89 7.3 IDI Water Pump Replacement
 

Well its time to replace my water pump and i am just looking for a little guidance on the procedure. I have read many other threads but just want to make sure and do it right.

First off, i want go make sure this is a decent water pump. Its Napas brand and is New.

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx/Water-Pump-New/_/R-TFW44018_0258177677

I know i need to rent the fan clutch wrench to get the fan and clutch off and i know the fan is left hand threads. I understand its a lot easier to take it off while all the belts still have tension on them? And then lift the whole assembly (fan/clutch) out together. Also that i should put the same bolts where they came from with some red loktite?

Should I take my radiator out? I know its not that difficult and would make it easier but if i dont need to i would rather not because i have to get the truck running asap to finish a job im working on.

I know another issue is with the top 2 bolt that go in the timing cover. I am a long time user of the cardboard trick where you outline where the bolts need to go and stick then through. I also understand i need to use thread sealer on the top 2 and bottom 2 bolts for the water pump. Should i just seal all the bolts or is that bad? I know i also need to use some gasket maker on the mating surface and gasket of the pump and block.

Im sure im missing some stuff on the thread all help is much appreciated

The guy at advance auto said it would be $65 to rent the 1 7/8" clutch wrench for 45 days? Why would i need it that long? Im gonna try carquest and autozone i only need it for a day. Any suggestions

I bought a huge crescent wrench from Harbor Freight that works great for about 15 bucks IIRC

This helps a lot too.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...new-trick.html

Remember the top two bolts by the timing gear are shorter to clear the gear. Make sure you get the right ones in there.

Good luck,

Mac.

The Advance Auto "rental" should just be a deposit that you get back in full when you return the tool. Basically you pay full price for it in case you decide to keep it. If they try and tell you otherwise talk to a manager. The tool loaner program rules are set by corporate not individual stores.

I would take all the belts off. Be really careful not to drop the fan and smash your rad fins.

The rental I got from autozone was crap. It wouldn't budge my fan clutch,just sprung open. I just used an 1-7/8 wrench. I'm in the process of replacing my water pump also. Got a few things that I have been procrastinating on that I'm gonna take care of.

I used a large crescent wrench myself. Make sure your belts are tight(or put pressure on them), then use your wrench to loosen the large nut.
The whole thing will then spin off easily. Just make sure to use some locktite when putting it back on, lest it fall off when you shut the engine off.

(Do note, however: Unless you're hauling, you should be fine driving around *without* any fan. These trucks are surprisingly cool, especially at idle. The thermostat is closed most of the time, unless you're maxing the engine out).

Unless Advance works differently from any other parts store I have rented from (or worked for), what he means is that you have 45 days to return the tool and get your money back. It's just a deposit.

I have not replaced my water pump yet, but I have replaced the fan clutch. You do not have to remove the radiator, but if you don't, use some cardboard or something to protect the fins. You will need to separate the fan shroud from the radiator and lay it back against the engine to get the clutch out, so you might as well remove the rad since it's only 4 more bolts and a couple of hose clamps. It would give you a chance to inspect it better, perhaps even reverse flush it with a garden hose.

For the fan clutch, I used a rental tool from O'Reilly. It was a little sloppy, so I wrapped the forks with duct tape. Worked fine after that. They also rent a tool that helps hold the fan in place while you turn the nut, but try the method where you leave the belts on first because using both tools simultaneously is a serious pain.

Mike

Thanks for the help everyone. I was out today just kinda doing some prep work for the job because i couldnt get the pump today. I knew there was something strange about what the guy at advance told me. He really didnt make it clear. Anyway i should be able to get it tomorrow.

I was just unhooking a couple things and realized itd be ALOT easier if i just pull the radiator and i might as well flush it anyway. Got everything drained and just ran out of light for today. Will get back at it tomorrow. Im just gonna firstt try and loosen the fan clutch nut with the belts on and the wrench. Hopefully it wont give me to much of a problem

So im gonna also do the t-stat while im in here. I know were only supposed to use the correct Motorcraft 190º one and i had the part number from another thread. Its E5TZ-8575-C. Well i called my local Ford dealer and asked if he knew where i could get one. He told me that was an old part number and that its now a Motorcraft RT1049 and that he could normally find me one but his locater had been down all morning. Well i did some lookong and O'Reilly seems to have the Motorcraft 1049. It says 190º. Is this the right one? I was told only dealers and the internet had them

Nevermind about the t-stat i just went ahead and ordered it online. That way i know i got the right one and dont have to drive all across town

my experience on an 85, 86, and 89 was that the pulleys just turn with with the belts tight. I borrowed a powerbuilt fan clutch wrench master kit from my local auto parts store with a $100 deposit. it has a second tool with 1/2 in sq drive that goes around the four pulley nuts like a big open wrench. the first time i did one was stuck on pretty good, I had someone help me while I held the tool on the pulley with both hands. the other guy tapped the end of the wrench on the fan clutch with a 4 lb hammer till it broke free. I also found its nice to have someone hold the waterpump while you guide everything into place and get the bolts started. rtv on all bolts is fine + a bead that goes around the entire gasket around each bolt hole.

So i got the radiator and shroud and everything out today. Glad i did that now i have alot more room to work. I did a good flush with the hose. Im happy to find out that my radiator is "almost" brand new. No seepage or corrosion even in the outlets. The water i flushed out was only green. No nasty brown stuff like ive seen in some others. Replacing the lower hose also.

As far as the bolts for the water pump, should i use the gasket maker on then or loktite? And i should loktite the fan clutch nut? Or the bolts for the fan? Or both?

Thanks for the help everyone

I have always used RTV on the four bolts that it says to seal. Definitely locktite the threads on the large LHT nut on the fan clutch. There is no reason to do the other four.

So i got the fan clutch kit from advance auto for a $65 deposit. It has the 1 7/8" wrench and the fork looking thing that goes around the bolts on the pulley. It the right size and everything but i am doing this by myself and damn the fan clutch nut is on there tight. I only weigh about 150 lbs so i dont have alot of leverage but i got a buddy coming over to hold the pulley while i turn the wrench. Any suggestions?

Leverage is your friend, as is a couple of whacks on the handle with a deadblow hammer.

Work smarter, not harder.

Mike

I forgot to mention that you should attach a breaker bar with a 1/2 in drive to the forked lookin thing:-drink

Just one!

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...new-trick.html

Etone... thanks i tried all that sorry wasnt tryin to sound like i didnt even read your post.

Me and my buddy tried all day to try and get this thing off. I thought i got it a couple times but it was just the wrench slipping off the bolts. The wrench that goes on the nut is perfect. The fork like wrench that goes on the bolts is garbage. It doesnt fit snuggly around the bolts so 97% of the tine when you finally get the right leverage it flies off and my knuckles/elbows are destroyed.

We have put some serious torque on this thing and it will not give. My buddy went home and i had to call it a night before i went crazy. My last idea is to put some heat to it? Would this be bad? Im sure its loktited so i assume thats the best bet? I have whacked, yanked, torqued and eveything to get this off and its droving me nuts.

Akamacgyver...
Does this work with a V belt?

That has been asked before, and I am not sure, but it should. It is the same pump with the same clutch, just a different pulley. It is worth a try. Worst case scenario, you break your bad water pump, and the fan clutch comes off that way. There is always the option of cutting the pump shaft with a grinder or sawzall. then you could put it in a bench vise and get some leverage.

hey I feel for you buddy. i went through the same thing and only weigh 150 soaking wet myself. I had to come back to it a couple times before I got it. I would suggest turning the pulley and trying the tool from each angle on those 4 nuts till you find the way that feels tightest. Hold it flat on there with one hand and hold the breaker bar with the otherhand. Then have your helper hit the wrench in sharp distinct blows ( in the clockwise direction) while holding the wrench firm on the nut. I used a 4lb sledge. I always like to say "when in doubt, get a bigger hammer"

So i have some updates. After another day of trying with my buddy it still wouldnt come off. I have literally tried everything on the forums. I put a ratchet strap on the pulley, whacked the hell out of the nut wrench, put the belts BACK on and tried the same. I heated it up with a torch, eveything. I even called my brother who is about 230lbs to help me torque it cuz i thought i just might not be strong enough but it still wouldnt budge. So basically i decided i was gonna cut the damn impellar shaft off and put it in a vice. Well i havent cut it but i just took the whole damn water pump off with the fan/clutch still attached. Now what im think is maybe i go to someone with a shop and air tools to get them seperated

Just to be 1000% sure...

Left hand threads-
clockwise/right= loosen
Counter/left= tighten

Right?

That is correct. Clockwise is off. Were you not able to try the wrench trick on the v-belt system? I have only done it on the serp. belts.

When I did this I built a tool. Out of a lawnmower blade of all things, but it was strong flat stock. I cut a notch toward the end and drilled a hole. I pulled a fan bolt out of the clutch and bolted the tool to the clutch, it wasn't going anywhere. That freed me up to wrench on the clutch to pump nut.

Looked something like this:

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...psbc5d546c.jpg

Akamacgyver..

I did try your way but it wouldnt work with the V belt pulley. I had no room behind the pulley to stick a wrench.

Im kinda stuck now as i pulled the whole water pump with the fan still attached. Any suggestions to get this thing off?

Im thinking about cutting the shaft off and just pulling off the fan/clutch and put that in a bench vice to get the nut off. This thing has given me more problems than any other fix ive done on any of my several vehicles. I love this truck but i might be looking towards an electric fan down the line. Also does anyone know if its possible to get another fan clutch nut by itself? Or should i ask my buddy if his machine shop can make me left hand cut 1 7/8" nut?

Or would a hardware store have that? Mine is pretty marred from that wrench being loose. I even wrapped it in duct tape and it still just spun off

It seems to me that the nut is part of the whole deal. if you can't break it free from the waterpump you're probably gonna need a new fan clutch. Not the end of the world. I put one on my 86 when the old one went bad. hang in there, all you have to do now is get your parts and put it back together.

Yeah if it was up to me i would defintely rather just buy a new fan and clutch and put it on the new water pump but i cant really afford it right now. Its just incredibly frustrating because this is such an easy job made WAY too difficult by one little step in the process. I knew it would be hard to get off but this is just ridiculous. Im gonna try and find a machine shop around me that i can take it to and let them try and get it off. When i have some extra money an electric fan is definitely in this trucks future

Ok so i finally got the fan and clutch of the water pump. I ended up taking it to a friends body shop about a mile away from my house. What took me a week with no progress he did in 5 minutes. Got my new water pump on the engine with the right bolts and rtv and everything. Got the fan attached to the pump and Loctite on the threads. Me and my brother cranked on it as hard as we could with a ratchet strap around the pulley and the wrenches from advance auto. I am just worried that its gonna fly off when i shut down. How do i know if its tight enough without it being too late? My brother is a strong guy and he cranked with all his strength. I have let the loctite cure for 24 hours. Is this enough?