Thread: moving engine forward

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I HAVE A 283 IN A 65 CHEVY PICKUP AND I WAS THINKING OF MOVING THE ENGINE FORWARD TO GET IT CLOSER TO THE RADIATOR. I MOVED THE RADIATOR IT IS STILL ABOUT THREE INCHES FROM THE RADIATOR. I HAVE A SPACER ON THE FAN ALREADY. I HAVE A THREE SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION ON THE COLLAR. MY QUESTION IS HAS ANYONE EVER DONE THIS BEFORE AND IF SO WILL THE SHIFT RODS HAVE TO BE SHORTEN AND HOW MUCH? THERE ARE HOLES IN THE FRAME ABOUT 2-1/4" CLOSER BUT THERE IS NONE IN THE FRAME FOR THE BELLHOUSING AND TRANSMISSION CROSSMEMBER.

Ed, those holes farther forward are the motor mount position for a six cylinder engine, the bellhousing plane would be the same for either engine, which means the shift linkage and trans mount also are the same. You don't state what your real objective is. Are you trying to get the fan and the radiator core closer together? Perhaps your truck was originally a six cylinder model and the radiator is mounted to the front of the core support. If so, mount it to the back side which would move it closer to the fan. Either way, moving the engine forward is not the solution. More fan spacer, a fan shroud, or moving the fan, perhaps with a long snout water pump if your current is a short one, would be far easier.

MY OBJECTIVE IS TO MAYBE COOL THE ENGINE BETTER AND IT WILL ALSO GIVE ME MORE ROOM IN THE BACK OF THE MOTOR. RIGHT NOW THE DISTRIBUTOR IS AGAINST THE FIREWALL.

Here's a link to a rather thorough discussion of cooling we just did a couple weeks ago, that should help you with the concepts involved. If that doesn't fully address your questions, you'll at least be able to narrow your query down. http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...=fan%2A+shroud

As to moving your engine forward, it's just not worth the effort. Dimple the firewall slightly if necessary.

that truck stock had a fan shroud that looked like 1/2 a steel trash can, big ol mutha, if that shroud is missing from that truck you will have a problem cooling, you need the stock shroud!!

i had a few of these trucks, had 1 with a hot 350 and used a 7 blade big blade flex fan and stock shroud and it would try to pull the family cat thru the grill!!!

as for the firewall clearance....thats the way they are

I think Ed's pulling our leg. Anyone who would try to move the engine forward instead of moving the radiator back wouldn't know how to operate a computer.
AL

P.S.
The tip off was that he could spell transmission.
The caplock thing was just to throw us off and make us think he's stupid.