225 V6 Water Pump to Radiator Clearance

[Scott Bruns]

I tried installing a new radiator with a puller fan attached. It did not fit.

The water pump (with the mechanical fan removed) hits the single fan on the radiator. I would need at least 2 (maybe 3) more inches of space before the radiator could be installed.

I'm pretty sure my motor mounts are in the correct place, and I don't see how the engine could be moved back 2 inches without hitting the firewall.

Is there a big difference in space between the water pump and the radiator mounting surface on CJ-5s and CJ-6s with 225 v6 motors? Do some CJs mount the radiator further forward than others?

My CJ-6 is a 1967 if that make a difference.

 

[homersdog]

I believe the radiator mounts changed on the later v6's to a more symmetrical shape to hold a wider radiator. On my '71 I measured about 2 5/8" from the front of the water pump pulley to the inside of the radiator. I have a 3 core OEM style radiator I got from JC whitney decades ago.

 

[Fireball]

One possibility is that you have a 231. The 231 water pumps are about an inch longer.

231 water pump on left, 225 on right:

The pumps are interchangeable as long as you get the matching pulley. The location of the belt grooves on the crankshaft is the same, the 231 water pump pulley has more offset so things line up:

231 water pump pulley on left, 225 on right:

I had a 231 in my old '69 and the longer water pump cleared the factory copper radiator, but it did not clear an aluminum replacement radiato. So the radiator is also a determining factor.

 

[Scott Bruns]

I have a 225 with the short water pump.

I'm guessing the radiator and electric fan is just too big, but since it was advertised to fit I was wondering if there was a different setup than what I have that had a lot more room.

 

[Scott Bruns]

I measured the distance from the water pump/pulley/bolts at almost 5 inches.



My radiator mount to grill came in a 7 inches.

For the new radiator with electric fan to fit the radiator mount would have to be farther forward. Did some CJs get built with shorter radiator mounts than mine?

In the end I'm going to return the new radiator. It just seems strange that they would build something that doesn't come close to fitting.

 

[PeteL]

It just seems strange that they would build something that doesn't come close to fitting.

These days, not surprising at all. Since the primacy of internet sales, customer satisfaction and brand reputation are obsolete concepts.

 

[Norcal69]

The electric fan setup will never compete with a mechanical fan and shroud.
Buy a factory shroud from Parts Dude 4x4 and a stock fan.

 

[duffer]

Another that is in no way enamored with electric fans. They may be more efficient as a parasitic load but there is no way they can move the same volume of air as a well designed mechanical fan system. One other note on Roy's comparison of the 231/225 pulleys: that smaller diameter 231 pulley is going to speed up the water pump compared to the 225 pulley which is a plus for crawling. I had a custom 3 groove pulley made for my 3B to accomplish that, made as small as possible and still fit the short sbc pump without a spacer. That sped the pump up 8%.

 

[Scott Bruns]

The electric fan setup will never compete with a mechanical fan and shroud.
Buy a factory shroud from Parts Dude 4x4 and a stock fan.

I have a mechanical fan and shroud. The electric fan was a test to see how well it does in comparison.

In the end it doesn't make any difference because the radiator with electric fan did not fit.

 

[jpflat2a]

If you really wanted the electric, I suppose you could swap to the 72 and later grille which would give you more room.
Takes a little fab work for the front grille mount though.