The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 2" fan spacer

Is the fan spacer needed for proper cooling? I've put a 62 235 in my 59 project truck and the radiator won't fit with the fan spacer on. Trying to avoid buying the short shaft water pump kit, but if I gotta I gotta

heres what I have been told ..the optimal distance for the fan to radiator clearance is 3/4".
That said, why not machine down your 2" spacer to achieve the required clearance?...may be an aption in your situation if 2" is too much?, on my 52 I took a 1/4" off on a mill to get my distance set at 3/4" and I have never had any overheat issues.
just my 2 pennies.
Tim

Tim has it right...I chucked my aluminum spacer in the lathe cut it down and got my new flex fan 3/4" from the radiator. 3/4" is as close as you need to be. If your motor mounts are sloppy the engine can dip forward and run the fan into the radiator if you are too close. Too far away and the cooling values drop....good luck, Steve

The radiator on my 1950 1/2 ton had been moved about 3 inches away from the motor, I think when someone replaced the 216 with the current 235. When I pointed it out to someone, it was suggested I buy a spaced to get the fan closer to the raidator. After buying the spacer and a new fan, I realized I could move the radiator back to its original position and achieve the 3/4" to 1" spacing. I had been having cooling troubles, so hope this helps.
Lawrence

There shouldn't be a spacer on a '55-'59 truck.