Replacing Water Pump & Radiator

New 5.0 · Jun 15, 2008

How hard or how easy is it to change theses parts? What Problems might i run into?

Also dose the timing cover have a gasket??

95 svt cobra · Jun 15, 2008

water pump is not hard at all man, just make sure all your bolts are labeled as they are diff sizes. i believe there is a gasket for the timing cover. never done a radiator but it couldnt be that hard

OnyxCobra · Jun 15, 2008

Both very easy, and yes the timing cover has a gasket.

94gtstang50 · Jun 15, 2008

Easy as pie.

Paul · Jun 15, 2008

Easy, unless one of your bolts rusted through and snaps.

You're not going to want to remove the timing cover if you don't have to. Make sure you thoroughly clean/scrape all the old gasket material off the front of the timing cover before installing the new pump. Don't forget to put thread sealer on the bolts that pass through the water jackets. If your bolts are very corroded you'll want to get new ones.

The radiator is pretty straightforward. Make sure to drain as much coolant as you can through the petcock valve before you take the hoses off. If your petcock valve is stuck shut, you'll probably just have to "dump" it when you pull the bottom hose which will make a very large mess. Be prepared.

Paul.

idro · Jun 15, 2008

Yep sure does, and make sure you get the bottom to seal properly. When i did my cam install i got a small leak on the bottom and im just going to have to redo it when i pull my motor. Lesson learned: Dont try to finish in one night and get frustrated.

ScottyDsntKnow · Jun 15, 2008

If you're going to be replacing the radiator get yourself a mishimoto radiator instead of a stock replacement. As for a water pump, any replacement pump from a chain store works fine. It should come with a gasket too.

First drain as much coolant as you can.

For the pump you just loosen the pulley bolts(with the belt still on so it doesn't spin on you) then pull the belt off and remove the pulley. Remove all the bolts that hold the water pump on and smack the snout of the old pump with a deadblow hammer. It should come right off. Then THOROUGHLY scrape all the old gasket material off, install a new gasket, put the pump on and bolt it back in with ultra copper rtv on the bolts that go through the water jackets. Re-install the pulley with the bolts on loosly, install the belt and then tighten the pulley bolts.

For the rad you just unbolt and remove the fan/shroud, remove the hoses(prepare for a mess), unbolt the rad and lift it right out. Install the new one in reverse order. Pour in new coolant, burp the system and take it for a test drive.

Win · Jun 15, 2008

ScottyDsntKnow said:
If you're going to be replacing the radiator get yourself a mishimoto radiator instead of a stock replacement. As for a water pump, any replacement pump from a chain store works fine. It should come with a gasket too.

First drain as much coolant as you can.

i know this is something i have always done.... i have always bought a extra gasket for the WP and Thermostat Gasket housing just in case it doesn't seat properly. Just always a safe fall. Thats just me though.

FunkyBoss · Jun 17, 2008

I'm waist deep into my H/C/I install and had a WP bolt snap on me :wall:! I haven't pulled the timing cover off yet, but I'm hoping I have enough access to the bolt to get it out easily. Good luck with yours!

95-stang · Jun 17, 2008

I always buy 2 gaskets for jobs like that as well, they cost pennies and you always need one when the shops shut.
I coat all the bolts i take out with vht grease, its good upto about a billion degrees farenheit and makes any later jobs so much easier.
As above , if you can stretch the budget buy an aftermarket radiator, as far as i can see there's not much reserve in the standard cooling system.