I've got my engine up and running on the test stand and I have done my preliminary setup of the new springs and axles on the frame and now I am ready to mount the engine for my initial mockup with that which now has focused my attention on the placement of the motor and the spacing issues between it and the radiator. I am trying to not run an electric fan and I am not looking to move the radiator forward as I will be running fenders and the stock hood. I also will be using a T-5 transmission conversion so I would like to avoid moving things back through the firewall as much as possible. I am initially planning on having the engine mount holes spaced 6 1/2 inches from the radiator mount holes as that seems to be the placement that most people used based on my Internet searching. As I measure things out it seems it will be a tight squeeze and I will need to change to a single belt system and replace my passenger car water pumps with the truck version and upgrade all the related pullys to the larger belt size. With that I can run one belt between the crank, pumps and alternator pulls but what about the fan? I have found two options for the fan. 1. Get a pully for the alternator that allows for mounting the fan blades directly on it. When I look at this possibility I think that the alternator mounts high and it would seem that only a fan with very short blades would fit. 2. Mount the alternator using an offset bracket which would allow for running the fan in its current position using the single belt in the chain of everything else. The problem I see with this is with my 8BA cylinder heads the water intakes in the front would impede where I would need to move the alternator to and I would have to get earlier style heads with center mounting intakes to provide the necessary clearance if I wanted to do this. Is my assessment of options #1 and #2 correct or have I missed something? Is there an option #3 that I haven't considered? Is my engine mount placement at 6 1/2 inches from the radiator mounts correct?
I think there might be an option to run the offset alternator, flip the water hose outlet 180 degrees and figure out how to run a hose that way?? I’ve settled with running a cut down fan. With the stock setup, it was really tight and I was nervous. My mounts are 6.5” back like yours. I may need a spacer to get the fan closer to the radiator. Time will tell
Here's some info. from a Google SEARCH that may help: 8ba in a 1930 ford - Search If you want to run the wide belt system, you need a 49-50 Merc of Ford pick up 2 sheave wide belt crank pulley. One belt wraps around the crank pulley, the alternator, and truck water pumps. A second shorter belt wraps around the crank pulley and the wide belt fan hub pulley. One common problem is that of adjusting the set up so the fan doesn't cut into your top radiator hoses. Pictures below are of a 40 Ford with an 8BA and early style heads. Also, go over to Fordbarn and post your question.
Another approach which gives you a lot more room is to change over the front of the 49-53 engine to mimic a 39-48 engine. This gets the belts close to the engine and gives you a lot more room in front of it. Here is what is needed: 1) Early 2-bolt timing cover 2) 37-48 Water pumps 3) 59AB style camshaft - with T-Slot in the front for a front mount distributor 4) 42 Crab style distributor 5) 39-48 Crankshaft and Cam gears (moves the thrust toward the block). 5) Single sheeve crank pulley Basically, you make the engine look like an earlier 24-stud setup . . .
My '29 AV8 Tudor (Avatar) has a 59ab with wide belts with 2nd belt to the fan. It has the radiator moved forward 1 1/2". Been that way since 1958. Not how I would of done it. My '32 Sedan has an 8BA with truck wide belt pumps and a single crank pulley and uses a 1939 2 brush generator with fan mounted to it with generator mounted in an 8BA generator bracket. I removed the pin so it could be adjusted fore and aft. Works great. Dave
I cheated on my 8BA in a 30 Sport Coupe, I'm running early heads for the center outlets. I had the front pulley machined off the crank pulley, running 52 Ford pickup water pumps and a 60 Thunderbird generator on the stock generator mount. I used a 37 Ford generator pulley and fan, have about 3/4" clearance on the four core radiator. I'm running a 41 pickup transmission and closed drivetrain. I only had to make a small setback on the lower part of the firewall.
I like this. It also pretty easy to convert an early, fan mounted Ford generator using an AC Delco 12V generator from a GM truck. I did a thread about it. Let me see if I can find and link it here.
I had the front pulley machined off the crank pulley, - CAR OR TRUCK? WHAT YEAR? running 52 Ford pickup water pumps OK 60 Thunderbird generator on the stock generator mount. WILL AN 8BA GENERATOR WORK? LOOKS THE SAME I used a 37 Ford generator pulley and fan OK 8BA DISTRIBUTER? THANKS SO MUCH
I'll try to answer this, the engine came out of a 52 F3 truck but the crank pulley is the same as a car except it runs the wide belt. I used the 60 Thunderbird generator since I converted to 12 volts and had it as a spare from my Thunderbird, the 8BA generator will work but is 6 volt. I don't remember if I had the pulley reamed to fit the generator shaft, I did the same thing on my avatar but with a GM alternator. I'm using the stock distributor but since I used the early heads I drilled and tapped a 1/4" bolt as a set screw in the front housing. Hope this answers your questions.
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