I came across a '51 suburban I couldnt pass up (I already own a 49 that is
dissassembled all over the shop).
It came with a running 235 that I expected to be from a 53 or at least had
the short water pump installed. I checked the casting number and found it
was from a 58/59 truck and had the LONG water pump installed. I was under
the impression that the only way to install a newer 235 into an AD truck
was with the shorter water pump. The short water pump measures 4 inches
from the block to the face of the pulley, whereas the longer pump on the
newer 235's measures 5 inches. What I found might help others use a newer
235 in an AD truck.
The radiator is usually bolted to the firewall side of the U channel
radiator support. What the PO had done here is drop the radiator into the
middle of the channel and bolt it on from the grill side instead of the
firewall side. this moved the rad back about 3/4 inch. The fan blade is
only 1/4 inch from the radiator, but it seems to work fine. Seems like an
easy solution.
Bob Chansler
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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