The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Moved Radiator Forward?

Has anyone moved the stock radiator forward in an Advance Design truck to accomodate a newer 235 or the 261? How hard is it and how far should it go?

Thanks.

Wally, my '53 3/4 had the original 216 replaced with a 235 sometime before I got it. The previous owner decided to cant the radiator instead of move it. The fan barely missed it and he cut a section out of the front cross member to allow it to be canted. Problem was, the radiator went bad eventually and may have been partially due to the fact that it wasn't installed 90 degrees to horizontal. I don't think you'll be able to move it forward enough to accommodate a 235. Why not go with a short shaft water pump instead? All you need is a flat back cooling fan from a 216 and the new pump.

Another option is to cut the top out of the radiator frame and move the radiator to the forward flange of the frame.

I have a water pump that came off what I thought was a 261 that was in a ad 1 1/2 ton truck that is shorter that the 235 pumps that come on the car and pickup motors. I have seen this pump on a couple of ad trucks running around and it looks like it works good. I wish I knew of this pump when I stuck a 235 in my 37,I dont like the small pulley on the pump I have on it now. I am going to find someone to rebuild the pump off of the 261 and put on my 37

I already have one of the short-shaft water pumps from Jim Carter. He says that he's sold 500 of them with the 4" pulley with no complaints.

But since 7" pulleys are more expensive than 4" pulleys, I've got to think that GM put the 7 inchers on for good reason.

Fred T, The top of my radiator frame has already been cut (which helped in pulling the engine/tranny). That's a real option.

The $73 for the short-shaft pump plus the $20 core charge which I'll probably have to eat (no 261 pump to return) plus more fussing with a pulley just has me thinking of other solutions.

Thanks, everyone!!

Where are you buying your water pump? I got mine at the local parts house for $30-40, something like that.

Richard,

What's the part # for the water pump that you got locally? My local parts place can't seem to find the short shaft pump. I'd gladly pay $30.00 - $40.00 for one and put my '49 (with a '57 235) back to normal. Previous owner hacked the hood latch plate, cut the crossmember, etc.

Stingray- I buy my parts at O'Reilly because they have a good counterman who can find the old parts. I found two tickets when I bought water pumps. I don't know what their A1 line means but it is A1 58-126 and I got it for 40.77, which is not the list price which was 76.25 The other ticket was a A1 58-147. So one of these should be the short shaft water pump, the other should be for a 94 pickup.

I was never aware you can buy one from a common parts store.It's the same shortened pump and shallow 7 inch pulley like you get from the old truck vendors like Patrick's and Carter?

Tony,

I think you're right about not being able to buy that pump locally. I went to O'Reilly's and checked Richard's part #58-126. That's a pump for an early 235 (two holes in the block, covered pump back) (I have a '57 engine in my '49. It has the large hole in the block - exposed pump back) I had my local guys searching frantically for the pump like Carter's & Patrick's sell to no avail. I'd like to know who's manufacturing it. The $$ is a bit steep.

When I bought my truck the po.had installed a 59-235 and the pulleys didn't line up as well as they had about a six inch on the water pump which I felt could cause heat problems at slow speeds.
I used a pulley (around 4 in) and fan of a 50 car and supported the pump impeller and pressed fan hub down shaft until pulleys would line up and then cut shaft. This gives 3/4 in clearence between fan and rad, pulleys line better and use the smaller belt. I did have to redue the hub in order to use the older fan and did buy the lower hose offered by Carter
Lionel