OK ... lets assume you're a poor (and old) college student...

You FINALLY get a day free to replace that water pump that's leaked ALL semester. Because you were a mechanic for 28 years ... you KNEW (by bitter experience) that the water pump bolts can and will break on you when your pulling them out.

But you pulled every old timey mechanic trick you knew ... and got them ALL out with no problem. So you hot foot on down to the parts store for new bolts ... only to find they ain't got them 5 inchers. So you go buy the CRAPOLA they sell down at the Homeboy Depot. You get everything cleaned up nice and shiney ... new gaskets, new bolts, new water pump. This ought to be a freakin' SNAP.

Which is exactly what one of the cheap crap 5 inch bolts did as I was running it in. It sheared off almost like I cut it with a saw leaving about 3 threads on the stump. So NOW I gotta pull the timing cover ... while I'm in there ... I'll throw on a new chain and gears.


anyoldways ... THE TIPs:

When you got it apart ... run a tap into ALL the threaded holes in the block!!! they can get REAL crusty ... maybe squirt in a little rust bust ... and blow them out real good.


ALSO ... while you got the timing cover off .... take the time to run a 3/8 (maybe even 25/64) drill bit through ALL of the through holes in the timing cover. Them holes REALL get fill with rust and crap which can make lining up and threading the bolts and holes a real pain.

One more? Since you got the crank pulley off ... take the time to clean up the timing marks with a piece of emery paper. Since I had it off ... I just cut a bit of a shallow groove at the 10 degree btdc line and filled it with the same florescent orange paint I use to highlight the iron sights on my rifle. This should make it a LOT easier to see the marks to set the timing.

oddshot





btw ... sorry to be away so long. My first semester at college was a LOT of work!!!

But I ACED the English Comp and Rhetoric, ALMOST pulled a B in Algebra, and ... I ACED Auto Tech (after 28 years as a mechanic I would have HUNG myself if I got less than an A).

No Auto Courses this coming semester ... Eng Lit, More Math, Sike (!!!) and some rickyticky Intro to computers class (SCT).

I've been lurking ... but no time for posting. I'll be back when I can.

 

nice info. i'm about to dig into my timing cover on my 460 because i can see that it's leaking coolant near the top. the water pump mounts to the timing cover on the 460's. is there a chance that the coolant could get into the oil?

 

Good advice, but more importantly, congrats on a great first semester! I'm a fellow older student, so know what it's like. I was on the 20 year plan for my first under-grad degree...now, much to my surprise, I'm working on a Ph.D. Stick with it...you never know where it's going to take you.

 

Congrats! Great tips too. Never touched a Ford pump, but will probably end up with one.