Does anyone know where I can find a new or reman factory Ford water pump for my 1987 F-150 4.9? Everything around here is the same Chinese new pump, with the exact same casting numbers, just a different brand box.

NAPA shows one, but no store or warehouse has it in stock. Ford parts only list a pump for the 5.0.

I do not like the heater hose tube on the knock-offs. It has to be moved to fit, and doesn't seat well into the cast housing. I can see me in the mountains, miles from anywhere, on a lonely dirt road, and the heater hose tube blow out of the cheap pump.

 

Well, to answer my own question, I found an OEM Cardone reman on Ebay that shows a direct fit.

The casting numbers are different, but cross referencing the other day showed four different casting numbers for the pump that fit, and theirs is one of them.

Mine is FOTE-8505-BA Theirs is E9TE-8505-DA

 

Most of the reman units are actually now reman units of the failed aftermarket parts. Hopefully you get lucky.

 

CarParts.com has a NEW Gates water pump for your truck.

 

Unfortunately, the Gates is a Chinese pump also. The casting numbers on their pump is the same as the Chinese pumps.

I ordered a Cardone Reman from an authorized reseller that is "supposed" to be a reman Ford pump. We'll see, I guess.

 

Be prepared for a difficult time installing the pump, in the event that the long metal tube extending from the pump body isn't assembled ju-u-ust right. I've had two of them from Advance Auto (first one failed) and the second one required me to drill out the bolt holes on the water pump case in order to allow the pump to be installed a degree or two out of its usual position, so that the heater tube was positioned right. (I don't ever bend those tubes)

 

Your problem is exactly why I'm looking for a reman Ford punp. I bought a new Autozone pump, and had to twist the long pipe. The problem is the pipe is not seated well in the body.

I'm worried that tube may pop out with me miles from anywhere with no cell service, which is where I use this truck a good part of the times it's driven.

 

The cast iron body of these pumps does allow for easily enlarging the bolt holes, if need be. I accomplished it holding the pump in one hand and the drill in the other. Harbor Freight drill bits were enough, working at 1/64 inch increments.

Does anyone know if the remanufactured pumps retain the original outlet tube, anyway? I'm thinking they'd press in a new tube as part of their production.

RockAuto lists an AC Delco Professional water pump (new) for a few bucks more than the Gates.

 

I used one of the AC Delco pumps from RockAuto recently. No problems at all.

 

I have a Cardone reman on the way. I guess I'll see what it is. I e-mailed them, and they claim that 90% of all remans of all types water pumps are OEM. I certainly hope I get lucky and get an OEM, or I may send it back.

 

If I had known about the bolt hole enlarging trick ahead of time, I'd have gotten a couple of import bargains, and dry-fitted them into place, so I'd have a spare I could install without grief. Some Gates pumps have shown up on RockAuto clearance lists for about $15.00

 

Received the re-man Cardone water pump today. Same exact casting numbers as the original Ford pump I took off.

Bought off E-bay from an authorized Cardone reseller. Cardone number for my 4.9, and most 4.9 engines from F 150s, E series vans, and other applications, was 58-340.

 

Same here. No fitting issues at all. Been running about 6 months.

Cardone looks good too though. Hows the fit?

 

It's going on this afternoon, will let you know. I had to get the broken bolts out of the head at the thermostat housing yesterday evening. Been getting home too late from work to do anything to it before then.

I went Cardone because the pump was a Ford re-man. I lost my confidence with new Chinese pumps with the AZ one. I never could get the heater hose pipe to seat solid into the pump.

 

UPDATE:

Got the pump on Sunday night early. The pump fits great, except, there was a new heater hose pipe installed in the pump. It was off just a tad and hit the alternator mount. I used a fairly large round piece of steel and a hammer to modify the angle of the bend. In less than 5 minutes the complete fit was perfect.

I will say this, Cardone has that pipe mounted into the pump well. There is no moving the actual pipe, so modifying the profile is the only way to go. They had put the new pipe in with it leaning back just a hair.

The pipe was my concern with the new AutoZone pump. The pipe was easy to move around and pull completely out. There was only a rubber sleeve holding it in place. It appears the Cardone is press fitted with some type of hard setting sealer. All I know is that pipe isn't moving. I feel much safer with the re-man Ford pump.

I did one dumb thing I hate to admit to though. It was cold and getting dark, so I was working fast to get it buttoned back up. I took it on a test drive, and I noticed the heat hand was on cold. Hmmmmmm. I didn't unplug the sensor to the heat hand, nor did I remember bumping the sensor. Maybe an air pocket....I turn on the heater and it was luke warm, instead of burn you hot like it usually is....

Then it hit me. The thermostat was in the drivers side floorboard just in front of the seat. I put it there so nothing would happen to it while I waited on the pump to arrive. Darn.... Still haven't put it in, but I will by the weekend. I don't have to drive that truck, so it won't hurt it to sit some more.

I'm using the same thermostat that I assume is the factory Motorcraft. I've had the truck 29 years and haven't changed it the best I can remember. It works fine, and I don't trust the Chinese ones sold these days. I've read too many post on here of bad new thermostats. This is my "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

The only reason I took the thermostat housing off was to get better access for the water pump heater hose pipe. That resulted in both bolts breaking off, which led to heat, pecking on the bolts, a homemade rust buster of 50/50 acetone and transmission fluid, good pair of vice grips, and some cussing. But...they both came out pretty easy.

I had to buy longer bolts and shim them down with two washers the same size as the flange head of the bolt. Store bought bolts were either 3/4 inch, or 1 inch. The factory bolts were .88 inch. The thermostat bolts screw into an enclosed internal boss in the water jacket. I didn't want to bottom out and crack the head, and I didn't feel the shorter bolts had enough threads grabbing.