always gotta be one thats a cow to sort out. My water pump is too close to the radiator.
I have searched the site for big block conversion stories, avidly reading Todds story on progress. I concentrated on the part of the thread concerning water pumps, pulleys and power steering pumps.
to be honest I start getting lost a little because
A-big blocks never came out in aussie cars and
B-all the cars other than impala you talk about which had big blocks never made it to Oz and
C-big block bracketry parts are hard to come by in Oz especially if you don't know what you want looks like.
So, I have to give my existing tall water pump the flick and buy a short water pump. Here's the issue, all sorts of brackets for other ancilliaries hang off the tall water pump, whereas the short pump does not have the tags and boltholes to bolt my existing bracketry from. Obviously now I need to change how the power steering pump etc bolts onTo the motor. AC as well? What will they look like? The pulley alignment will also change I think. I want to keep my aircon. Pulleys are also going to need changing I guess. Alternator position change? Crank pulley set too?
How much needs to change? Pics of the correct parts would be good. Thanks as always for your advice in advance.
cutting a roof off a four door is NOT a convertible.....
65 Parisienne convertible.one of 49 built for RHD export market,402BBC, T400, 2500 stally, posi rear, upgraded brakes with front discs, FUEL FAST efi custom built by me.
ARE YOU TRYING TO RUN A CLUTCH FAN ... to keep it easy you mite have to run a 4 blade fan
Was planning on thermofan. Have had real success with them.
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cutting a roof off a four door is NOT a convertible.....
65 Parisienne convertible.one of 49 built for RHD export market,402BBC, T400, 2500 stally, posi rear, upgraded brakes with front discs, FUEL FAST efi custom built by me.
I see with the alternator, you are using a long water pump.....A shorter water pump is available, but your alternator goes to the other side and your fancy pulleys would be the wrong ones. I would go with a flex fan and a shroud
Yes, you will need to convert to the original style brackets and pulleys(65-68 396-427) as far as I know. I don't know of any other way to change that. It is all a bolt on for your engine, but certainly it's an added expense.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
The way I see it, there are two options. Source all the parts associated with a short water pump / AC combination or keep your existing bracketry and install dual electric pusher fans. If you opt for the electric fan option make sure to get fans designed to be pusher fans when installing in front of the radiator. If going with a engine driven fan there are a number of vendors that sell brackets for short pumps on big blocks just pricing may be a bit prohibitive.
Do you have a spacer between the rad and rad support cradle?
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1967 2dr Biscayne. L36, M40, G80, K05, F41. #'s. 1967 Impala convert. 283, glide. Parked in the garage since 74 and hasn't moved. Soon to be BB 4speed.
It looks like you've got 11 cm between the radiator and the water pump pulley. How wide is your electric fan? If too wide, I'd suggest moving to a pusher electric fan in front of the radiator. Or go to a multi-blade flex fan mounted conventionally.
Changing everything to a short water pump will be a bit of a pain, as it will effect your crank pulley, and also alternator, power steering pump and a/c mounting and their associated pulleys.
Do you have a spacer between the rad and rad support cradle?
no, i left that out.
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cutting a roof off a four door is NOT a convertible.....
65 Parisienne convertible.one of 49 built for RHD export market,402BBC, T400, 2500 stally, posi rear, upgraded brakes with front discs, FUEL FAST efi custom built by me.
Yes, you will need to convert to the original style brackets and pulleys(65-68 396-427) as far as I know. I don't know of any other way to change that. It is all a bolt on for your engine, but certainly it's an added expense.
the motor came out of a 72 chev wagon. Finding original 65-68 brackets and pulleys could be difficult in Oz. will investigate but push fans seem a good option.....
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cutting a roof off a four door is NOT a convertible.....
65 Parisienne convertible.one of 49 built for RHD export market,402BBC, T400, 2500 stally, posi rear, upgraded brakes with front discs, FUEL FAST efi custom built by me.
How about a pusher/puller electric fan set-up? My '68 Grande with a 396 has A/C still in place as well if pics are needed...
Thank you, A couple of pics would be appreciated
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cutting a roof off a four door is NOT a convertible.....
65 Parisienne convertible.one of 49 built for RHD export market,402BBC, T400, 2500 stally, posi rear, upgraded brakes with front discs, FUEL FAST efi custom built by me.
Actually,when I think about it, 66GrandeGuy would be your best help. He has factory a/c and his setup would be identical to what you need.
Thank you.
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cutting a roof off a four door is NOT a convertible.....
65 Parisienne convertible.one of 49 built for RHD export market,402BBC, T400, 2500 stally, posi rear, upgraded brakes with front discs, FUEL FAST efi custom built by me.
Yes, you will need to convert to the original style brackets and pulleys(65-68 396-427) as far as I know. I don't know of any other way to change that. It is all a bolt on for your engine, but certainly it's an added expense.
the motor came out of a 72 chev wagon. Finding original 65-68 brackets and pulleys could be difficult in Oz. will investigate but push fans seem a good option.....
Those brackets are enough tough to find on this side of the pond.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Thanks for your help! I appreciate it. Will hunt around on local forums for leads on parts sourcing for period corrct pulleys, brackets etc but might be expensive.My motor came out of a 72 chev wagon...will investigate fan options.
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cutting a roof off a four door is NOT a convertible.....
65 Parisienne convertible.one of 49 built for RHD export market,402BBC, T400, 2500 stally, posi rear, upgraded brakes with front discs, FUEL FAST efi custom built by me.
if there is a Shot Over jet boat tour company there you could check with them. Auto wrecker here sends a C can full of big block chevs when they get enough to send. they may have pulleys and brackets on the engines when they are sent.
if there is a Shot Over jet boat tour company there you could check with them. Auto wrecker here sends a C can full of big block chevs when they get enough to send. they may have pulleys and brackets on the engines when they are sent.
I can find out but the shotover jet boats are huge in new zealand! Maybe my kiwi mates can help if i luckout! I do have a cunning plan at the moment....will keep posted on the outcome...
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cutting a roof off a four door is NOT a convertible.....
65 Parisienne convertible.one of 49 built for RHD export market,402BBC, T400, 2500 stally, posi rear, upgraded brakes with front discs, FUEL FAST efi custom built by me.
I believe all bbc corvettes (65-74)used a short water pump. That may increase your odds of finding brackets.3992077 is the gm water pump no.
Went to check my mates. he bough a 68 moredoor impala which included a big block. He's just installed it. Turns out its numbers make it a corvette 427. What a buy. Cost him 10000 which is cheap for an oz buy. He has all the short pump style gear on his so now I know what I'm looking for.
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cutting a roof off a four door is NOT a convertible.....
65 Parisienne convertible.one of 49 built for RHD export market,402BBC, T400, 2500 stally, posi rear, upgraded brakes with front discs, FUEL FAST efi custom built by me.
I see with the alternator, you are using a long water pump.....A shorter water pump is available, but your alternator goes to the other side and your fancy pulleys would be the wrong ones. I would go with a flex fan and a shroud
..........I have this on a 66 Impala 427 and a 63 Belair 409 and no cooling problems with either car......in fact had to
put 180 thermostat in the 427 to get some heat.......the 409 also runs cool and those motors 11:1 always run hot but this
flex fan and the correct shrouding will cure your ills.......and they run very quiet
http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/flx-1818
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......big block, 4 speed, bench seat, it doesn't get much better
