Looking for some advice on 32 roadster I'm building. I'm fitting a '53 322 nailhead in 107" 32 frame. Stock style 32 firewall. I have it in a close, only about 1/4" to spare at distributor to firewall Questions revolve around fan clearance to radiator and fan size. I have stock 17" sbc fan laying around I put on and it's sitting about middle way over top the front crossmember. If I push radiator inch forward I have about 1-1-1/4" clearance between fan and radiator Just curious to how close I can get to radiator and angle of fan to radiator and maybe fan size suggestions 15" would buy me a little clearance to crossmember. Really don't wanna cut firewall, anyone have any suggestions, photos of similar install? I've checked out pretty much all of the model a/32 frame builds Thanks Here's a few pics Engine is prob sitting a touch high in front Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
with a sbc I've gone with 1/2 inch fan to radiator clearance and a plastic 15 inch fan that so far doesn't flex. haven't driven it far yet though!
You could always go with and electric fan mounted to the radiator. Looks like front of motor could come down a bit. What are you building? High boy or full fenders hood etc?? I do think the 15" will be ok. You could always make a fan shroud to help with cooling.
Thanks for the replies, Its a highboy, may run a hood top. Yeah the motor is a little high(only way the fan I had would clear crossmember
Lots of old time hot rods didn't have a fan. Once you get going over 30 you don't need one. Of course if you do a lot of traffic driving you got to have one.
imho, keep the radiator where it belongs, sitting over the front crossmember. Move the crossmember forward until you have about 1/2" to 3/4" fan clearance, or move the motor back into the firewall, or use a combo of both. As a highboy, a little longer wheelbase is no problem. Key on the firewall is that you want to be able to easily remove the valve covers and distributor when you are done without pulling the motor.
I put a sbc in a stock model A, had a 1/4" from the firewall with the valve cover and a 1/4" from the radiator using a zipper high rise water pump. Worked great, the plug wire boots touch the firewall but it all fits and works. The hard part about a nail head is that it is long but a 32 has more room than an A and there is no high rise water pump available for it. By moving the engine up you can get the fan more centered. all that said a 1/4" is plenty of room. Jim (55willys)
Thought I'd post back, I got it to fit, barely but it fits.... I've since raised the trans up a touch to put the fan on better angle at radiator Now on to cramming the steering box, exhaust and all that good stuff. Thanks for the replies;-) Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
It may be a good thing your motor is a little high because of the starter location,if you don't have gray hair you may have by the time you get the exhaust past the steering box and linkage and keep ah close eye on them valve covers i'm drooling .Where can i find some like them pretty chrome things?-----------jack
What size is the nailhead? I'm going to be sticking a 401 in a 32 pickup...Do the later engines get longer?
Yes! Even the 322 is pretty long (Although narrow), I was going with a Nailhead in my coupe but went with a Caddy as width wasn't an issue but length was!
I did cut my firewall to install my '64 401. I used a vacuum ac***ulator tank from an early '70s Firebird, cut it down the middle and welded one half into the firewall. It's a nice recess, seen over the top of the coil, where I can get my hand in to work the distributor. I run the stock Buick fan about 1/2" behind a Walker radiator. No overheat problems whatsoever.
Since you raised the transmission, is the carb. mounting surface on the intake close to being level? Malcolm
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