Hi all as the title states, I need some advice. Have my 39 Chevy sedan project. Came with a 54 235 ci in it. Needs cleaned but starts after a little work. Sometime along the way, the water pump may have been replaced without worrying about pulley alignment. The pump pulley sits about 1/2” forward of the crank pulley. See the attached pic. I have been searching and I do not think this is a long pump shaft vs short. Does anyone know if the pulley can be pressed on a bit further on these? The car was a stalled project. I am in uncharted territory with old Chevys, but love the puzzle thanks!
Looks like 39 pump pulley (wide grove) vs a 54 pump pulley (narrow grove) is the issue at hand. Then again been a long while so I don't remember if pulley is pressed on? If so, then you have an early water pump on a later engine.
Kinda looks to me the mis-alignment could be from the alternator? Take the fan off an use a straight edge across pulleys. It also (if possible) doesn’t look like you could move the pully back without hitting the pump housing.
Look at 2nd and 3rd pump listed and click info then look at both photo's of link and you'll see the difference. https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...cid+l6,1326473,cooling+system,water+pump,2208
@jtaoj0 before anything I've said, what's the grove width of your crank pulley. We can not see it that well.
For sure your alternator is out of alignment and you need a wide belt and a wide belt pulley for the alternator
Thanks for the quick responses. The alternator is one I had kicking around and is just mocked up. I will slide the belt off and pull the alternator so I can post a better picture. I think the crank pulley is 3/8 but will measure and post back. More to come! thanks. Jeff
Ok here are some cleaner pics. The water pump pulley is off (forward) of the crank pulley. The water pump pulley is much wider than the crank pulley. The crank looks to be a 3/8. A 3/8 belt fits the groove well. Thoughts? anyway thanks for your help! Jeff
The car probably had a 216, I’ve heard talk when doing a swap, the 216 water pump is used. Could be you have 216 crank pulley and 235 water pump? I might be wrong, just going by a old memory. I’ve no experience swapping a 216 for a 235.
I did, and they both look like they are set further back from the one on the car. But the good news is, it isn't the alternator. Maybe all it needs is a different pully, or because the pump wasn't engine green, a new pump and problem solved.
Like Johnny Gee is telling you. You need a 1954 water pump to run the narrow belt. It will be a long pump and may require you to move the radiator forward.
early 235 / 216 water pump . factory “ long pump “ and aftermarket “ short pump. It looks like you have the early pump , the pulley and pump are one piece . the layer style pump can have the flange pressed further back asking as you support the pump shaft from the back when you press it . The 235’s used a thin and a wide belt , you could have a mish mash of pulleys going on . Your alternator is cockeyed , fix that first , might be the whole problem . I’m not 100% but I’m pretty sure Chevy used the old style 235/216 short style /integrated pulley pump up to ‘54 in 55 they switched to the long style
Yes you need a different pump, I have a 1954 261 in my '56 panel and it uses the older style pump with the non removable pulley. Mine uses the narrow belt (3/8") and I bought the Airtex one from Rock Auto (after several leaky reman ones from Napa) Napa reman leaky one:
You can press the hub back on a stock long shaft 235 pump to match a short pully and cut the end off the shaft leaving just enough to hold the fan. This is one that I did on a 53 Chevy 3100 in the early 80's I used a shorter pulley that I had in the shop but could have used one a bit shorter yet for more fan clearance. The bad of that is if you loose a pump on the road you have to not only hunt down a 235 pump you have to press the hub. Davis speed shop sells an adapter plate for 39.00 That lets you adapt the earler pump to your block and mounts it up a bit higher than the later 335 pump mounts. 10018 235 CHEVY WATER PUMP ADAPTER PLATE - Davis Speed Equipment They also explain the belt width thing in their add.
Sounds like I need the 54 pump with the 3/8 pulley. The longer shaft will likely be an issue. I bet the 216 pump was used for that reason but they didn’t care about the misalignment with the crank. I will have to buy one to see what I am up against with the radiator clearance. the generator pulley looks like it will fit the alternator. The generator pulley is for a 3/8 belt. It is a larger diameter than the stock alternator pulley, so hopefully the low rpm charging isn’t affected. Seems like I saw something where the generator pulley was being used on an alternator. such great advice…I appreciate all of the help and guidance! Thanks, jeff
The powerglide equipped 235 and the 54 use the same water pump. Different than 55 up, which is what the adapters are for, using the 55up in the earlier chassis. Just buy a stock 53/54 235 w/narrow pulley. My very first engine swap was replacing a 52 216 with a 53PG 235. First use of full pressure oiling to rods and insert bearings in a stovebolt.
But your pics of the two pumps look like the belt will ride in the same place only the fan location would change?
Jonny, I checked the width of the alternator and generator pulleys…you are correct, same width. I thought an earlier post suggested changing the alt pulley, but no need as you note. Thanks, j
The crank pulley and alternator pulley both look to be the later narrow style, but water pump and it's pulley look wrong for your application.
Exactly putting a later module 235 in a 54 and earlier car caused rad and fan issues . Hence the short shaft pump , there is also an adapter plate to mount the earlier pump to the later engine
Besides, you wouldn't want the larger pulley on the alternator. Let's just say they don't do as they should most often when spinning that slow at idle do to the larger diameter as well.
Yeah, that was my concern...I was just starting to do some research on what it might mean when I saw Johnny's post. I ordered up a 54 3/8 water pump...should be here Thursday of next week. I will let you all know what it looks like!
It looks like your top alternator bracket has a bend in it, I’d assume to match the lower pivot point that spaces it out about a 1/2 inch?
It does. The lower mount and upper mount was a conversion kit. The older motor ('54 and below) mounted by the oil pan and the newer ('55 and above) mounted on the side of the block. 37-54 55-62
But that's just one style of brackets, I've seen others. As long as it lines up, is adjustable and is strong.
Hi all, thanks again. Wanted to bring this to a close. The 54 water pump worked as thought. Here is a pic showing the difference. I thought I took one installed but can’t see it. But the attached shows how different the alignment is which worked well on the motor.
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