Inliners International Forums General Discussion Tech Tips Radiator clearance problems/ 292?

Go to your local auto parts store (I use Napa)and order a late model short water pump for your 230/250/292. Get one with a left side heater outlet to heat your intake. Discard the fan and use the newest in electric fans. It's only 1" deep and the motor is off-set to one side! Way cool!
Also if you're doing a swap like me into a '40 Coupe or whatever, you can position the motor mounts as far back to the firewall to give you clearance. I have a 1/2" clearance from the bellhousing on the T-5 to the firewall. No need to move the radiator mount. Note: When doing a swap like this, you're going to need a new Trans mount and drive shaft. It's cleaner and faster setting the motor back as far as possible not to mention the weight transfer!

RapRap, I am dropping a 292 into a 37 chevy coupe and I need all of the room I can get. I checked at NAPA for a short water pump but the guy at the counter wasn't much help. Can you be more specific about the year and model vehicle that has a short water pump? Also, who makes the electric fan with the offset motor? That sounds like a good idea!

Thanks,
Roger

hello...i would like to comment..the 292 water pump is different than the 250 water pump....its ok to use if you dont use a thermostat, but if you do (use a thermostat)you should really use a 292 thermostat outlet/housing and a true 292 water pump....the reason the 292 has a different setup is that the block is taller and holds more heat-so the 292 pump and housing have a bypass to allow proper cooling -so inner cylinders dont run too hot and outer-ESPECIALLY cylinder #1 doesnt run too cool.....i found out the hard way....

Lee
ps Tom Langdon helped me with this 1

I used the motor mounts from Stovebolt engineering. They worked out great. I did some very careful measuring and have the 292 as far back and low in the chassis as possible. Only 1/4" firewall clearance. with the shorter water pump, i have enough clearance to put the electric fan either behind or in front of the radiator. I'll get the pump info for you ASAP. Electric fans are all over the hot rod magazines. Pick up Street RoD Builder or street rodder and you'll find several companies. I hear of a brand new company that has the lowest profile 16" fan. It's only 1" deep and the electric motor is offset to the right or left of the block for perfect clearance! I'll try to get that info and post it for everyone. If you need jpgs of my installation, let me know and I'll send them.

RAPRAP

Just a quick thought, maybe you could put the fan in front of the radiator. Pullin is better than pushin but not enough to abondon the simple option. I have the same problem coming in the near future including the 292 mount problems so all this talk is pretty usefull.
Dennis AKA 6BETRN8

Raprap, I'd also be glad for any info you can share, on the short pump and fan. I'm also working on a 292 in a '40 coupe. I deepened the recess in my firewall but could still use a little more room behind the rad. Just bought a NOS '65-'74 GM 292 water pump off ebay, the sucker's 3/4" longer than what was on the motor. Regarding the left side heater outlet, the heater hose connection on the pump is really an inlet, no?
And as for jpegs, why not put them up on a free hosting site like photobucket and post a link here? I for one would sure like to see your setup, this is what mine looked like before I added a Fluidampr and started working on a serpentine belt setup:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b386/erjack/a7fbadb4.jpg
Edit: As LeeLites says, the 292 pump is different from the 230-250. It has an external bypass, larger impeller and larger internal cavity. The 230-250 pump has a small hole on the passenger's side of the casting that matches a similar hole in the block, affording a little circulation before the thermostat opens.

Spal makes some very nice thin electric fans. Their site has cfm and power specs plus engineering drawings to help make sure they fit before you buy.

http://www.spalusa.com/

Ok,

I see you're running a power steering pump too. Good for you.
Here's the link for the "short Shaft" water pump.

http://www.merchantamerica.com/chevyhotrod6/index.php?ba=product_enlarge&product=56226

They also discuss that the 292 has a unique type pump. Do not use a 250 pump on a 292.

I am using the Spal 18" Pusher fan in front of the radiator. It has a neat thermostat too. The first time it goes on, it waits until the water is 190(faster warm ups) then every time after that, it turns on at 180.

Let me know what angle and type of photos you want me to post. I have lots of them and I will post the ones you need.

Bob
RapRap
1940 ChoppedChevyCoupe

hi, this is the first time i've replied. i just got my 37 chevy on the road with a 292/2004r, we had to recess the firewall about 3" to clear the rad and harmonic balancer. i'm also running an electric fan (pushing). car runs great and cool. mike roman inliner #2376

i put a 292 & T5 in my 51 - 3104.
use the 292 pump. it has a higher H2O flow than a 250 and the bypass tube. did a little cut away of the floor pan & foot-board seam to get it as high and back as possible. i'm using a spal 'pusher' w/ two relays wired to power it. i'm also using both ports in the thermostat housing, right side for cab heater and to provive H2O to the clifford intake. so I had to drill another hole in the lower thermostat housing for the H2O temp. switch. I ran my wire over to that and to both relays. I have a three groove pully and little room between the pump and radiator, but it all fits. I had buffalo steve make up my motor mounts.

Dear C & J;

Where is Grass Valley??
You may not need water heat.

ps john
it's already (plumbed in) done and can't hurt anyway
grass valley is at 3000 feet so she may need to heat the carb (when i get the truck running) b4 starting.

All of these posts have me worried. I'm in the process of building a 52 gmc truck and I just bought a 292 to put into it. Will I have clearance issues or is this just for the older vehicles? or just the cars?

Your going to have a lot of conversion to make that engine fit etc.

Look for a 270 or 302 GMC engine which will 'bolt in' and make it worth money in the 'long run'.

Good luck.