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I located a short shaft water pump for my later model 235 that I installed in my "54 3100. Everything lined up great. Has anyone here done this, and if so, what fan did you use. The paper that came with the pump states to use the later model fan and just bend the blades enough to clear the harmonic balancer. It also seems to be real close to the radiator(1/2 in.) I know the fan will flex when running, but I don't want to buy a new radiator too.

Sorry for the long post.

1/2 inch is close. I would not recommend bending the fan blades, it's a good way to start cracks and break the blade at speed, which can kill someone if your hood is open when it happens.

Problem is with finding the right fan. Makes it tempting to use an electric or a flex fan. The flex uses a lot of horsepower, and you will probably have to machine your own adapter to fit the older (larger) shaft. I was able to get the fan that came with my'54 235, believe it was originally out of a car.

Im also going to install a 54 235 into a 51 pickup.Am i corect that the 216 pump and fan will fit with proper clearence?

Slow Rider - Two problems. First will be your v-belt and pulley size. Your 216 should be set up for 3/4" belt, the 235 for a 1/2". I stuck with the smaller belt, used the 235 balancer and swapped the generator pulley. Second, if your 216 fan is like mine, it is about an inch too long and would hit the balancer. With the 235 fan, I have clearance from the balancer and enough clearance to the radiator to squeeze my big fingers in. Less than I like, for certain.

Im also going to install a 54 235 into a 51 pickup.Am i corect that the 216 pump and fan will fit with proper clearence?

The 54 235 Chevy block used the same water pump as the 216.
Its a bolt in application with no modifications .
Installing a short shaft water pump on a 55-62 235 is a little trickier. Every one I have done have had their own unique problems. Best bet is to use the later [ late 50's] 4 bladed fan. These fans are just short enough to clear the harmonic balancer after installing the s.s water pump.
I also like to lower the radiator in its saddle a few inches since the 55-62 s.s water pump raises the location of the fan blade in realition to the radiator. I have had the best success with installing a 48-54 GMC radiator in the Chevy trucks that have been converted to a later 235. The GMC radiator fits inside the original Chevy radiator saddle & allows a lot of adjustment of the fan blade to radiator clearance. You can use the big 2 ton GMC radiator & still have room to adjust the clearance between the core & fan blade. I also like the look of the goose neck filler of the GMC radiators. The GMC radiators also come stock with a built in relief valve on the upper tank.

Well after looking at the fan and crank pulley, I ripped out the radiator and removed the fan and took it to the body shop and had them shave about a 1/4 of an inch off the inside of the blades and it clears perfectly, without bending a thing. Fired it up and nothing hits and runs cool. Now I can sleep.