Woodstock

Also…

The 5.3 that I bought came out of an ‘05 GMC Envoy, so probably has the same intake as the SS engine you mentioned. It sits well below the cowl, now that the tub is mounted, so I’m confident that it will easily clear the hood.

Jon B.

 

I looked into using an F-body front accessory drive, which buys you an inch or 2, but I'm insisting on a mechanical fan, and there is no short water pump with the fan hub. So yeah, I am let's say, "inch challenged". I haven't bought the flywheel yet, but I think I'm just getting a Sachs FW for a 4.8 from Rockauto. And yes, I think the Envoy manifold is the same as TBSS. Luckily height is not an issue with a 3B.

 

This link to a 12 year old post of someone also wanting a mechanical fan may be of help. Apparently, others have found a way to do it although I do not know if you will gain any additional room.

Need help on a 5.3 Vortec fan | IH8MUD Forum

 

That's interesting, and he appears to have a short spacing water pump, but never says what it's from, or doesn't know. I have the truck spacing FAD, and would have to change it all to short, but I have yet to find the application, (if it exists), for a short water pump with the fan hub on it.
I have seen some posts about trying to remove the pulley and hub and swapping it, but it sounds like it destroys the water pump. It really seems like someone should produce this, but maybe electric fans are just too popular.

 

Wasn't there a v8 Colorado for a minute.
The Colorado only got the I5 and I4 so it may need a shorter v8 accessory drive than a trailblazer that would otherwise have an I6.

Or the H3?

 

Yes, the Colorado came with a 5.3, but used the same truck spacing accessory drive. The H3 also had a 5.3, but I do not know about that one.

 

When I did the search, I use the term "gm 5.3 8 short water pump with mechanical fan" which led to several different posts. I believe the pump used was from a 1999 to 2006 1500 Silverado. there were several other items which may be of interest to you also. For example gain a little space by eliminating the fan clutch by using this adapter: LS FAN CLUTCH ADAPTER - 2 3/4" STOCK | NeratDemo.com . Or, this person found that, The stock TJ 4.0L fan and clutch will install onto the threaded pulley of the truck water pump. Another found this: I used an early ford explorer fan (1995+) on my 2005 5.3 I had. Fit right on and was a little smaller. If you are trying to pick up a few inches of space, it looks like there are several options out there.

 

I have a 2001 Silverado and a ruler, send me a DM, let me know, if you could use the dimensions.

 

But was the marriage consummated?

 

I don't know, I left them alone while I had lunch, so perhaps we will have a bouncing baby clutch and flywheel in May.

 

Thank you Ed for the research. I looked at that today, and I had seen some of it. What I see: The TJ fan is smaller in diameter and will thread onto the truck water pump, but is not shorter. The Colorado clutch is a nice trick to save 3/4", and I have already done that. The 2-3/4" fan hub only works without a clutch, which I don't think is a good idea. Also there are several threads on just pulling the truck water pump pulley and installing it on the LS1 (short) water pump. A few problems with that. First, nobody has done it, or shown that they did it without destroying the pulley. Second, even if it did go on, the truck fan will likely hit the belt or the intake. This coupled with the fact that I would have a totally custom setup, and not easily replaced in a pinch, does not sound like a good idea.
So, I am resigning myself to the length I have. It's still interesting that no one has produced a short water pump for a mechanical fan, but the issues above may be the reason, along with the fact that there is no demand for it, because it's so much easier to just go with an electric fan. I, however, do not trust that an electric fan will be efficient enough, or reliable enough for what I do with the jeep.

 

We've finally been having winter, now that spring starts tomorrow. So some indoor work. Cleaned out the jeep, parts, tools, etc so I can move toward pulling the tub.

It's really amazing how much fits in the under seat tool box. It filled a couple of totes. I am going to retain this box as a good centered and low spot for heavy parts and tools. It could really use a good pressure wash, but I can't until the freezing temps outside ease up.

I also disconnected the fuel tank and removed. 20 years of shmutz underneath got swept out. I don't think this is going back in. I am shooting for a rear tank, finally. Then this spot can hopefully take the place of my parts box.

I am going to stretch the jeep 6" in the door. So the toolbox needs to come out for access to the floor. I marked the spot welds I could see.

I got the easy ones pretty quickly. The hard ones are where I welded the floor in 25 years ago....ughh.

 

Serves you right for doing a good job!

 

Stretching the Jeep?!!!

 

Well, new frame is the time to do it.

 

Going to full CJ6, 104" length?

 

A good friend has a CJ6. He always has everything, and 2 big blue coolers. I could dream, but this is a compromise. So no, I'm going 94" CJ7 length. I'm trying to add 12" WB, 6" in the door, 3" in the bed, then push the axles a little. I bought TDK CJ7 frame rails, they're on the way. As I said before, I'm in it deep now.

 

Stretch the hood and front fenders 2 or 3 Inches and give that mouse a little wiggle room.

 

No, that is not in the scope. I have to draw the line somewhere.

 

A lot of little projects today. Worked a few afternoons this week cutting spot welds to get the toolbox out. It did not give up easily, but it's out today.

The cursive jeep logo on the toolbox is a weird detail on a flatfender. But kinda cool.


I cleaned up the floor, it's pretty solid. I am looking at the floor channels that I partially replaced in 2000. I see some cracks around the body mounts, and am thinking about how to replace and beef these up. I like the idea of (non-stock) 2" x 1/8" wall channel. With possible beefed up section of floor around the mounts. A few things to consider: This jeep has been around the block a few times, to say the least. I figure about 100 trips (about 60 of those Rubicon), so some cracks are expected. And that's just since I got it in '99. It had a whole earlier life for some 45 years before me. The frame did it's best over the years, but we will get to that. But for the body mounts, a solid mandrel bent tube frame will flex less, and beat the body less, but I am still going to reinforce the mounting areas.

Moving towards pulling the tub. The cage will be too short for the new body length, so I cut the front hoop off.

Unbolted the rear hoop. This tire rack mount will go away, because I'm going with a swinging mount, like Nick's. I would love to just start over with the cage, but not sure if that fits in the schedule. I have the ability and bender to bend a new cage, it's just time consuming. I found that out with Nick's jeep.