I suppose the "let's move it forward" thing was popular in the past. My truck was modified in that way sometime. The truck is on it's third engine.
It was mush easier to cut the top radiator support to eliminate the interference when replacing the engine then weld it back in, than to wrestle the engine in and out. Some didn’t bother to weld them back in as in my case. The later 235 replacement was popular because of the full oil pressure and replaceable insert bearings, as well as it being readily available in junk yards. Again it was much easier and cheaper to move the radiator forward then to shorten (or buy) the 235 water pump. The water pump adaptor plate to relocate the 216 water pump (so it doesn’t interfere with the radiator) and so it sits in the middle of the radiator, invented by fellow ‘bolter “Pre 68 Dave”, wasn’t available until recently.
