I have an 81 f100 that doesn't seem to be circulating the coolant. I've only had the truck a week now and am using it for ranch work. After driving 15 miles or so the truck will start to heat up and will start squirting coolant out of the lower intake? hose attachment area. When parked and running I can't feel any coolant going through the hose leading to the water pump and believe that is the problem. I'm wondering how difficult it is to install a water pump, or should i have someone do it for me...I have some mechanical abilities but am not a wizard. thanks for your help, m.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 16-Feb-02 AT 10:05 PM (EST)]First off, Is this happening all the time or when it gets really cold?

What temperature value is the coolant rated for? -10 -20

Are both heater hoses HOT to the touch when engine is warmed up?

Is the Upper Rad Hose Hot ?

Is the thermostat really working?


Regarding the R & R of the pump.
It's not that difficult really.

Purchase or borrow :
Shop manual,gasket set,gasket sealant,teflon tape,Torque Wrench,Tools

Un-do upper & lower rad hose
Drain coolant into container
Remove Radiator
Remove heater hoses
Disconnect battery
Remove alternator and brackets
Remove power steering pump & brackets(if applicable)
Remove fan & fan clutch(if applicable)
Remove water pump bolts and pay attention which one goes where(length)
Clean off gasket material off Timing chain cover
Apply gasket sealer to new water pump,apply gasket
With One or two bolts in their proper holes hold pump into position and thread bolts in by hand,re-install tightening to torque specs
Put parts back on reverse of taking them off.
Remove Thermostat housing and replace thermostat with 195* using teflon tape on bolts.
That's all I can think of without actually doing it myself.

That's why the Shop manual.

Now for your decision !!!!!

Dennis https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=1733&.jpg



Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving My Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"


78 F-150 429CJ,Silver
w/Explorer Pkge.
641/2-Mustang 260,Pre-World's Fair Car.
64-Fairlane500 S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang 289-Sunlit Gold 80,892Mi
78-Buick LeSabre 403 4V
84 Volvo DL Wagon

 

Ford v-8s do leak at intake manifold at times.Torque down intake bolts,it may stop coolent leak if its there.

 

 

It may be the radiator itself.

If there is no anti-freeze in it, they get clogged with rust...

The radiator is easy to pull. My standard method is to take it out, fill it with dish soap and hot water while it is laying flat somewhere, then wrap a rag around a garden hose end and stuff it into the lower hose connection. Then crank up the water....

This should blow most of the loose stuff out.

If this ISN'T it, you needed to remove it anyway to get more room to work.

My next suggestion is to take a lot of digital pictures of all of the bolts and brackets that connect to the pump area, and don't pull off anything you don't have to. That way you will have a reference if you're not sure where something went.

It's common for the impeller of a water pump to get worn flat over many years, so that instead of a small "Fan looking thing" there is only a flat disk spinning around in the water.

And never forget to keep anti-freeze in a truck. It stops things from rusting, for one thing...