The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Fan too close to radiator - '46 Chevy

I have a 1946 Chevy 3/4 ton truck. The fan touches the radiator and I have no idea why. It's a 216 engine. Is it the water pump? The radiator?

Solutions:

1) Cut off the radiator mounting bracket move it forward 1/2".

2) Remove fan completely and use electric, but because of the cross piece, it seems like I could only use a 12" fan.

3) Something else? Different radiator? Flat back fan? Short shaft water pump? (My understanding is that these are only for later models.

Are you sure it is a 216?

alec beard,

Post a link to a photo of the waterpump connected to the block (and the front/side of the head). (or, email a photo to me and I will host/post it: [email protected])

And/or, post the number stamped into the block to the rear of the distributor.

I believe it's a 216 from 1950

Here's an album of pics (radiator removed).

http://imgur.com/wNTRKCS,hKRvkGR,LTQCAE0,7zboALO,MYu9KWJ,n3npGLO

Here is the album. Album

HBM engine code preface: 1950 216 from Tonawanda, NY
engine serial number

Its water-pump should be OK with the original radiator.
water pump

Maybe the pulley (but, it looks OK) or fan-blades are not original?

[quote=tclederman]
or fan-blades are not original?
[/quote]

Could be the fan blade. I'll look into that. Thanks.

I wonder if there is a fan blade that would be flush on the front and recessed towards the back (towards the fan belt) where all the extra space is. I've heard of a "flat-back" fan; could I flip it around or does it only fit one way?

There is a fan that sets back and flat on the front. I'm running one on my 261 in my 37 truck. It's a Derale fan, Model 19115 and is a 15” fan. It's a "flex" fan. all of the blade bend is to the back and it is flat on the front.

I'll try that. Thanks. The fan that was on there only had two blades. Not sure how or why that happened

And thanks for the album, truckernix!

The fan that was on there only has two blades. Definitely going to replace that

The fan on my 216 is very close to the radiator, about 1/4 to 1/8 inch away. Could your engine mounts be worn allowing the engine to move forward just a bit?

That could be. I think we're going to try to remount the radiator onto a new frame, slightly recessed.

i installed a 235 in my 46 and used a flex fan to make the clearance, just wondering maybe he has the fan on backwards??

There is sure something that does not make sense. The length of the engine with pump should be the same as came in the truck originally.

The fan is suspect for sure. Has the radiator been recored with bigger core to the engine side? Or is the radiator support that runs to the cab been adjusted such that it is pulling the radiator support too close to the engine?

Dennis