Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines 47 fan clearence

I have recently accuired a 1947 chevy 3100 truck that has what I believe is a 235 ( it has 3701887 on it). The radiator was not mounted in the factory posion and if I do so it will hit the fan.
Is there a different water pump that I can use? Does anyone have any sugestions?

If it has the '55-'62(long) water pump and the block has a big 3"-4" single hole that the impeller fits into, its been my experiance on a '54 car that the hood reinforcements will hit the top of the radiator when closing hood if radiator is moved forward to clear even if pump shaft is shortened and diff pulley is used.

If block has 2 holes approx. 1"-1-1/2" dia each then its a pre '55 block and its matching 'XX-'54 water pump should allow it to fit with no problems. I personaly know of any one else that had my problem (dont know personally of any one else who put a "late" 235/261 into a '53/54 body. We had to hacksaw a cutout in the reinforcement on the underside of hood --not easy with hood on car!

My thinking is that the pumps cant be interchanged or "adapted" to the other block. Other than fabbing new motor mounts, either block fits '53-'54 pass bodies ok.

There is a shorter shaft water pump also that can be used, unless that's what you already are using. It's use may require relocating the gen/alt to align the pulleys.

any idea if it is a much modified late model('55-'62) or maybe a pre '55 stocker- I only know of the two types and I tried to identify as best I could. On my old '54 we did have to cut and weld two pullys to make it work-whew that was a long time ago muat have been summer of '61 thats fifxxy-one years ago.

get a power steerind pulley-measure the difference in depth between the two.Put it in a press supporting tha end of shaft the impellor is on and move the flane the pulley and fan mount on this distance. Thats what I done with the one on my 261 in my 48 chevy. Tom Langdon also sell them as well as Patricks.
1 OL REDNECK

flange

I had my flange on the '55-'62 pump pressed to almost touching the casting, and I still had to cut the hood bracing after moving the radiator forward even using the flatter '54 fan.

Would sure like to go back in time and reinvestigate that car (and life) with what I know now. I bet I could make it better-for sure have more fun!

The 1948 has no cross bracing under the hood & a higher hood - probally a different situation but I didn't have to move the radiator. 1 OL REDNECK

wonder if a '48 is lighter than a '54? One of my uncles once had a '48 fleetline sedan and boy did it drive different than a '54. It felt like it had much softer ride and leaned a lot on corners (maybe it just needed shocks). They had a real short gearshift too. I bet a 261 would really throw it around. Did you use a '48 box or a later 3-speed. Supposedly the '53s went to needle bearing cluster gears, instead of the older bushed clusters. My 261 introduced me to transmission repairs in no time, never shelled a rear end, or one of those tiny u-joints.

I'm still running stock driveline although I have a later 3 speed -overdrive and Nova rear end sit back for when I NEED to upgrade. I also have late model shocks on my '48.

what no vaccuum shift?