Ford 302 Water Pumps - Right or Left Outlet
#1
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Littleton, New Hampshire
Posts: 8,808
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
3 Posts
Ford 302 Water Pumps - Right or Left Outlet
Maybe some of you Ford Gurus can clear something up for me. I'm confused about the water pump exit on a 302. The engine I have has a driver's side exit. I know some Ford engines have a passenger side exit. I will want to put a new water pump on this engine before I install it so I'm wondering if I have a choice as to which side I can exit the water pump. Which water pump (application) would I need to change it to a passenger side exit and what changes would that require as far as alternator or PS brackets if any. What other problems would I encounter with such a change? This engine is supposedly an 85 (don't know for sure) and it has V-belts...
#2
#3
I am using a 5.0L out of a 91 crown vic. Water pump outlet is on the left.The engine that was in my 52 when I got it was a 302 out off a 72 pick up. So I was told.That 302 had the oulet on the right. Which would of made my rad hook up easier. The 302 pump would bolt up to the 5.0L and the water ports lined up perfect.The outside casting of the pump where it contacts the timimg cover is a little different shape.Would not matter there because there is no coolant in this area just thought the ports .The brackets would bolt back up in the same pattern but you would need to make some spacers. The biggest proplem in that shaft for the 302 pump is lower in the casting and when you install pullys the crank and water pump pully hit each other. I was going to use a under drive pully set to fix this proplem but I sent the rad out and had the neck changed to the other side of rad.
#4
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Littleton, New Hampshire
Posts: 8,808
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
3 Posts
I am using a 5.0L out of a 91 crown vic. Water pump outlet is on the left.The engine that was in my 52 when I got it was a 302 out off a 72 pick up. So I was told.That 302 had the oulet on the right. Which would of made my rad hook up easier. The 302 pump would bolt up to the 5.0L and the water ports lined up perfect.The outside casting of the pump where it contacts the timimg cover is a little different shape.Would not matter there because there is no coolant in this area just thought the ports .The brackets would bolt back up in the same pattern but you would need to make some spacers. The biggest proplem in that shaft for the 302 pump is lower in the casting and when you install pullys the crank and water pump pully hit each other. I was going to use a under drive pully set to fix this proplem but I sent the rad out and had the neck changed to the other side of rad.
#5
Vern
If you don't get a specific answer here, you might try to look in the parts manuals at a vendor (other than the national chains that are totally computer catalogged). The old paper manuals show pictures. When I was trying to figure out a similar situation, I found there were 20 waterpumps for smallblock Ford. The pictures narrowed it down some. The bracket issue was a big one though. Ford was horrible about changing the accessory brackets in the 60s through 80s.
If you don't get a specific answer here, you might try to look in the parts manuals at a vendor (other than the national chains that are totally computer catalogged). The old paper manuals show pictures. When I was trying to figure out a similar situation, I found there were 20 waterpumps for smallblock Ford. The pictures narrowed it down some. The bracket issue was a big one though. Ford was horrible about changing the accessory brackets in the 60s through 80s.
#7
As I recall, here is what I ran into trying to use late 60s with newer parts. Harmonic balancers had different bolt patterns. OK, so you use the matching pulley, which now kicks the belt alignment out a half inch. Tried a bunch of different brackets and several waterpumps trying to get everything lined up. Perhaps it can be done, but I found it easier to buy the entire front off of one car, buy a new matching waterpump and you know it will work. One more warning, 351W accessories look the same. Remember the 351 block is taller. Some brackets look identical, until you try to bolt them on. The late 70s 302 used a serpentine setup that is clean looking. That's where I ended up.
The following users liked this post:
Trending Topics
#8
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Littleton, New Hampshire
Posts: 8,808
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
3 Posts
Any comments or suggestions are welcome. Heck, I'm not even sure that this is a 302 engine. The price was right and I was told it was an 85 so I'm kind of working in the dark here.
#9
Now would be a real good time to clear that part up Vern. Post some casting numbers off the block in a new thread and the Elder Ford Council will convene.
#12
There is a 302 waterpump out there that has a right side connection, but what it's from I cannot recall, and the parts catalogs do not say.
The 302 pump used on 1975/78 Mustang II's was an oddball, used on these cars only because there was limited space under the hood.
A Mustang II is really nothing more than a reskinned 1971/80 Pinto.
#14
Per the Ford Engine Parts Interchange book by George Reid, which I highly recommend. Small block cast iron water pumps remained the same thru 1969 with a right hand inlet. Beginning in 1970 302 and 351W started the left hand inlet water pump. However, as we all know unless you've been with the engine since day 1, its likely a mismatch of many years of parts.
#15
Easy way to tell is by looking at the front of the block, drivers side corner. If there is about an inch of space between where the timing cover bolts to the front and the top of the cylinder head deck its a 351W. If there is little to no space its a 302 or 289.