55-59 Engine Placement Question - V8 Swap

[starterman99]

My 57 was an original v8 truck but I moved my motor and original bell housing mount
2 1/2 inches forward so as to have plenty of firewall clearance with full sized HEI distributor. Moved core support and radiator to the
6 cylinder mounting position and still have to use a spacer on fan to get close enough to radiator.

[Strider]

Originally Posted by starterman99

My 57 was an original v8 truck but I moved my motor and original bell housing mount
2 1/2 inches forward so as to have plenty of firewall clearance with full sized HEI distributor. Moved core support and radiator to the
6 cylinder mounting position and still have to use a spacer on fan to get close enough to radiator.

Thanks Starterman,

From your pics I see the difference in the shroud you have and the one in the post before you. Yours is factory then, right? The one above is aftermarket I assume.

So you had to move your engine forward in order to have the fan blades fully or mostly inside of the shroud, right?

Your truck looks great. Good to know about the distributor too.

I could move my engine down and forward easily enough I suppose. What's a couple more holes in the frame, right? I just like the current position of where the fan sits in relation to the rad - not the distance from it, but the fact that it looks centered in the rad.

[Strider]

Originally Posted by starterman99

My 57 was an original v8 truck but I moved my motor and original bell housing mount
2 1/2 inches forward so as to have plenty of firewall clearance with full sized HEI distributor. Moved core support and radiator to the
6 cylinder mounting position and still have to use a spacer on fan to get close enough to radiator.

What is the 6 cylinder mounting position for the rad for these trucks? My truck was a 6 cylinder so I suppose the rad wall and rad are in this position on my truck?

[starterman99]

Originally Posted by Strider

What is the 6 cylinder mounting position for the rad for these trucks? My truck was a 6 cylinder so I suppose the rad wall and rad are in this position on my truck?

On original V8 trucks the radiator support is about 5'' closer to the firewall. In the previous pictures you can see the hole in the inner fender about even with the shroud where the radiator support was bolted originaly.

[Strider]

Originally Posted by starterman99

On original V8 trucks the radiator support is about 5'' closer to the firewall. In the previous pictures you can see the hole in the inner fender about even with the shroud where the radiator support was bolted originaly.

Are there corresponding mounts on the frame for the rad wall to bolt to then?

[Strider]

Originally Posted by Strider

Are there corresponding mounts on the frame for the rad wall to bolt to then?

Or is the rad itself spaced from the rad wall on factory V8 trucks?

[starterman99]

Originally Posted by Strider

Or is the rad itself spaced from the rad wall on factory V8 trucks?

The mounting brackets on frame are moved and radiator wall or support is moved then it has a sheet metal filler pnael on top to cover the gap that is from hood latch to radiator. The radiator is not spaced from rad wall.

[OrrieG]

Here are the FAM drawings of the factory v8 mounts and radiator tin. Also a photo of my mounts and valve cover and HEI clearance. I placed my engine by installing the block, transmission and transfer case in place with the front drive line connected (expensive to modify). I then raised the assembly so that the carb base was level, which gives the engine, trans etc. a 4 degree down angle, and the TH350 pan cleared the original rear cross member and trans bellhousing did not hit the bottom of the cab. I also dropped in a point dist to check clearance. Front mounts were fabbed from 1/2" steel plate using one existing crossmember hole and another drilled. Rear transfer/transmission mount from the 74 donor was used with extensions to bolt to the side of the frame. I went with the front mounts to avoid clearance issues with the exhaust and steering. I kept the radiator in the stock 6 cylinder place and found a fan shroud that works (70 Mustang of all things). This was all done in 1985 before the internet based on a local truck that had a similar conversion.