Technical Another 40/41 Ford Pickup Question - Radiator to Fan Position

I picked up this Walker 40 Ford radiator a while back to use on my 41 pickup
(half the price of new). I set it in place today, and wow, the water pump sure sits
high on the radiator. It doesn't help that the inlet for the radiator is in the middle.

What do I need to to here?

Raise the radiator?
Move the inlet?

OR

God forbid, electric fan?

Thanks,
Rich

 

Have you tried the 4 blade fan yet?It does look like it would hit. Measure see if you have enough room to move outlet up to top of rad,or to side.

 

Rich, now you know why Ford ran the Fan off the end of the crankshaft back then. I'm like you, No Electric Fans in Hot Rods. I have a 40 truck myself and I will be sure to mount the 327 low enough to make a Crank mounted fan sit where it belongs. What a Blister!
The Wizzard

 

I would for sure move the inlet to give you fan clearance. Or you could bend it using a big copper elbow and two hoses.

I personally an lazy and use electric fans all the time ( I tell everyone that it is for more power ) but if you move your inlet you could set your fan up then build a shroud, the Studebaker Lowey used an offset shroud. Let me see if I can find a pic for you. Gime a minute.

 

OK found you one.

 

With the fan up that high an offset shroud would be a good safety feature also. Beaner nailed it!

 

I had the same problem. I raised my radiator using some 2" hardwood blocks and longer bolts. My radiator (an aftermarket aluminum of unknown manufacturer, purchased used) also had holes/slots in the side frame that allowed me to use of some steel strap for upper braces to the inner fenders. I see that yours has these same holes, so you have the same option.

 

Well, I guess this is exactly why the Walker shroud looks like this...

 

The normal fix for your deal is to relocate upper outlet to the far left & raise the radiator 1 1/2" or more.
Very common fix.

 

Somewhere I have stashed away an extension I bought that lets you run a fan off the SBC balancer. I can post a pic with measurements if you want.

 

On mine I put spacers under the radiator, 2" I think. That allowed me to run a 17" fan, it cleared the upper rad. hose by an inch and put the fan more centralized to the core.

Even raising up that much you can still use the stock radiator to inner fender braces.