55.2-59 fan clearance issues

[iceman4]

Hi, Reset engine where it needs to be for ifs install and rack and pinion clearance. The rad. core support is currently in the v8 location and motor has a long water pump.. I now need 1 1/2 " more space between fan and rad to work properly. Looking for the best option to gain 1 1/2" of space. Go to a short water pump, or move core support to the 6 cyl. location? If moving core to 6cyl mounting location ,could my core support brackets be moved and shimmed to work ? Thoughts appreciated.

[_Ogre]

what motor did you use? what truck? the answer can only be as good as the info provided

you did post with the 55.2-59 header. tf trucks were designed with a v8 sbc in mind
58 truk has the mustII and a sbc v8 with long water pump, electric fan w/ shroud
no clearance issues, truk has 2.5" to 3" clearance to the pump

i do have an original v8 truck, does your core support/radiator look different than mine?
post up some pics of your truck
pictures say more

[MiraclePieCo]

TF with SBC I presume?

I have no idea how much trouble it is relocating the core support, so I'll leave this question to the TF guys. However I will say one thing: the short water pump will save you 1-5/8" over the long pump - almost exactly the amount you need. Seems easier to swap a water pump than take apart your whole front end.


.

[iceman4]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

what motor did you use? what truck? the answer can only be as good as the info provided

you did post with the 55.2-59 header. tf trucks were designed with a v8 sbc in mind
58 truk has the mustII and a sbc v8 with long water pump, electric fan w/ shroud
no clearance issues, truk has 2.5" to 3" clearance to the pump

i do have an original v8 truck, does your core support/radiator look different than mine?
post up some pics of your truck
pictures say more

its a 57 with a early 70s 350 sbc, The V8 core support location is 5 inches closer to the firewall than the 6cyl location. [ATTACH]Attachment 2077102[/ATTACH] looks like the mounts could be moved and shimmed as the frame is lower towards the front. don't know if its less trouble than changing the pump pulleys and mounting brackets to go with the short water pump.

[_Ogre]

i'm going to go out on a limb and say your core support brackets are in the wrong location
the FAM (factory assembly manual) is for the first year, 1955, of TF trucks and only has 1 location listed
and that would be the forward location, your core support brackets are bolted on is a good indication of a change
58 truk is an original v8 truck, the vin starts with V and the core support brackets are still riveted in

my 59 panel was an original I6 truck that i converted to a v8,
i used the oem v8 front mounts that i chiseled off my 1st rolled over 58 truck
it had the core support in the same location that 58 truk does

[_Ogre]

have you address the core support location?

[mr48chev]

I'm Thinking that if you go out and look at your engine's location fore/aft and then compare to the photo of his, his is about three inches forward of where yours sets. I could be wrong as I can't find photos of another truck with a stock frame's engine placement to compare to.

[iceman4]

Guys,Thanks for looking into this. I found a thread on this site from bajabob " V8 core support?" I couldn't attach it for some reason. It explains the different V8 and I6 core support mounting positions 55 to 57 and that by 58 they settled on one location for both engines using different shrouds. My friend has a 56 with the core support mounted in the I6 location, He will get me some pictures and info later. The lower core support mounting brackets are taller in the 6 cyl. location, so mine would have to be shimmed. I would think that even a slight difference from factory location would opening another can of worms and mess up the already sketchy door/fender gaps, I will probably go for the short water pump conversion so I can keep the project moving.

[_Ogre]

post up the link if you can. the fam only shows the forward I6 core location
if you look at the pic of my 59 panel v8 conversion, that is an original v8 fan shroud
honestly... it looks like gm had a couple 55 gal steel drums laying around when they designed it

[iceman4]

the thread below Trying to post link

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=711927&referrerid=163434[/URL

[_Ogre]

thanks for the link.
i'd say i learn something new everyday, but i commented in that thread many times.
it just doesn't sink in anymore

Originally Posted by _Ogre

explains my confusing replies
and i know mostly 58-9, converted my 59 panel from 6 to v8 without moving anything