The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Stuck with radiator issues on a 216/235 conversion

Okay, So I have put a 58-62 235 in my 49 panel. All is fine except for the radiator clearance issue. I was using a radiator out of a 65 mustang for a while but wanted to go back to the original. So I bought a completely rebuilt radiator. Now the problem is that there is now way that the fan blade is not going to hit the radiator if I try to put the radiator back in it's original spot. To put it in front of the radiator mount would mean some modification which I really do not want to do. Has anyone else experience this issue? I'm sure this has been addressed before but I can't seem to find out how to exactly address this problem.

If the motor was mounted in the original position buy a adapter plate and use the old 216 water pump. Doing this will give the proper fan rad clearence and centers the fan in the rad. where it should be. You can get the adapter plate from Jim Carters.

juddwayne,

Take ttodd's advice. This topic has been discussed regularly. Here is a recent post. Be sure to check out Fla54Chevy3100's Webshot photos.

Also, be sure to ask for installation instructions.

You might want to obtain a water-pump gasket for both sides of the adapter plate (an earlier style gasket for the water pump to the plate (FelPro 5131) and a later style for the plate to the block (FelPro 5159)).

If you do not have a good, original water pump, they are readily available from most vendors. $42-$75 from Rockauto.com, for example.

Tim

Thanks for the advice from both of you! I appreciate it!

Hi Juddwayne

I have done the same conversion but I bought a short water pump from Patrciks and it worked very well and it is working very well

Ganesh

I just got through doing this conversion 1 week ago. Bought the adapter plate, drilled the block etc. I have a 58 235 in a 53 5700 COE. The previous owner had just spaced the top of the rad forward 2.5 inches-- made all the sheetmetal not fit. Anyway, the plate is the way to go and NAPA has new 216/early 235 pumps available.

Man in my experience Short water pump was the easiest and cleanest way to go, I respect Mr. Patrcik as he is very experienced guy

Ganesh

I went with the shortened water pump simply because my friend had one sitting on his shelf in his garage from a project that he never got around to. I'll see how it works for me. I'm also in the process of a 12 volt conversion using a generator and voltage regulator out of a 55 chevy bel air and a HEI out of an 84 pickup. Hope it all works out!!!

only problem with using the short pump is they are not available off the shelf from your local parts suppliers. The 216/235 early pumps are everywhere and cheap.

The other problem with the short pump is that the fan sits too low on the radiator- the 216 had the pump partially in the head and it made the fan mount higher. I still didn't get enough clearance for a fan when I put my 261 in my '50 so I run an electric fan in front of the radiator.

I put a 57 235 in my 37 with the shortened pump from Jim Carter but could not use a stock fan due to it hitting the balancer and radiator,it broke a few years later and went into the radiator so I got the adapter and drilled the block and glad I did as i can use a stock fan now. I had to go with the adapter because I had another shortened water pump but it would not go on with the radiator in place and I could not remove and install the radiator with the pump in the block. Jeff

I had the same problem this summer. I ended up using a standard 235 Water pump and had the flange pressed down to clearance the fan from the radiator. Its a tight fit, but it's all snuggled in there and nothing leaks, and the radiator cools great now.

I wish I would have know about this site when I was dealing with this issue as I would have just bought a short shaft water pump and new gaskets and been done with it. But as luck goes I ended up doing things the hard way. How much fun would it have been to have the right parts the first time anyways!?!