47-55.1 50 GMC s10 frame LS engine water pump question

[suburban99]

I have read that a different orientation in the water pump can solve some clearance issues with the rad..
I have a clearance issue..
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[joedoh]

your engine looks really far forward, what is the distance between the pass valve cover and the firewall?

[jweb]

You will likely need to move the engine back but a radiator designed specifically for the GMC may help.
Like this https://shop.championcooling.com/194...1954-GMC-Truck

[joedoh]

jweb can you use a top tank rad like that on a ls/vortec engine? I used a mustang top tank on a vortec 16psi engine and had to put a 28psi cap on the rad and add a higher mounted 16psi cap and a high pressure expansion tank with another 16psi cap, because without that it would just blow fluid out the top tank when running at highway speed. since then I have just used crossflow and a low pressure expansion tank.

[jweb]

Originally Posted by joedoh

jweb can you use a top tank rad like that on a ls/vortec engine? I used a mustang top tank on a vortec 16psi engine and had to put a 28psi cap on the rad and add a higher mounted 16psi cap and a high pressure expansion tank with another 16psi cap, because without that it would just blow fluid out the top tank when running at highway speed. since then I have just used crossflow and a low pressure expansion tank.

I have run this style of radiator on my 51 (Chevy) since 2016 without any issues. I don’t have an expansion tank. Pretty sure I have a 16psi cap.

Since the GMC has a different cap location than the Chevy radiator there could be a problem I’m not aware of. I have no experience with the GMC style.

Here’s another option that says it’s for LS swaps, still a top tank style.
http://www.rndfabrication.com/ChevyGMC47-54.html

[dsraven]

I'm with you on the engine too far forward train. it will be really hard to connect the dots on the lower rad hose and the electric fan would need to be placed in front of the rad if there is room. a different spigot on the rad for the lower hose may help but the fitting look really close together so not much room for engine flex etc with a short hose.
I suggest to place some cardboard on the rad core to prevent damage to the fins whie mocking stuff up. it's easy to drop something or scrape something while working around it. just a thought from somebody who's ben there.....

[dsraven]

bellavista does a good article on cooling systems and explains some specific LS engine quirks. here is the website address as I couldn't make the link paste to this page for some reason. he has several good articles on multiple topics from the pirate 4x4 site. he has a whole write up on the LS engine history etc if anybody is just getting into it and craves info.

bellavista.com/tech/Articles/Cooling_Bible/index.html

[dsraven]

bellavista offroad tech, if anybody wants to check out the tech articles. lots of good info there on many topics that cross over to what we do here in fabrication etc.

[suburban99]

Originally Posted by joedoh

your engine looks really far forward, what is the distance between the pass valve cover and the firewall?

Firewall to pass head is 1-5/8"..on my 72 K10 LS it's so close that I tried to give myself a little more room on this one..
I've ordered the LS3 water pump and spacer and I have seen thermostat elbows that are swivel so I'll try that first I guess

[e015475]

Here's a GMC radiator installed - it is flush with the radiator support originally because the GMC six cylinder was longer than the Chevy

[IMG][/IMG]

I modified the firewall and pushed the engine pretty far back so I'd be able to get a good fan shroud and big fan in there without having to change the truck accessory drive. A pic during fab of the firewall.

[IMG][/IMG]

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by dsraven

bellavista offroad tech, if anybody wants to check out the tech articles. lots of good info there on many topics that cross over to what we do here in fabrication etc.

http://www.billavista.com/tech/Artic...CoolingSystems


well reading that, its literally every problem I had and everything I did in using that top tank mustang rad.

wish I had seen that sooner.

suburban99 are you using the truck pan? if so, and you lower the engine with a car pan, you can move the engine back a little more.

[suburban99]

Originally Posted by joedoh

http://www.billavista.com/tech/Artic...CoolingSystems


well reading that, its literally every problem I had and everything I did in using that top tank mustang rad.

wish I had seen that sooner.

suburban99 are you using the truck pan? if so, and you lower the engine with a car pan, you can move the engine back a little more.

I am trying to get another 2-2-1/2" if I can. I modified my homemade cross member and am making some different mounts. We will see.