Thread: waterpump to radiator clearance problem

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Hello All and happy day-after-turkey-day....

I am wrapping up my BBC installation project in my biscayne and found out that I only have 2.5 inches of clearance between my radiator and the water pump. I am running a long water pump.

I have a factory shroud and would like to run a fan if possible. I looked at the clutch fan on my (dodge) truck and it is too deep (about 3 inches). So I was thinking a flex fan or other "solid" fan with a very small spacer (or none at all) might work without shredding my belts.

I also thought about getting a pusher fan from some late model vehicle but do not know which ones came with that. I dont think I have the clearance for a puller unless the electric motor some how nestled between the pulleys and belts.

The last option, the one I dislike the most, is to convert over to a short waterpump which would mean forking out the $$ for new pulleys, belts, and power steering pump (and maybe distributor).

Can anyone help me one this?

I can't speak for your Biscayne, but having built a few '30s era hotrods with small blocks in them I can make this observation. Most of the time, if you run an electric fan, the electric motor sticks back over top of the waterpump "nose" with about 3/8" vertical clearance between them. The actual "blade" part of the fan will fit in a 2 1/2" space between the nose of the waterpump and the radiator. Its a darn tight fit. and the rad may not be tall enough on your Biscayne to allow that.

The Ford Taurus has a good double high CFM electric fan - and I believe the fans are staggered - sounds like you need a junkyard trip to look at this and other options. I had a Subaru about 10 years ago that had a powerful fan that I believe almost acted as a propeller to help it down the road.

The CCS fan that Walker sells is a good choice as well and is shrouded.

If I can remember correctly those years used a spacer to shove the radiator forward for the V8s,if you have it on just remove it and mount the radiator directly to the core support. Jeff

Thanks for all of your suggestions guys. I got a 19" flex fan from salvage and am going to see if it will work with a 1" spacer on the wp. It'll be a good temp (no pun intended) solution for now. My 19.25" diameter shroud just doesnt give me anough clearance so it (shroud) will have to come out for now.

Thought about removing the spacer but it would require modification to the lower corners of my (brand new) radiator (somebody hacked up the original radiator to do just that) plus I would like to retain it for appearance purposes (and the fact that I just bought/restored/installed it ).

I will check the taurus fans. Maybe a staggered setup will be just the ticket if the regular fan doesnt work out. Thanks everybody!

Originally Posted by 65cayne

The last option, the one I dislike the most, is to convert over to a short waterpump which would mean forking out the $$ for new pulleys, belts, and power steering pump (and maybe distributor).

Can anyone help me one this?

Thanks to the individual that pointed this out....I meant alternator, not distributor, as one of the components affected by going to a short water pump. How many of you read that and said "what???" and didnt speak up?

Originally Posted by 65cayne

Thanks to the individual that pointed this out....I meant alternator, not distributor, as one of the components affected by going to a short water pump. How many of you read that and said "what???" and didnt speak up?

i don't know about the 65, but on some older cars you could put the rad. on the front side of the rad. support and that would move it forward about
3'

Thanks to the individual that pointed this out....I meant alternator, not distributor, as one of the components affected by going to a short water pump. How many of you read that and said "what???" and didnt speak up?

We knew what you meant.

Thanks Henry....