Hey all, I'm new to this board. I usually post over on ttora and lurk here, but this board has more 350 swap activity so I thought I'd run this past you all.

I recently picked up an 85 ext cab that had a 350 swap done. It already has a hacked 3" body lift (alum spacers and rubber tire sidewalls for cushion) and a mis matched rancho + other suspension lift.

When I drove it home, it was running really hot, tho the aftermarket temp gauge in the cab didn't work, so I don't know how hot. I started reading/researching the swap and it seems that the motor is mounted pretty far forward. There is about 3" behind the distributor and about 1/2" between the front pulley (short neck water pump) and the radiator (4 core brass/copper), barely enough to get the pulley bolts out. Also a no-name fan in front pushing air.

Besides this, there was some funky brackets for the toy P/S pump and alt that were misaligned. I started by pulling the brackets off (bolted directly to the water pump) to straighten them, and since I was there, I went ahead and pulled the thermostat (190*), water pump (for inspection) which lead to pulling the radiator (couldn't get the water pump off due to space).

My question is should I just try messing with re-fabricating the core support to fit a ford taurus fan and better radiator? or actually pull the motor and move the mounts back so I have some room up front?

I plan on putting an NV4500 tranny with a dana 300 t-case in it (both heavy and short) so I'm thinking that pushing the motor back would help with weight distribution as well as providing room for proper cooling.

After it runs/cools better, I need to tackle the suspension.

Also, when I had the thermostat out, I swaped in an 180* unit in hopes of getting the circulation started earlier.

 

i need some help with almost the same thing no room to but a puller fan in and need to add 2 pusher fans in front of new advance adap v8 radiator hows the best way to cool this eng swap need help

 

I would get the cooling situation fixed first, then decide what trans you want, measure things out and see if you need to move the engine back.

I have a 350, with a 87 Camaro single core aluminum radiator, with a single Taurus fan mounted in front of the rad wired up to spin in reverse as a pusher, on high speed. Cools just fine.

I also use the stock Toyota temp sender with an adapter mounted to the Chevy engine, and use the stock Toyota temp gauge. Did the same with the oil pressure gauge/sender.

 

I use a stock v6 radiator with my 5.0 and it works great. No heat problems whatsoever. fan is a mechanical with no clutch. Initially, I tried putting two small electric fans in as pullers, but that setup would run hot. Everything is great now.

Since your drivetrain is not already sorted out and you are already going to have to fab driveshafts, go ahead and move the engine back to give yourself space for cooling hardware.





Posey