Thank you Thank you Fellas!
Things are beginning to make sense now! Tuts 59 if you could please post some pictures that would be fantastic! I Do want to try and stay as original as I can but with function high on the priority list. The 283 has had the orig intake removed BC PO told me He found a crack in it. He installed an Edelbrock aluminum 4BBL intake/carb combination from Summit Racing. He also told me it has original heads w/non hardened valve seats and BC of that I had to run leaded additive. There are chrome valve covers and a big Chrome Summit Racing air cleaner
sitting atop the carb, so the engine definately does not look stock. The AC Delco Alternator is not stock either as I assume the Truck had a 12v Generator originally. By the way I feel the alternator sits way high on the drivers side. No power steering pump is installed so why cant the alternator be tucked under and down a bit? But I'm drifting away from the original problem.
Back to the radiator/fan shroud. The Truck belongs to my Queen. I mean its both ours and we go places together in it, and She helps me work on it too. I want it to never overheat on her again if I can help it. I think the orig waterpump was bypassing, the truck over heated and the dual fuel line vapor locked on her and Baby just would not start for Her. She knows better than to run the battery down trying to start it. Baby usually starts quick, no hesitation. Long story short, I was out of state and couldn't go and help her. She got a flat bed tow truck and got her home.
So now I am digging into it to try and right the wrongs done to Baby. She had a PO who I feel Band-aided her just to quick sale it to fund other projects He had. The front brakes had been replaced and there were two short shoes on one side and two long shoes on the other.
The rear brakes were replaced along with wheel cylinders but the rear axle seals had been leaking so long the brakes and cylinders were buried in oil mud. The front shocks were too long and eventually broke off the top of a mount. I welded that back together and welded the cracked opp side along with correct shorter shocks. Rear shocks were mounted straight up to the frame. Truck rode like a bucking horse. I replaced the broken shock mount pins and reinstalled the rear shocks at the angle they were meant to be. Along with that the front springs curve was upside down BC they were worn out. I replaced those when the shock mount broke. Now at least the Truck rides nice and its a pleasure to drive.
Reason I'm telling all of the above is I've been busy fixing other things so we can enjoy it more. No different than many of you all I'm sure. Bless you if you are still reading :-)
So if I can modify the radiator and fan shroud to function better than it does now I'm all for it. I truly believe the little 283 can handle the warm weather and eventualy a ac compressor to keep my Queen cool !
Thank you Gentelmen for your patience with me.
I am a mechanic just never worked on anything built before 1969
Last edited by Roadking53; 06/24/2021 7:55 PM.
