Best way to fit a clutch fan in these things

[DumpsterFire]

On a small block in these early a bodies you don't have a lot of room for a fan. Is going with the old cast iron water pump required to make it work? I really rather use the later water pump if at all possible

 

[Scody21]

Using the later water pump, requires using the later timing chain cover and a later radiator that has low passenger and high drivers water plumbing.

 

[DumpsterFire]

Using the later water pump, requires using the later timing chain cover and a later radiator that has low passenger and high drivers water plumbing.

Yeah, I'd rather use all the later stuff

 

[DumpsterFire]

Using the later water pump, requires using the later timing chain cover and a later radiator that has low passenger and high drivers water plumbing.

I thought it didn't matter which timing cover was used

 

[ragtopfury]

As far as I know, that only matters for the factory timing tab/indicator if ya worry about that stuff... lol

 

[Syleng1]

My 66’ 273 is factory front cover and cast iron water pump.
I used a Dakota v8 clutch fan assembly and it fits like it was made for it.
96’ 318 truck is what I believed was used. Also fits the factory fan shroud.

 

[67Dart273]

???Thought the Dakotas were screw on clutches

 

[ragtopfury]

Pre 1997 were not screwed on. I believe.???

 

[65 Cuda 340]

Simplest and easiest way to run a clutch type fan in an early A body is to use the early cast iron water pump. Nothing wrong with it, it's what I run in mine.

 

[slantsixdan]

On a small block in these early a bodies you don't have a lot of room for a fan.

Read this.

 

[junkyardhero]

circling back on this, to OP if you're using the later waterpump know that going into it that the longer length is going to severely limit your space and the distance from the snout to radiator is very short.

i'm running an aftermarket radiator and on mockup there is maybe 3/8" fan to fins with a stock 80's clutch & fan combo. more critically, the fan blades are in the danger zone on the lower tank and, to make matters worse, the pump pulley is is the totally wrong position to line up with the crank & alt pulleys.

granted, that last part with the pulleys is a "me problem" and a shorter clutch *might* get me there, it's just way tighter that i'm comfortable with.

so if you're going for it, pay special attention to the thickness of the radiator as well as the height of the clutch. there's not a lot of room for activities in there.

 

[Brooks James]

Paper in the box of A Hayes
Clutch said 3/4 fan clearance from rad