Water Pump Rebuild-

[POOBLAH]

Also... does ANYONE make a rubber thermostat housing gasket instead of the paper kind? I want to insure it never leaks again!

[JohnLynch]

Sounds good to me anyone else?

[Z282SLO]

I've seen them for GM engines, not for the Mustang.

[POOBLAH]

So I found out part of my issue with my coolant leak. Apparently someone tried to install the waterpump without removing the timing chain cover in the process. This would have been fine except that they bent the metal plate which goes between the two in the process. So now Im stuck with a metal plate which is very badly corroded, and slightly bent where one of the bolts go.

1. How do I know if I should replace this metal plate? How bad of corrosion is too bad? Should I just bend it back?
2. Does anyone sell these?

[1993cobra]

You Dont remove the timing cover to replace the water pump. The metal plate bolts to the pump, and if yours is rusty or pitted , replace it.if its just bent lay it down and straighten it with a hammer. The comes with the new pump at the auto supply stores.

[POOBLAH]

Right, I understand its not 100% ness, but when you have a 20 year old car with a 20 year old gasket on a 86,000 mile car, the minute you loosen those bolts to replace the waterpump, you can almost anticipate a leak occurring between the block and timing cover afterwards. There's doing a job.. and then there's doing a job right.

[POOBLAH]

Besides... the Ford Dealer Service Manual makes the recommendation of pulling it out as one unit.

[1993cobra]

I've never seen anyone pull the timing cover. With timing cover bolted to the block with some bolts other than the pump bolts , it shouldn't be a problem. And certainly wouldn't cause you to bend the metal plate on the pump.

[WillyB93]

It's not rocket science, if you bend the plate hit the local junk yard. Most the time they leak where the plate bolts to the water pump.

[POOBLAH]

I found out that Victor Reinz makes a non-paper thermostat gasket. Im not sure how good it is, but lets see.