2510 diesel alt belt schroud clearance to axle

[norscott]

Just bought a 2001 4x4 2510 deisel.
Overheating...fan never ran so, thought fan switch... easy... after fan switch r&r still didn't run fan went to look at thermostat... filled all waters and checked for circulation of water when running. None. Never dreamed the fan belt would be off. Actualy burned and broke, the shroud was missing bolts, broken, and had fallen down onto the waterpump fan an worn down the blades until friction caused belt to break. OK now the question... Since the shroud was broken in 2 pieces I could squeeze it down past the crank pully and the drive shaft. After I weld it back together, there is no way there is enought clearance to re install it past the axle - <3/4" and shroud is +1". Do I remove the drive shaft intermediate bearing or what??? Jack up the motor? what is the seceret? And... Do I need to get a new fan... seems kind of useless, it is intact just a little shorter because it rubbed - a lot.