Sounds like the water pump has been replaced. But unless they also replaced the timing cover is should be a reverse rotation (CCW). The timing cover determines which direction the pump turns. The number on the cover will help to determine what it is. There is no way to tell pump direction from the outside. You have to physically remove the pump and look at the impeller to tell. Mixing the two will definitely reduce the cooling capability. I have always run a 160 deg stat with never a overheating problem. Heater doesn't work as well but it suffices for where I live. RS
The water pump is a centrifugal pump. It pumps water from the shaft center to the outside of the vanes. There is a slight difference in flow when rotation is reversed but it is still plenty to cool an engine. Just like a fountain pump, it will pump in either direction.
Ryan-Mine is mounted the same as yours, but with the alternator on the drivers side. I'll check the lower hose again, it wasn't collapsed, but its a flex hose and probably isn't fully open either. I've read that article you've posted and I think the 160* stat is definitely contributing. I havn't been around while this car was being worked on, but I'm pretty sure it was swapped out as an attempted band aid fix. Simple Man-I know the fan setup sucks, and if it were my car, it would be gone immediately. However since the problem is going to require more than just rerouting a belt, my dad is going to wait untill the guy that did the work gets back and make him make it right. I'm going to take some measurements and see if a Taurus, Thunderbird, or one of the Jeep fans Darren has will fit. I've also considered the timing thing, but again, not being at home I don't have any of my tools, like a timing light. FordsForever-That shouldn't be the case. The engine was put in as a completely assembled crate motor, minus carb and intake. If the water pump and timing chain cover don't match I'd be seriously concerned about alot of other things.
If it has a dipstick tube in the timing cover it is more than likely the right timing cover. I havent read the thread discussing it but don't see how a timing cover can make a difference. the water pump pushes water out of the two holes in the back and into the two holes on the timing cover that go directly into the block. What would be different about it?
The ports on the timing cover have a different shape depending on the year. Whether or not that coincides with rotation I don't know....one of Ford's "better ideas"!
It may be a centrifugal pump but the shape a direction of the vanes can certainly play a part in how effecient the pump is. Also the internal shape and ports could limit proper flow. If it doesn' matter then why did ford bother to change the cover? Also since when is a #wp641 a ford part number for a pump? Wouldn't be the first time someone messed up. I myself check these things out so I know what I have. But that's just me. RS
WP__ numbers are industry standard replacement numbers. Rebuilders reuse the cast core and put new seals, bearings, shafts and impellers inside.
Well to make it ever more confusing, the water pump i use for 89 crown vic, standard rotation, has the exact same water pump casing as an 89 Mustang. It just das a different impeller. So would those two vehicles use a different timing cover? the angle of the holes could help with flow sightly, but since flow is restricted or stopped by the the thermostat until a certain temperature is reached I dont't see flow as being all that important. They probably changed the covers to best suit the water pumps as they changed. the water pumps changed many times based on location and mounting bracket placement to line up with different pulley. It's crazy how many different water pumps there are for a 302 across the years.
Actually, now that I look at the parts list again, the water pump is seperate, so they bought it and installed it. So potentially it could be a standard rotation pump on a reverse rotation timing cover. In theory it would "work", but not flow well. Is this what you're getting at FordsForever? At this point its just going to have to wait until the builder gets back from Kuwait. I'm going to enjoy the rest of my vacation and let the builder fix his mess. Then I'm going to go home and work on MY Maverick that no one else has put parts on but me. Thanks for all the help and input.
First of all the 'D' ports orientation can have an effect on flow. A wp_ number may be a standard in the aftermarket or rebuild market but it's still not a ford part number. I thought crate motors were usually new assemblies meaning no aftermarket parts. If the crate motor didn't come with the pump and someone installed it themself then the error would be on them. Also ford changed the angle and number of blades on the impeller on some years. So to say the pump would pump the same irregardless of direction of rotation would be a fallicy. RS
I agree completely. Thats why the builder will be fixing it and not me. I've seen alot of crate motors not come with "accessories" installed, to include the water pump. Presumably so the installer could have the lower rad hose on the correct side.
Uh, no. Crate motors can range from completely stock to having no OEM parts, just depends on what you order and from who.
Lots of misinformation here. The first reverse rot. pumps were on the 79 Stang. And it was used with the std rot. timing cover until 1985. Only the Stang/Capri 5.0 used this setup, all others were std rot. in these years. In 1986 Ford revised the Stang's timing cover and water pump to improve the cooling with the reverse pump. It is this timing cover that's got the reversed coolant ports. This cover and pump was also used with the pickups and vans from 86-97. The Crown Vic/Lincoln T/Car/ Merc Marquis used the std rotation pump and cover til the end in 91. I see bmcdaniel linked a pic of this. Fans in front and behind the radiator can hinder air flow at highway speeds. Head gaskets installed backwards can also cause overheating, by letting the coolant shortcut from the front of the block to the heads, and thus straight back to the exit in the intake. There's a way to tell if they're on backwards without taking the motor apart. There's a notch in the gasket that doesn't cover the block in the lower front corner when the gasket is on correctly (or was it the other way around ?) anyway, looking at a gasket will illustrate what I mean.
