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#59400 04/19/2006 8:03 PM | Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 58 Member | | Member Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 58 | Its good to be back after a prolonged illness!!!Have just completed transplanting a 261 into my 52 3600 P/U chasis and would like to hear from others who've done this swap before. Everything was a piece of cake and will have photos to post later. Water pump to radiator clearance is virtually non-existant. Have bought the much touted 261 engine swap made easy water pump but don't know if even that's going to give me the clearance necessary to run the mechanical fan blade. In any case have ordered a 3000+ CFM electric pusher fan to mount in front of the radiator. Engine was spec'ed out by Pat Smith 216-235-261 Tech advisor for Inliners. Bored,Headwork, Clifford , Fentons, etc., etc.
Later Bros
Jim
Bubba
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#59401 04/19/2006 8:45 PM | Joined: Nov 2000 Posts: 582 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2000 Posts: 582 | Way to go Jimbo! Looking forward to pics. Getting ready to reinstall my rebuilt 261 in my 1/2 ton myself. | | |
#59402 04/19/2006 9:14 PM | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,029 Member | | Member Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,029 | Would using the 216 water pump with an adapter give you more clearance? It will put the fan higher relative to the radiator. | | |
#59403 04/19/2006 9:27 PM | Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 58 Member | | Member Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 58 | Baldy:
I honestly don't know! You're right that the 216 WP mounts higher up, but I hope the new high clearance pump will do the trick. Will let everyone know after the WP swap out this weekend.
Bubba
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#59404 04/19/2006 10:32 PM | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 627 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 627 | I'm putting a 261 in a 55 1st and have been wondering if I will have clearance. I don't know about the 52 but my radiator support has an X shaped cross brace in front. Do you expect you'll need to cut out the cross braces in front of the radiator so the fan can be mounted?
Mike Barnes
1950 GMC 1-ton pickup
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#59405 04/19/2006 10:49 PM | Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 58 Member | | Member Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 58 | 50G:
Don't know about the 55 1st cross brace. The braces on the 52 are rods with flattened ends that bolt in. If I have to move them or make new ones it shouldn't be that difficultThere are literally a hundred different sizes of electric pusher fans. I am going to use a Zirgo because the motor is replaceable. Will also use a Dakota Digital controller which will work of the same sending unit as an electrical gauge. If you're going to use a mechanical gauge it shouldn't be too difficult to use fittings to plumb up and arrangement for both the fan sensor and the mechanical temp gauge.
Bubba
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#59406 04/20/2006 12:17 AM | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 887 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 887 | I put a 261 into my '51 to replace the 216. The 216 didn't have much clearance between the fan and radiator, in fact I almost couldn't get the belt off without pulling the radiator or fan!
When I put in the engine I replaced the radiator and moved it about 1 inch lower to get it closer to the fan. The new radiator was thicker than the original so I had to cut the cross braces and lose part of the top part of the cross brace. Now I've got a bit more clearance than I did with the 216, but not much. Since the belt is now thinner it should be easier to replace, but it is still gonna be a close call.
Anyhow... does anyone know how much clearance there should be? 1/2 inch? 3/4? More?
'51 Chevy 1/2 ton w/'62 261, HEI, offy, fentons, dual carter/webbers, t-5 & 12 bolt posi
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#59407 04/20/2006 12:20 AM | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 887 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 887 | PS--
Forgot to say CONGRATULATIONS! Let us know how it runs and how you like the bigger engine!
'51 Chevy 1/2 ton w/'62 261, HEI, offy, fentons, dual carter/webbers, t-5 & 12 bolt posi
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#59408 04/20/2006 5:34 PM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,733 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,733 | My 53' has those X-braces and I had to cut them out because I re-positioned the mounting flanges and moved the top of the radiator away from the fan. My clearance on the fablade is close at the bottom only now but is still OK. I used a fan from a 56' Chevy car and everything works really well. No cooling problems at all so I'm glad I didn't invest in the electric pusher fans as I had first considered. Incidently my engine is a 235 and I used the new water pump from Patricks. | | |
#59409 04/20/2006 6:28 PM | Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 58 Member | | Member Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 58 | Dave:
The cross braces on both my 50 parts truck and my 52 roller are bolt in as I mentioned. Is your truck a 3100 or 3600? Spoke with folks at both Griffin and Walker radiator their Tech support folks say ideally the fan blade should be 3/4 to 1" away from the radiator surface.
Bubba
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