Water Pump

[55312]

My center oiler (cast in Sept of 1963) had a freeze plug corrode through and spewed coolant out after a short ride last week. The temp hit 265 before I noticed it and I shut it down and trailered it home. Put a new brass freeze plug in and filled it up with water and flush stuff last night. Fired it up and the water pump leaks like a sieve. So.... Any suggestions on a replacement water pump?
I'm not big on bling so chromed Edlebrocks seem a bit spendy. Jeggs has a cast iron pump that looks like it will work. Thoughts?

Tim

[blykins]

Edelbrocks don't only come chromed...generally they're regular cast aluminum. I would want a high flow pump and it would be nice to have aluminum to save a little weight.

[sideoiler10]

I agree. FEs need lots of coolant and a high volume pump would be the only way to go. I personnally have 2 perfectly fine pumps that I took of my 427 sideoiler, both were new, not rebuilt. I was haveing some heating problems so I started changing about everything I could, begining with the easiest stuff first.

I am running an Edlebrock cast aluminum now and have curred the problem with the new pump and larger radiator.

I am not really recommending you use an iron type pump, but if you insist, I would sell either of the original iron pumps I have. I have the boxes they came in. They are just taking up space in my parts cabinet right now. I'd ship one to you for 40 bucks plus shipping and I'll guarantee no leaks. The one I would ship is the newest and has maybe 500 miles on it. But, I would still recommend you go with an aluminum Edlebrock high volume.

Bob

[55312]

Thanks for the offer! The Jegs pump I'm looking at is a high volume pump. The one that failed is cast iron and appears to be a stock pump. This engine has never had an over heating problem (until the freeze plug failed last week). I'll pull the pump tonight and figure out what to do next. Again, thanks for the offer! I may go for the as cast Edlebrock aluminum.........

Tim

[sideoiler10]

I think you will be better off with the cast aluminum Edelbrock. Mine is the cast finish also that I am running and It seems to be doing quite well. Good luck. Bob

[Suomien]

Edelbrock doesn't sell a chromed pump, just a polished aluminum one for an upcharge over the standard cast aluminum one.

Any factory pump dated coded 1968 or later will be high volume; Ford itself increased the flow as an engineering upgrade.

Dove also makes an aluminum pump.

I see these on ebay, especially the Edelbrock's, fairly often. The Edelbrock's usually run around $125 IIRC, unpolished.

[FFR428]

FWIW AutoZone sells a new HD FE waterpump for $63.99. Guy on the net54 forum posted this news a few months ago. He said they are built nice and no core charge. I assume a cast iron housing being 23 lbs. DWP-510HP is the number. These are made from foreign parts and assy'd here in the USA. Again just a FWIW....

G.

[55312]

FFR428 - Thanks for the tip. I actually went to their site last night and saw that. The local Autozone would have to order it so I bit the bullet and ordered an aluminum Edelbrock from Summit. Twice the money but it's really light compared to these cast iron pumps. Now for the buyer's remorse to set in.....

Tim

[FFR428]

Good choice. I'm doing the same.

[RICK LAKE]

55312 Doug when you get the pump, see if it has a disc welded or riveted to the impellor. The water pumps used to come with 2 different impellors, A car with AC and Car without AC. You can CAREFULLY pull the back cover off and check for the disc. If there you have the high flow one. The other thing would be after cooking the motor, is to check and change the thermostat with new one. If not replaced, Check in hot water on stove and make sure it opens and closes all the way. I use a thermostat from Dodge BB motors. The opening on the thermostat is 30% larger than the FE one. You need to trim 2 mm around the outside edge to make it fit. It drops right in. An 1/8" hole drill to help get rid of the air in the coolant system. I was wondering if a 390 FE motor from a truck would have a different impellor with more blades and high flow? Good Luck Rick L. I have an EDEL water pump on my motor now, no problems.

[55312]

Thermostat checked out fine. Ran the motor up to temp and it opened. That's when I found the leaky water pump. Edelbrock doesn't say anything about AC/no AC. They just tout the high flow of the pump.

I've missed a beautiful week end here in VT. I just want to put this together and drive off into the rest of the summer!

Tim