Posted by Torvald [172.71.150.51] on Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 12:19:41 :
In Reply to: Re: 251 spitfire in 52 flatfender posted by Galen [172.70.39.48] on Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 08:50:31 :
Rich, Galen has it correct on the alterations that will have to be made. I have a 265 in my 51 B-3-PW. I could not find a water pump for the 251 PW, so I went by a somewhat different rout than Galen and used the original water pump by making a new mount that repositioned the pump with respect to the radiator. Since I was using the original pump and engine coolant outlet, I didn’t have to change position of the radiator inlet and outlet. I couldn’t find good info on components for 251 radiator mounts so I used the original mounts with modifications to accommodate the revised radiator. This is all documented in my facebook album https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1609305249282310&type=3
I did all the work myself and it was hugely time consuming. Find a 251 water pump and get the radiator altered and you’re most of the way there. Alterations that I made to make it all fit were:
• Turn radiator top and bottom tanks around, keep original radiator support but extend radiator mounts ahead about 3 ½”.
o This will allow room for the fan but it now has to be moved down with respect to the engine in order to clear the top tank.
o While the radiator is being altered be sure to have the tubes cleaned.
o Radiator alterations/rebuild starts at https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1835290923350407&set=a.1609305249282310
o A good picture of the installed radiator is: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3074548706091283&set=a.1609305249282310
• Fabricate a waterpump mount.
o Allows the waterpump to be moved down so fan can clear the top tank
o Another option would be to find a waterpump from a 251 PW (something I couldn’t do)
o Here’s a view of the mount: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3074544536091700&set=a.1609305249282310
• Reposition crankshaft pulley to align with repositioned water pump.
o https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3074544536091700&set=a.1609305249282310
• Change the engine coolant outlet elbow to match the new position of the radiator
o See https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3118142665065220&set=a.1609305249282310 and https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3118143001731853&set=a.1609305249282310
• Revise the fan shroud to accommodate the new position of the fan with respect to the radiator.
o I revised the shroud from an M-37
o Picture of it installed is here: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3297023870510431&set=a.1609305249282310
• Use front engine rubber insulator and mounting plate from 251 (this is probably already done on yours)
o Can also use a 230 mounting plate, insulator and support plate by adding extensions to the support plate so that it matches up to the frame mounting holes.
• Used the 251 grill extensions from VPW to move grill forward 1 ½”
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