March pulleys don't line up

[FuzzyDiceRide]

Has anyone used a right side inlet water pump on your car ? My engine is ready to set in and I used an Edelbrock #8843 LEFT hand inlet and I have a 3 bolt harmonic balancer and my March pulleys won't line up. I need a .350 3 bolt crank spacer or maybe an new pump altogether? . A early model water pump appears to be shorter and looks to line up. However the water inlet is on the Right side. I was going to use coolflex hoses and maybe I can use the right side inlet ?... . I have a an early thee bolt damper. I might could change to a 3.4" damper length that has both 3 & 4 bolt pulley holes possibly ? If the early right side inlet will work , I will get a new water pump . I wanted the high-flow pump, which might have not been needed anyway. The balancer I have now is a 3.050 length . I might could get someone to make me a 3 bolt spacer . Thanks in advance for your advice too .......Mike ( 351W engine)

My lower radiator outlet is on the driver side bottom.

[FIA-ERA]

Hey Mike,
I had the same problem with my March pulleys. I too have a 351 W motor and a Edelbrock early model pump (passenger side outlet). My upper pulley was way off. I don't remember the specifics but I think as much as 3/8 to 1/2 off. I thought about using shims from Mr Gasket for fans but then realized the whole assembly was off. The "alignment hole" was off center when we put it on the lathe! I ended up having a bushing made that compensated the space I needed plus re aligned the pulley too. It kinda sucks because they make good stuff but It had been years since I bought it and had no recourse. Find some one with a lathe and they can fix you up quick! Matt.

[marcalan]

I had a problem myself, and called march directly, they had me take some measurements and then told me which kit of theirs to get. Including a spacer to put everything in alignment.

[Rick Parker]

As Marcalan has hinted at, Ford used several different front dress packages, consisting of various front covers, water pumps and spacers for the alternators. It's easy to unknowingly mix and match components, the end result being a standard set of pulleys will not work. Occcasionally the mounting hub for the waterpump pully can be moved on the shaft (with a press or gear puller) to compensate for some small amounts of misalignment.

As a side note, some of the crankshaft gears from timing sets have a shoulder machined as part of the gear and this will cause the crank dampner to be moved further away from the engine.

[FuzzyDiceRide]

I have been searching SBF forums as well as damper mfgs. .
I think if I can find a machine shop that will make me a 3 bolt
spacer and I will be ok. It looks like I needed a 4 bolt damper and
I would have more spacer lengths to choose from. I have cross-
over year models on my water pump and damper it seems.
The guy at March told me to bolt up my alternator and see if
it lines up with the crank pulley or the water pump and that
would be able to tell him what I needed .

found this information on http://www.professional-products.com .

Small Block Ford - Small block Ford (260/289/302/351/5.0L)
dampers were made in five different lengths, two different
accessory bolt patterns and with two different external
counterweights. They also had at least three different timing
pointer locations. We make two models; the 80006/90006 has
the 28.4 oz. in. counterweight and the 80007/90007 has the 50
oz. in. counterweight. Both of these dampers are made to the
early style shortest length. This will allow users to install '81 &
later 5.0L engines (w/50 oz. in. dampers) in early Mustangs or
street rods and have more clearance in the front than if they had
the stock longer damper. Our dampers also have both 3 and
4-bolt pulley patterns so either early or late pulleys can be used.
For later applications with longer dampers, we offer a series of
three inexpensive aluminum spacers (see page 37) that
accommodate these various applications. Because some of the
early three-bolt accessory pulleys piloted on a male boss and
some piloted into a female bore, we also provide (with every
damper) a special pilot adapter to accommodate either style.
Both our Ford small block dampers have three sets of timing
marks on them to accommodate the various timing pointer
locations Ford used. To the best of our knowledge, between our
two dampers and three spacers, we can fit nearly every SB Ford
engine ever made. Will not fit 1970-?77 Mercruiser.
How to Determine Which Ford Spacer To Use - Measure the
overall length of your damper from the end of the snout to the
front pulley face. If it is 3? long, no spacers are required. If it is
3.187? long, you can modify spacer #81006 to work. (See
instructions that come with the damper) If it is 3.375? long, use
spacer #81006. If it?s 3.875? long, use spacer #81008. If it?s 4.0?
long, use spacer #81007. For additional information, see chart on
page 37.

[RICK LAKE]

FuzzyDiceRide Sent them back and get a custom set made for the car from ASP IMO they are better than March and line up perfect. You just need to tell them diameter of pulley, back space, number of grooves, Vee belt or surp. How many bolt hole for mounting surface. You will have them in 48 hours. Make sure you have the correct backspacing and bolt holes correct. Tell them weather you want under drive or overdrive on the water pump and ALT. Rick L. They are the same price as March if not less. Show quality.

[FUNFER2]

Ricky- what's their website ?

[FuzzyDiceRide]

I put an early model pump on the engine today
and the pulleys lined up perfect . It looks like I
need an Edelbrock # 8841 if I want the hiflow
pump. Also now I can see my timing marks on
the 3 bolt damper.

[PANAVIA]

I had to use a crank spacer on mine so this is normal. -- also the clear powdercoating was so thick that we had to mill it off the inside of the pulley mounting surface to square it up.

over all they look great when done- but there is some machine work that needs to be done sometimes.

--Steve

[RICK LAKE]

FUNFER2 Kevin the site is www.aspracing.com The guys name is LEE. If this doesn't work try 281-261-8845 or 281-261-5811. He has a answering machine but will return the call in the evenings. He is in Stafford Texas. Rick

[Ron61]

Darn,

I must have been the lucky one on here. When I had my Cobra I used an aluminum Koolflow high volume water pump and billet March pulleys. The only one that didn't line up was the one on the water pump. I called March and told them about it and they asked which water pump number I had and sent me a new pulley and it lined up perfect. That was in 1996 and they are still on their today and have turned many a high RPM runs and a lot of just cruising.

Ron

[FUNFER2]

Thanks buddy.