Hi guys I just bought a 1947 buick with a 263 L8. I showed signs of overheating so I bought a new aluminum radiator from summit and a new waterpump for a 320. (restoring the old copper one would be EUR 700 in Holland) When everything was hooked up the radiator didnt get warm only on top and the engine was overheating to 270 if the meter is correct within 10 minutes when I pulled the thermostat housing the thermostat was open but the new pump was pumping just a little but no water gushing out at all. So i decided that probably the 320 pump does not fit a 263 and replaced with the old pump. Same thing no water coming out only at high revs. When I compared both pumps they look almost identical and pump in the same direction. Does the alu radiator need more pressure for the water to go round? Does the 263 and the 320 have different flows or engine turning direction? I mounted my radiator 90 degrees from normal. So the cooling lines are horizontal. My mechanic friend says this is ok because the waterpressure will push the water through.. The previous owner welded shut the connection between the thermostat housing and the waterpump probably because of the overheating problems they wanted radiator water and not recyceled engine water which would make the engine only hotter. I just found another L8 263 engine which the seller advertises as the waterpump works fine because a little water is coming out of the thermostat ouse when revved... Is this normal then? How much water should come out? a fountain? ?? wat am i missing here
A water pump is not made to produce a lot of pressure, just to circulate the water around in the engine and the radiator. An alu radiator does not need more pressure than a regular one. And yes, the 320 and 248/263 has the same rotation. I would guess for the head gasket, or perhaps the valve in the exhaust manifold has froze in closed position.
Wouldn't you need a water pump for the 263 and not the 320? I thought I read that you can only use a 263 water pump on this motor. What size radiator did you get? I am in the same boat Chuck
Are you sure your engine is a 263 and not a 248 (stock for 1947) ? I drove my 1951 Special with a 263 and Dynaflow to Kortrijk in Belgium and back to Rotterdam in one day (400 plus kilometers) without a problem. Hennie
I bought the 320 pump because until last week I thought what i had was a 320 (it was sold to me with having a 320). The 320 waterpump does fit the engine perfectly but I dont know if the flow for a 320 and 263 248 are the same. radiator I just measured the free space I had in front of the fan and ordered one about the same measured size from summit . I mounted it on a 90 angle so it would fit the water connections on the thermostat house and waterpump better After wrestling with this issue we found that there was air in the waterpump and we had to "blow" it out by blowing on the fillerneck of the radiator and having the hose on the thermostat house and thermostat removed. Now the whole setup works perfectly. My old waterpump is mounted back on the engine but it didnt have have an air release bolt thats why we had to get the air out another way. The whole radiator is getting warm and water is traveling at good speed through the engine and radiator. The engine temp is very good. Just need to buy a new thermostat as it remains open even when cold. I would love to know if it is a 248 or 263 i will check for the numbers.
i thought the 263 was only available from 1951 to 1953 ? also if you look at the drivers side of the block there are reinforcement ribbs cast into the side of the block on a 263 the 248 doesnt have these ribbs
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