Thread: SBC Help - Water Pump & Pulleys

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Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Hmmmm...........there are so many options with an SBC that solutions are almost overwhelmingly available.
Here are a couple pics of what we did on the '36 roadster. This is the 330 hp crate engine, short water pump, "big" damper. The pulleys came from Summit IIRC (been quite a few years). I prefer the alternator mounted low just so it's not an ugly, conspicuous lump on top. The fan is a nylon unit from Flex-a-lite that is almost flat to the front so works well in tight confines. The shroud is the typical molded unit from Walker that you cut your own opening to fit. Since we're still in the final throws of finishing the car I don't have any road report, but to test effectiveness of the fan/shroud we let it idle for almost 45 min. in 80+ degree day and it maintained 180. You probably already know this, but there are packs of spacers available to compensate for minor alignment issues (e.g. Universal Water Pump Shim Kit - Speedway Motors, America's Oldest Speed Shop and Aluminum Lower Pulley Spacer - Speedway Motors, America's Oldest Speed Shop)

Thanks Uncle Bob! I do like the look of that alternator tucked in low and based on your picture I don't think that I'll have any problem with it getting into the steering rack but still need to check. I do like that fan, too, but I have a steelie that I'll try to use first.

Originally Posted by Mike P

Nice looking setup Jack!!!!! It's probably an optical allusion but it sure looks like the WP pulley still sticks out pretty far..

Mike, It may look that way because I added a nose cone to the pulley.

Originally Posted by rspears

Thanks Uncle Bob! I do like the look of that alternator tucked in low and based on your picture I don't think that I'll have any problem with it getting into the steering rack but still need to check. I do like that fan, too, but I have a steelie that I'll try to use first.

Well, as much as I like that down low mount it puts the alternator right in the steering rack. I checked out the old style header mount, but that puts the alternator waaaay outside the hood line. It'll have to go on with a top mount like Jack shows on his, which I also noted is the mount that's on Don's latest roadster that's just going back together after paint. Looks like the die is cast....

Uncle Bob & Jack,
On the fan, I picked up a replacement pump at my local NAPA store, and it bolts on with the composite timing cover, but my 15" fan clips the passenger side tranny fluid fitting, and the radiator outlet tube. I had an order ready for a top mount alternator bracket and a pair of pulleys so I added a 14" nylon fan to the order. The 15" steel fan will go in the pile with the long water pump and associated pulleys that someone might want to take off my hands down the road... The shipping cost to return it would be almost 1/2 of the cost!

Hmmmmm, hope that works well enough. The last 14" I tried on an SBC with Walker rad AND shroud was marginal, and we don't get mega hot here. Sounds like your engine might be mounted a bit low in the chassis.

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Hmmmmm, hope that works well enough. The last 14" I tried on an SBC with Walker rad AND shroud was marginal, and we don't get mega hot here. Sounds like your engine might be mounted a bit low in the chassis.

I hear you on the diameter, and it kind of surprised me but the pan to block interface is just about dead even with the top of the frame - the frame mounts are dead level with the top of frame side to side. Now perhaps there's a different engine mount option? These from the PO are of course chrome plated bling bling mounts from Energy Suspension - http://www.summitracing.com/parts/en...make/chevrolet

Sounds pretty normal then for engine height, give or take a very small amount. Worth a shot. If it doesn't work well there is the raised water pump option, either Snow White or Zips.

Originally Posted by rspears

Uncle Bob & Jack,
On the fan, I picked up a replacement pump at my local NAPA store, and it bolts on with the composite timing cover, but my 15" fan clips the passenger side tranny fluid fitting, and the radiator outlet tube. I had an order ready for a top mount alternator bracket and a pair of pulleys so I added a 14" nylon fan to the order. The 15" steel fan will go in the pile with the long water pump and associated pulleys that someone might want to take off my hands down the road... The shipping cost to return it would be almost 1/2 of the cost!

Roger,

Sadly, when you buy someone else's project, you buy their planning also. Trust me . . . I know that feeling. I checked, and my engine sits about an inch lower in the frame than yours, so your setup is pretty close to standard. Are you able to include a fan shroud? I don't care much for mechanical fans - even less when there's no shroud.

Good luck. With your technical mind - and the right sized shoehorn - you'll make it work.

Jack,
Yeah, I've been looking at the shroud details and I think I can fab one from fiberglass using a rectangle of plywood, a 15" raised circle and some fleece as a form.

You've turned into quite the glassman, Roger.

Originally Posted by rspears

Uncle Bob & Jack,
On the fan, I picked up a replacement pump at my local NAPA store, and it bolts on with the composite timing cover, but my 15" fan clips the passenger side tranny fluid fitting, and the radiator outlet tube. I had an order ready for a top mount alternator bracket and a pair of pulleys so I added a 14" nylon fan to the order. The 15" steel fan will go in the pile with the long water pump and associated pulleys that someone might want to take off my hands down the road... The shipping cost to return it would be almost 1/2 of the cost!

Any chance of moving the radiator to get some clearance, nylon fan?

If the nylon is flex-o-lite by chance did you see this one, larger blade area looks like it could pull more air:
https://www.flex-a-lite.com/belt-dri...-flex-fan.html
.

No option on moving the radiator - '32 running a full hood so it's pretty well set on location. I'm trying the nylon flat front fan that Speedway offers. I like it better than the lightweight aluminum sheet fans that are like little swords spinning up front. This is what I'll be trying - Maradyne Fans MFA114 Nylon Flex Fan, 14 Inch - Speedway Motors, America's Oldest Speed Shop

Think you might have that sword thing wrong.

1315_2.jpg

Originally Posted by pepi

Think you might have that sword thing wrong.

Attachment 62082

How's that? The aluminum blades spinning are going to be like mini-guillotines, seems to me? Please explain how they're not more dangerous.

Those nylon fans are just as bad if something gets into them. The edges are pretty darn sharp. But either way, anything spinning is dangerous. I would prefer the nylon one over a thin aluminum one. I've seen too many toss a blade and tear up a hood or what ever got in it's path.