal to the shroud on mine that are thermostatically controlled ( the bellows thermostat is around the #1 cylinder under the car)that gave me a great deal of trouble during the removal process. The shroud was impossible for me to remove with all that mechanism in place. I did manage to remove them, and the shroud, but left them out for reassembly ( I’ll replace them if I ever have the engine out again). Cooling has been just fine without them.
Hmm. Interesting. I have had the engine out 3 times in the life of this car. Once by a vw repair shop. Must have been removed "for me" at some point. Interesting... I wonder if it's an emissions thing. This vehicle was originally purchased in Virginia so it does not have a catalytic converter.
this is a 79. it is fuel injected, and has a dog house style fan shroud. earlier models had some slightly different variants. the Dog house style came out to help with more even cooling on the left side that would have been blocked by the oil cooler.
