Opinions on the best replacement pump for our 7.3s? (besides the IH). Seems the quality of replacements had gotten pretty bad, most are now made in China.

 

Gates and Airtex are pretty popular, but other than needing to figure out which hose to use with it, is there a particular reason you wouldn't want the IH pump?

 

I've had great success with Airtex/ASC pumps. The ASC on my 7.3 is 5 years,60k miles with no problems.

 

I heard the IH pump is a lot of work to install, doesn't just fit our trucks.

 

The IH pump didn't take me any more than a half hour longer to install then a regular Ford pump, if you don't count prepping and painting the pump which is optional.
It is a bit more expensive though when you include the cost of the new lower radiator hose, thermostat, heater hose and fitting.
I used a Gates 26517 lower hose by the way, I think like $22 from Amazon.

Time will tell if it lasts longer then the Ford pump, but I can't see why it wouldn't.

 

Call me the odd man out , but , I am inclined to purchase parts that are readily obtained in case of a warranty issue . I use to travel many miles on a regular basis . I found parts warranties to be an issue while on the road . I now purchase parts accordingly . Just my 2 cents ...

 

airtex here...3-1/2yrs-100k strong.

 

Diesel Site sells modified IH pumps that bolt on no problem.

I would go with an OEM ford myself. In fact I have! Twice...

 

I'm PRETTY sure that ASC makes the Ford pumps.

 

For me, it's a no-brainer.

Water Pump OEM 7.3L - Riffraff Diesel Performance

Stewart

 

Been running the airtex pump for about 7 years, no problems, seems like it cost about $85.

 

1. IH pump will not fit with dual alternators.

2. IH pump is 3 times heavier, at approximately 26 lbs, versus 8 lbs.

3. IH pump is cast iron.

4. People try and paint it to delay the corrosion. Key word: delay.

5. Back in the days when all water pumps were cast iron, performance minded people would upgrade to aluminum water pumps.

6. Dissimilar metals? The front cover to the PSD is aluminum.

7. The IH pump does not have Ford's upgraded 99 up weep hole design.

8. The IH pump costs more.

9. The IH pump requires some new, longer bolts.

10. Long term user reports of the IH pump have not borne out the "presumption" of durability just because it is IH, or just because it is cast iron. In fact, they have reported leaks, and reported having to change a seal inside of it.

11. What fails in a water pump? The moving part wears, and it leaks. The bearing and the seals go bad. As far as "durability" is concerned, I've yet to hear of a water pump failure along the lines of "the housing disintegrated" or "the housing split into pieces and broke off." Hence, the "durability" of a cast iron housing in this application is somewhat lost on me. It's what's inside that counts.

Whether new or rebuilt, what is the quality of the bearing and seals? That's what I'll be looking for when the time comes. Still on my original Ford waterpump, after 14 years.

 

I like facts.

Facts are good things to be aware of.

Facts help me make good decisions.

...

 

Not to nitpick, but dual alternators is a relatively rare configuration. The extra 14 lbs. is a drop in the bucket on a 7000+ lb truck. The aluminum water pump bolts to an aluminum front cover, sure, but the aluminum front cover then in turn bolts to a cast iron engine block with steel bolts, so I'm really not seeing a problem concerning dissimilar metals. The IH pump net cost is actually lower if one of your goals is to add a coolant filter as well.

The point is the IH pump can be a viable option for some people, and it should be at least as durable as the OEM Ford pump. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, and probably depends what your wants/needs are as to which you choose.

 

Who has dual alternators?
My beer gut weighs more than 26 pounds.
So is the IH block.
Are you saying my aluminum water pump is going to outlast my block?
Performance minded people pull out all kinds of perfectly suitable Ford engines and replace them with a small block Chevy. Doesn't make them smart.
The PSD block is cast iron.
But it does have an integral filter head, with a shutoff valve for changing the filter.
There's a brand new one one for sale in the parts section right now for less than a new Ford pump.
Takes a different radiator hose, too.
Waterpumps of all kinds fail. That's why people have to buy new ones.
I'm trying to sell one of these. Throw a brother a bone and ease off a bit.