The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 235 water pump

I just installed the water pump kit for the later model 235 to fit in my 54 3100. I got it from Chevy Duty. Now i can't seem to get a fan to fit in between the radiator and the new "short" water pump. Any ideas?

That is a problem on some trucks, especially if the fenders or grille have ever been removed. I have a short water pump and pulley on my 261 and I still ended up using an electric fan for clearance reasons. I could have gotten a flex fan to fit but it still would have been too low on the radiator. I am really happy with the 17" 2000 cfm fan mounted on the front of the rad, and I have a thermostatic switch that turns it on and off. It cost me about $100 to do.

For the water pump I didn't bother with the kit, I just found a fomoco 7" pulley that had the same bolt pattern as the chevy pulley, and pressed the hub down on the original shaft and cut it short. It looks stock. It cost me $35 for the water pump and $2 for the pulley.

Isn't there some adjustment that you can make to the radiator? Now maybe it is just mine but I seem to remeber the Radiator having a flange that sits in a chanel (radiato support) and bolts that adjust how far forward or back it sits.

How much room do you need?

i used the chevy duty water pump when i put my 62 engine in my 54 pu. it was a tight fit but did clear. you might be able to move the radiator back enough also - can't remember.

I have a '54 and have done the same thing. It's a tight fit, but it works. I installed the water pump and fan and then slid the radiator in place. There's only about 1/4 in. of clearance. I also had to shave some of the blade off so it wouldn't hit the harmonic balancer. Maybe for some reason, the pump you got is not correct. I'll check the length of mine when I go to work tomorrow and give you a spec.

ysrjunkie: I measured from the block to the raditor and it is right at 5.75 in. To the end of the shaft on the pump it's about 5.25 in. So there's about a 1/4 in. between the blade and the radiator. Keep us posted. Good luck.

Thanks for the info guys. I thought it would probably be this way and will probably install an electric fan. I've got about an inch and a half between the pump and the radiator. Then if I were able to get a fan on it would be too low.