So im finishing up installing the 235 six in my '37 chevy truck in place of the old 216 oil slinger. I've straightened out all the little hicups and its just about done but ive got one little issue here, the fan wont clear the lower water outlet on the radiator. On the 216 the center of the fan was about an inch and a half higher, clearing the outlet. i could just say screw it and put in an electric fan but its going to ruin the whole look here. I dont think t******* the fan is the answer either because then the top half of the rad is not going to have any air circulation. Any experiance, suggestions?
I'm just guessing here because I don't really know the layout of these trucks, but could you lower the radiator that much. Or would that look too bad ? Or that might give you you upper inlet problems? Good luck.
You have a 55 to 62 235 ? then you need a adapter to mount a 54 on back water pump on the later 235s,I have one on my 37 with a 57 235 and it works great. There is a guy on the Stovebolt page that makes and sells them on ebay too and goes by pre68dave,I posted a picture of my motor to show that adapter puts the water pump where its supposed to go and yes my motor is a 55 to 62 style 235 and even looks more like a 216 since the picture was taken.
what year of 235 is it? i put a 62 235 in my 51 change the pulley out and was good to go. if you dont want to go to the junkyard check out patricks stovebolt they sell the pulleys
The motor is a '55, i bought the conversion water pump with the shorter shaft and pulley, i was going to try and press the old pulley off and swap them around and cut the shaft down but that was a little hack. I looked at lowering the rad but then im going to have some issues with the cap and possibly the top hose so idk. and ill have to check into that '54 conversion water pump thats just going to **** because i already bought and installed the other pump ha.
When I first put my 37 togather I used a shortened pump that had the 216 size pulley and no way I could use a stock fan so I put a electric fan in front of the radiator,the water pump broke and went into the radiator and since the front sheet metal was off I bought the adapter. The adapter is a plate to put on the 54 on back pump.remove the existing plate and install the adapter but two holes will have to be drilled in the block first but was easy and glad I did as I can now use a stock 37 fan,if you do go with the adapter you have to decide if you want a thin or wide belt and use the corrosponding balancer. I dont think there is a short pump out there that you can use a stock fan on a 37 as there just is not enough room unless you move the radiator forward some.
+1 for what Jeff is saying. Using the adapter plate is by far the easiest way to get the fan centered on the rad when using a 1955 or later engine where a 216 previously resided. More info and comparison pictures here: http://pugetsoundvintagechevrolet.org/Programs/6%20cylinder%20engines%20with%20photos.pdf
I have the adapter plate and instructions and everything that I didn't use on my setup. I'd be willing to sell it if you interested to help save you some money. PM me if you would like, Jeff.