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Yes, I thought it could be the wrong water pump. I did some research and it seems that there are 2 different types, long and short and it seems that only short water pumps were used on corvettes.
The engine block casting suggests that it is a 327 from a '65 passenger car so I guess I already have a long water pump in there. If that is the case, then why is the fan so far away from the shroud?
Judging from your picture, I believe you have a later style water pump pulley and fan shroud. The correct pulley for the 1958 is a stepped design which will put your fan closer to the radiator. Your fan shroud appears to be a 1960 - 62 style which is not as deep as the 58. The pulley you need is a stepped design which is deeper than the one you currently have. The correct pulley and shroud are readily available from Paragon, Corvette Central, Zip etc. If originality is not important, you may be able to just get away with installing only the pulley.
Wow! I have had this car for 17 years and I keep learning new things about it!
Sometimes I wonder if it started out as a '59 - '60 and then converted to a '58.
Anyway, this car is for driving, having fun, and looking good... I don't think there are any original pieces on it... add fan shroud to the list I will probably add the spacer for now.
Will a '58 fan shroud fit on a '60 and vice versa... are the bolt hole patterns in the frame identical?
I'd simply install the spacer and be done with it. It's a cheap, simple, legitimate solution,, and not a short-cut. Car will run cooler, and it won't look out of place or cobbled together.
Factory spacers, as used on many Chevs , typically are about 2" or so long which is the distance a fan clutch moves the fan forward, which should get the fan "about" where it should be, or close enough. It's certainly the simplest, cheapest, easiest fix.
Is this the correct "stepped pulley" Rick refers to in post #5 above ? It says in the CC website its for 56-58 but only early production 58's...What changed in 58's built later in the year that put the fan close enough to the shoud without the use of this stepped pulley ?
I don't know if any other years are similar but it sure seems like there were alot of changes in early vs late built 58's.
That is the stepped pulley I am used to seeing on 1958 corvette. You can also see the correct shroud in the photo Hermn59 posted. Notice this shroud is deeper. As GTOguy said you can use a spacer which will put your fan closer to the radiator. I believe the spacer became standard on the base engine in 1960.
Our 58 has the same problem- fans not far enough into the shroud- and this is with a spacer. I knew our shoud is not correct for a 58 but didn't know the pulley is wrong- if it is ? Vendor sites say the stepped pulley is for either FI or dual quad cars...so the 230hp cars had another pulley...did the larger shroud make up the difference- get the fan into it far enough to work effectively ?
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C1 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Looks like quite a project to get it back to 58 specs, like the notched out mount bracket......If it's been working OK for 17 years I'd be inclined to leave it alone until you want to get into a big project. You may find more than you bargained for, time and parts wise.
You can put a spacer between the pulley and the fan like was used on later cars that didn't have the fan clutch. Or, you can put fan clutch on.
That shroud does look like the one on my '61 car.
Doug
i have a 61 also, and wonder if you have a bottom half of shrouding? If so, mine is missing. Hey, I’m a noob to Vettes, but ok with sbc’s. Runs at 180 with the new water pump, so maybe I dodged a bullet.
I have the original bottom two pieces of shroud that came with the car in 1974 still on the car. The top piece, i added 25 years later, never really needed it in MT or SoCal. Only when i moved to metro Phoenix..
Doug
Originally Posted by Micksnip
i have a 61 also, and wonder if you have a bottom half of shrouding? If so, mine is missing. Hey, I’m a noob to Vettes, but ok with sbc’s. Runs at 180 with the new water pump, so maybe I dodged a bullet.
11-18-2018, 01:59 AM
Fan / Shroud distance
I will probably add the spacer for now.
.....If it's been working OK for 17 years I'd be inclined to leave it alone until you want to get into a big project. You may find more than you bargained for, time and parts wise. 
